27 Must-Have Vegan Holiday Finds at Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe's has so many festively fun vegan holiday items this year, including new ones as well as returning favorites! Each year Trader Joe's unveils more and more vegan products, and I always look forward to seeing what treats they bring us during the holidays. Plus, many of Trader Joe's holiday items make great gifts or fun foodie stocking stuffers, so keep that it mind next time you're browsing the aisles of your local Trader Joe's.

I spent my grocery trip to Trader Joe's this past weekend scouting out all the new and returning vegan holiday products, and wanted to share my finds with you! Please note, all of these items are from Trader Joe's stores located in Orange County, California, so stock and prices may vary by region. Many of these items are seasonal and only available for a limited time, so be sure to grab them while you can!

Below find my 27 Must-Have Vegan Holiday Finds From Trader Joe's:

Ben and Jerry's Three New Vegan Ice Cream Flavors

New Ben and Jerry's vegan flavors!

Ben and Jerry's secretly released three new vegan ice cream flavors this past week, which were quickly spotted and shared by vegans of Instagram! Ben and Jerry's already has four vegan flavors (Chunky Monkey, PB and Cookies, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Coffee Caramel Fudge) that were released just last year (you can read about each of those flavors HERE), and now they have added THREE new flavors - Cherry Garcia, Caramel Almond Brittle, and Coconut Seven Layer Bar!

I was able to find two of the three flavors at my local Albertsons' store (if you are local, it's the Irvine store on Campus Drive near UCI) for $5.79 each. Pints are a little pricey, but I'm hoping as these become more widely available the price will come down. This particular Albertsons store had all three vegan flavors but were already sold out of the Coconut Seven Layer Bar. Short descriptions of each flavor are below.

Food Review: Gardein Pizza Pockets

Gardein Meatless Pepperoni Pizza Pockets

Helloooooo tasty convenience...these new Meatless Pepperoni Pizza Pockets from the lovely folks at Gardein hit stores in the last few months. I tried them at Expo West in March, and had picked up a box in a grocery store soon after that, but somehow these Pizza Pockets got buried in my freezer (behind the wall of other Gardein products, haha). I chanced upon them in the depths of my freezer a few days ago and it was quite a nice surprise, especially since it was one of those days where I was looking for something quick and easy to eat.

These beauties are shaped like buns, about 2 inches in diameter, and are stuffed full of yummy goodness, including pepperoni and mozzarella. Like all other Gardein products, they are vegan and contain non-GMO ingredients. I was curious to try them, since they seem so similar to Tofurky's Pepperoni Pizza Pockets that came out a few years ago (my review) as well as Gardein's own Pocket Meals that I had tried last year (my review). I enjoy most vegan foods that are fast, convenient, delicious, and come encased in a bun, so I hoped to add these Pizza Pockets to my arsenal of go-to on-the-go vegan products!

Food Review: Ben and Jerry's Non-Dairy Ice Cream

I'm a little late to the party on this, but I FINALLY found the exciting new non-dairy and vegan ice cream flavors that Ben and Jerry's recently released! I wasn't really searching for them in earnest before, because, let's be honest, my freezer was already full of vegan frozen desserts! When I finally spotted them at Target (two of my local Targets didn't have them, but I found them by chance at the Target at the Irvine Spectrum if you're local), I HAD to buy all four flavors...for science, right?

Food Review: Trader Joe's Mini Cinnamon Sugar Churros

My latest obsession? These brand new accidentally vegan mini churros from Trader Joe's! They just hit stores this January, and I'm already hooked! Though traditional churros are actually vegan and made with just water, flour, sugar, oil, and cinnamon, it's hard to find vegan churros at restaurants as they tend to add icky, unnecessary ingredients like eggs and dairy.

So you can imagine how overjoyed I was to learn that these churros were accidentally vegan, hurrah! The only reason they aren't marked with Trader Joe's trusty vegan "V" label is because they can't guarantee that the sugar used is vegan, but unless you have strict views on sugar processing this shouldn't be a problem.

Food Review: Gardein Sweet and Sour Porkless Bites

It is just so darn cool how easy being vegan has become! Pretty much any kind of food is available in a vegan version nowadays, and more and more people are choosing compassionate meals! Gardein is a huge contributor to making being vegan so easy with their plant-based, protein-packed vegan meats! Gardein has been a favorite ever since they hit the market a few short years ago, and they keep amazing me with their products. Their newest product, along with their Crabless Cakes [review] is their Sweet and Sour Porkless Bites.

I have tried these before at Expo West (where they made my top 10 list!), and have been impatiently waiting for them to hit stores. I finally found them at Ralph's grocery store (they also are carrying the new Crabless Cakes!) this past October and did a happy dance! I loved these at Expo, and couldn't wait to sink my teeth into these cruelty-free bites again!

Food Review: Gardein Pocket Meals

Gardein Pocket Meals in Italian Meatless Sausage

 with Roasted Red Peppers and Spinach

The Gardein Pocket Meals debuted recently, and I picked some up at Whole Foods in early February. They are shaped like little buns (or dinner rolls, as described on the package) and stuffed full of delicious vegan ingredients. The varieties I picked up were the Italian Meatless Sausage with Roasted Red Peppers and Spinach and the BBQ Pulled Porkless Shreds. These are convenience meals, so don't expect them to be too healthy, however they pack between 6 to 10 grams of protein, and do not contain genetically modified soy, wheat, or canola.

Food Review: Beast Burger by Beyond Meat

The Beast Burger and some oven-baked potatoes for a monster of

a dinner!

UPDATE: The New Beyond Burger from Beyond Meat has arrived! It's a real game-changer, and you can read my review and drool over pictures of it HERE!

Beyond Meat has unleashed its new creation, the Beast Burger, in stores nationwide! I've been excited about this burger since they announced it at the end of 2014, and I finally found the patties in the freezer section of my Whole Foods recently, so huzzah!

What's the big deal about the Beast Burger? Well, it aims to replicate the taste and texture of beef burgers to prove that there is a better, more sustainable, plant-based way to satisfy a burger craving! Beyond Meat shows us that there is no need to ruin the environment, our health, and kill animals for a juicy burger - all we need is a better vegan burger, and they think they have achieved this and even surpassed expectations by creating a more nutritious, more delicious plant-based burger!

Food Review: So Delicious' Candy Corn and Pumpkin Spice Frozen Desserts

Last week, I was ecstatic to discover So Delicious' coconut milk non-dairy frozen desserts in the new Candy Corn and Pumpkin Spice flavors at my Whole Foods! I have been looking forward to these vegan ice cream treats ever since I saw sneak peeks of them a month or so ago. If you are a lover of all things Halloween like I am, you should be excited for these cuties, too, especially since they come in pumpkin or candy corn shapes!

Food Review: Mr. Dewie's Cashew Milk Frozen Dessert

Written by Sarah E. Jahier

I was ecstatic to finally find Mr. Dewie's Cashew Milk Frozen Dessert at Mother's Market this past week! I have been eagerly waiting to find this delightfully creamy dessert in stores here in Orange County since I had it in March (when I had my first taste of Mr. Dewie's at Expo West), so you can imagine my excitement when I found it in the ice cream section of my local health food store.

Food Review: Trader Joe's Uttapam with Coconut Chutney

Written by Sarah E. Jahier

It always seems like I am finding new vegan items to try at Trader Joe's, and I recently discovered this Uttapam with Coconut Chutney in the frozen food aisle! I had never seen it before, so I had to try it. As luck would have it, I was feeling particularly lazy the other night, so I decided I would try this easy-to-make uttapam. By the way, before I picked this up I had no clue what uttapam was (I really need to eat more Indian food), but from the box I learned that the rounds pictured on the front are rice breads topped with onions and cilantro. It sounded like quite a tasty, light meal, especially with the coconut chutney!

Food Review: Gardein Golden Fishless Filets

Gardein's Fishless Filets

Written by Sarah E. Jahier

Do you remember how I (and so many others) raved about Gardein’s new Golden Fishless Filets when they debuted at Expo West (if not, here is a refresher!)? Well, I have been anxiously awaiting these golden nuggets of goodness to turn up in stores, and at the beginning of July Fresh and Easy started carrying them! I had already stocked up on Follow Your Heart’s Vegan Tartar Sauce (it was already anxiously awaiting the arrival of the filets at home), so I was all ready to have these little pieces of heaven back in my mouth again…I just hoped that they tasted as good as I remember them tasting.

Food Review: Amy's Vegetable Pot Pie

Written by Sarah E. Jahier

I was in the mood for some comfort food, so I picked up the vegan version of Amy's Vegetable Pot Pie (make sure to get the dairy-free, vegan version since Amy's also makes one with dairy in it!), because what is more comforting than some tasty veggies engulfed in some creamy gravy-like sauce, all tucked away in a flaky pie crust?!

Food Review: Tofurky Pockets

Tofurky Pockets

Written by Sarah E. Jahier

I totally remember being a teen and enjoying Hot Pockets on occasion...I loved the convenience of popping them in the microwave and enjoying a hot, gooey snack (though definitely NOT a healthy one). So when Tofurky came out with their vegan version, I was ecstatic (as were many other vegans)!

I found the Tofurky Pockets on sale (score!) at my local Whole Foods and had to try each flavor, which include BBQ Chick'n, Turk'y Broccoli and Cheddar, and Pepperoni Pizza. Each box holds two Pockets and they come in microwavable pouches.

Food Review: Daiya's Fire Roasted Vegetable Pizza and Mushroom and Garlic Pizza

Daiya Fire Roasted Vegetable Pizza and Mushroom and Garlic Pizza slices, 

plus some Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale I had been saving for a special occasion

Pizza is my absolute favorite vegan junk food...I love kicking back and enjoying a big pizza pie and a horror movie any day of the week! When that pizza craving hits, I usually go one of three routes: I either make my own pizza with hand-rolled dough topped with tomato sauce, Daiya cheese and pineapple chunks, buy the Amy's Roasted Vegetable Pizza, or, if I'm feeling indulgent, I'll order the Berkeley Vegan from Zpizza.

I was excited to hear Daiya was making their own frozen vegan pizzas, thus giving vegans even more options when it comes to noshing down on some pizza pies!

I was finally able to score some of these new pizzas in the frozen section of Whole Foods (on Vegan Pizza Day no less!!). I took home the Fire Roasted Vegetable Pizza and the Mushroom and Garlic Pizza at the cost of $9.99 each (ouch!). I got home, preheated my oven, and unwrapped my pricey pizzas...only to find they were pretty small compared to the cardboard box they were in. I also noticed they had a pretty thin crust, though I didn't see anything advertising them as such on the box besides that they are gluten-free, so maybe that had something to do with it.

The pizzas crisped up nicely in the oven, and the extra crisp of the thin crust worked well with the subtle flavors. The Fire Roasted Vegetable Pizza was okay, but I prefer the Amy's Roasted Vegetable Pizza, which has more flavor, even without having cheese on it. I liked the Mushroom and Garlic Pizza better as it had more flavor, but it was still lacking. I think both pizzas could have used more sauce, thicker crusts, better flavors and a more even distribution of toppings (see pic above for an idea of clumped together the toppings were).

I also couldn't get over how small these pizzas were. Sure, they run about the same size as the Amy's pizza I am used to buying, but the boxes they come in make it look like the pizzas would be bigger. The price was a bit steep for what you get. Two Daiya pizzas barely fed two people, and that was $20 worth of pizza. It felt more like eating an expensive appetizer than a meal, especially when I can buy an extra large Berkeley Vegan AND have it delivered for around $25 and it feeds more people.

Overall, I was let down with the Daiya pizzas I tried. The flavor was lacking, the size was definitely lacking and they just didn't compare to other pizzas out there or to Daiya's other products. I would probably not buy again unless they were the only vegan pizzas available.

Vegan Soft Serve at the Veggie Grill in Laguna Niguel, CA

Vegan soft serve from Veggie Grill in Laguna Niguel!

Veggie Grill recently opened its newest location in Laguna Niguel, California and to the delight of Orange County foodies is using this location to try out vegan soft serve ice cream! I recently visited this Veggie Grill location to try their soft serve and can I just say...OMG it was UNBELIEVABLY DECADENT & DELICIOUS!

First off, this Veggie Grill is so nicely decorated and quite spacious! It looks very chic and I really like how they decorated this one. There are plenty of tables both inside and outside and it has a very welcoming feel to it. Mister Spooky and I went there on a Monday night and the place wasn't too crowded, but it started getting pretty busy with local families coming in around 7ish.

Veggie Grill in Laguna Niguel interior - 

not pictured are the roomy booths along the wall

Now, I didn't see the vegan soft serve listed on the menu, but it is the first thing I asked about! I've heard that there have been some instances of their soft serve machine breaking down or the restaurant not having soft serve available for whatever reason, so I wanted to make sure they had it before ordering. They assured me it was available, though. I went ahead and ordered my meal (I got the vegan "crab" cake, which was delicious BTW) and the soft serve. They give you a little sign for your table so they can bring you your soft serve once you've finished your meal.

Veggie Grill in Laguna Niguel interior - love the ambiance!

I ordered the soft serve with all the toppings (Newman-O's cookie crumbles, chocolate sauce and nuts) and got the "swirl" - both chocolate and vanilla mixed. You can get either flavor or the two mixed together and whatever toppings (or no toppings) you want! As you can see, I went all in and got everything possible on it!

The soft serve was absolutely amazing...to me it tasted like a Wendy's Frosty (which I used to love in my pre-vegan days), but so much better and more flavorful and rich! It didn't taste like regular ice cream (and it shouldn't), but an entirely new and delicious concoction! I've never tasted its equivalent! Mister Spooky loved it as well, and he usually isn't a sweets type of guy and he isn't even vegan! I had to fight him for the last couple of bites, haha!

The soft serve is made by Chicago Vegan Foods (fine purveyors of Dandies vegan marshmallows and Teese vegan cheese) and I really hope more restaurants pick up this amazing vegan product! It is so amazing I want more people to be able to experience it to see how delicious a cruelty-free lifestyle can be! Lucky for us, Veggie Grill plans to expand this soft serve to their other restaurants providing it does well at this test location. Considering how amazing it was, I don't see how it can fail!

I can't wait to go back to this location JUST for more soft serve! I encourage you to visit this location as well and let the Veggie Grill know how much you love this product!

New Vegan Products from Natural Products Expo West and Veganism on SNL!

Bring it on down 2 Veganville!

2013 is shaping up to be the year of the vegan!

First off, there are a ton of new vegan products set to debut this year! This past weekend, Orange County hosted the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim. While I didn't attend, I've been drooling over tons of photos posted by my favorite vegans and vegan companies of new vegan products!

My most anticipated vegan products I've seen from the expo are:

• Tofurky pockets (vegan hot pockets!) and pot pie (swoon!)
• Daiya pizza, cheese slices and cream cheese (om nom nom!)
• Gardein jerky (wooooooo), "chicken" sliders (mmmmm) and GoGo Cuisine meals (yum!)
• Earth Balance P.B. Popps (peanut butter popcorn - OMFG!!!)
• So Delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert (drooooooool!)
• Kettle Brand Maple Bacon Potato Chips (yes, they are vegan!)
• Follow Your Heart Bleu Cheese Dressing (vegan bleu cheese...yes please!) 
• Pacifica makeup line (love their vegan perfumes, cannot wait for their new makeup line!!)

I'm sure there were certainly LOTS of other vegan products, but these were the ones that really made me go "WOW!" 

If all the great vegan products weren't awesome enough, last night on SNL Justin Timberlake (who is reportedly a vegetarian) did a skit that WASN'T offensive to veganism! "Bring it On Down 2 Veganville (Vegan Shake)" had Timberlake dressed up as a giant tofu singing about all the benefits of veganism. Check it out below!

Justin Timberlake - Bring It On Down 2... by IdolxMuzic

It is going to be an awesome year for vegans!

Food Review: Trader Joe's Chocolate Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

Ok, I know that this stuff has been out for a while, but for one reason or another I had just never picked it up. However, with the temperatures soaring this past week (and continuing to climb) I decided it was the perfect time to try Trader Joe's Coconut Milk Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert (they couldn't just call it ice cream?).

I love coconut milk-based ice creams and have had my fair share of them, but this vegan treat from Trader Joe's is among the best I've ever had! The chocolate is rich and flavorful and the texture is smooth and velvety. There is just something different about this frozen dessert that places it head and shoulders above other chocolate coconut milk-based vegan ice creams I've had! You can really taste the quality and the only way I can think to describe it is that it tastes fancy!

My only problem with the dessert? Well, it was hard to stop eating once I started!

If you have a Trader Joe's near you and are looking for a delectable frozen treat to keep cool you down, I highly recommend you pick up a pint of Trader Joe's Chocolate Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert!

Food Review: Trader Joe's Coconut Water Fruit Floes

At my last weekly shopping trip to my friendly neighborhood Trader Joe's, I was poking around the freezer section looking for some cold treats to keep me cool during SoCal's warm weather and I found these vegan Coconut Water Fruit Floes.

I am obsessed with anything coconutty, so I was super-stoked to find these! Plus, I have already tried (and love) Trader Joe's other fruit floes (my other favorites are their Mango Chili, which unfortunately I haven't seen in a while, as well as their Caribbean fruit floes), so I knew I was going to get a quality product no matter what.

As the box said coconut "water" floes, I was expecting a lightly flavored coconut popsicle, but in actuality the fruit floe packed a wallop of coconut flavor! The texture was surprisingly creamy, with small pieces of flavorful shredded coconut throughout. It was a satisfying treat on a warm afternoon and quite the perfect kick-off to summer!

Food Review: Trader Joe's Chickenless Mandarin Orange Morsels

Here's another reason to love Trader Joe's! So far this year they have released a lot of new vegan products, and I've been slowly trying to sample them all. One of these is their Chickenless Mandarin Orange Morsels. In my pre-vegan days I used to love TJ's mandarin chicken, so I was sooooo excited to try their vegan version.

I found the chickenless morsels in their freezer section priced at $2.99 per 9.25 oz. bag. Wow! What a great deal! This seems like an amazing price, especially considering the price of some other faux meat vegan products.

The morsels (they look like McDonald's chicken nuggets) can be prepared either in the oven or pan-fried, and I've tried both with equally delicious results. Both preparation methods yield crispy, mouthwatering morsels! The addition of the mandarin orange sauce complements the crispiness with a perfect mix of tangy and sweet. Surprisingly, there is enough sauce to coat ever single morsel (one of my pet peeves is when products don't include enough sauce). Thanks, Trader Joe's!

I like these chickenless mandarin orange bites served over brown rice with some sauted veggies, but I imagine there are lots of different ways to enjoy these. They would even be delectable on their own, using the sauce as a dipping sauce and turning them into vegan chickenless nuggets!

It has been a while since I discovered a mock meat product that I really loved, but these Trader Joe's Chickenless Mandarin Orange Morsels are really amazing! Even the carnivorous Mister Spooky loved these, and said they very closely resemble chicken in texture and taste.

Trader Joe's Chickenless Mandarin Orange Morsels are easy to make, are low in cost and, most importantly, are one of the best-tasting faux meat products I've enjoyed! I highly recommend you pick some up at your friendly neighborhood Trader Joe's.