Trader Joe's knows how to market delicious, often viral foods. But how does their pumpkin pie stand up to the rest? We went out, grabbed a Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie, and put it to the test.
Below you'll find our detailed, honest review of the pie and whether it is worth your hard-earned money. From crust texture to spice balance, we will help you decide if this seasonal staple truly earns a spot on your Thanksgiving table.
Where to purchase
The good thing about Trader Joe's is that most stores have the same layout. It may vary a bit due to the holidays, but typically they are similar. We walked into the store and headed back to the baked goods section. The pie wasn't on the shelf; it was in a big middle aisle section holding nothing but pies. I'm assuming that's seasonal, but it was near the other baked goods.
The pie's purchase price was $6.99. There isn't a definitive date for when this pie will no longer be available to buy, but it is a "limited" item, meaning it's seasonal.
People were buying pies quickly when we were there, so we would assume that buying them early is better than waiting. It doesn't hurt to ask the store when their next shipment is, if they're out of stock.
Ingredient list
The list of ingredients included fresh pumpkin purée, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, cloves, and other everyday ingredients for the crust, such as palm oil, sugar, water, and egg.
The ingredients list reads well. We did notice that butter was absent from the ingredient list.
The expiration date on this pie is 11/12, so it doesn't seem to have a long shelf life, which is always a good sign in my book for freshness and real ingredients. You also need to refrigerate after opening, so make sure that there is space in your fridge for storage.
Appearance
The box's look is really appealing for the festive season. It's black with light writing, and it really popped compared to the other items in the baked goods section. The box wasn't very sturdy, so that is something to consider if you're transporting for the holiday season.
The box opened by breaking the sticker at the bottom and then lifting the top. This makes it really simple to grab the pie and pull it out of the box.
The pie had a nice, dark color, and the crust was golden brown. The crust looks really fancy, with a bit of decoration, giving it an extra unique, homemade look.
Weighing in at 1 lb 11 oz, this pie is a nice size and serves six people. It's 9 inches in diameter, the same size as a pie pan would be from a home kitchen.
Cutting and slicing
The directions state that this can be cut into six slices, and it is probably best to stick to that. As you can see in the picture, cutting it too thin caused the pie to lose its structure and fall apart immediately.
When cutting a larger piece of the pie, it worked better, though the crust still crumbled a bit when we tried to remove it.
The pan that the pie came in is not of good quality. It appeared to have shifted before it was even baked and shipped to the store, as it was uneven right out of the box. The aluminum pan holding the pie was very flimsy, and as soon as we lifted it, the pie started to expand, crack, and lose its shape.
If you're not worried about slicing a pretty piece of pie, you can make about ten slices from this. But if you want to serve six and keep the pieces together, cut larger pieces and remove them carefully.
The pie and the pieces had a good weight to them and felt very hearty and full.
A quick sniff test is always part of the process. It may not be the most conventional method, but when evaluating a pumpkin pie, aroma matters as much as taste. The slice had an intriguing scent that was hard to pinpoint — not chemical, yet not distinctly cinnamon either — leaving some uncertainty about whether it smelled pleasant or simply unusual.
Taste
The first impression was that one bite is enough. There was a strong hit of flavor; overpowering and puzzling, all at once.
After a few more bites, it mellowed some, but it was still powerful. This pie is sweet, but the secret ingredient that sets it apart is ground ginger. It was all we could taste, and it was even a bit spicy.
No other flavors came through in the pie beyond that single note. After the first bite, that one taste completely dominated every mouthful.
The crust did hit a positive note, with a hint of sweetness. However, without butter, the crust loses the homemade flavor and texture we think could be easily replicated by adding butter.
Even though the ginger took charge, we appreciated that it didn't taste chemically processed. It had a homemade feel and could likely be passed off as homemade.
To dull down some of that ginger flavor, whipped cream would be a welcome addition.
Texture
The texture of this pumpkin pie was creamy and smooth. It was a bit thick, but not too thick. It coated the mouth well, without making it feel sticky.
The crust seemed homemade. The edging design was a nice touch, and we liked how delicate and subtly sweet it was. Even though it was easy to break apart, it still ranked high in my book.
If you cut this pie into a larger piece, you could either eat it with a fork or pick it up and hold it while you eat. If you cut a smaller piece, the only way to eat it would be with a fork.
Would you buy it again
The final verdict is that we wouldn't. Even though the pie tastes fine, the ginger flavor was far too strong. Still, perhaps the extra spiciness is exactly what some people prefer.
There was no issue getting out and finding the pie, even with the holiday rush. Trader Joe's does a great job at organizing the store and keeping the flow going, so it's never a horrible experience to pop in and grab something delicious. Be sure to check the expiration date before purchasing.
We appreciate the price point. Serving at least six people and paying less than $7 makes this just over $1 per piece. You can't beat that price. Your grocery list would be easily over $10 to get just the basics for this pie recipe.
However, this is a one-and-done pie for us.
The takeaway
This pie was a real surprise. Excitement was high for the Trader Joe’s brand, after all, their seasonal items rarely disappoint. But this one fell short of expectations. Still, there’s no doubt the right pie is out there, so the next taste test might have to be their pecan pie.
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