When fall hits, most of us brace for the pumpkin avalanche — pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin-everything. But this year, Trader Joe’s is making room on the seasonal shelf for another flavor that deserves the spotlight: apple.
On Friday, September 12, the grocer’s Instagram teased a recipe for Inside-Out Apple & Cheddar Hand Pies made with its brand-new Apple Pie Spread. “It’s like a sweet, spreadable #ApplePie filling, sans crust,” the caption read, adding that “nothing is too pie-in-the-sky.”
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Made by the same supplier behind Trader Joe’s cult-favorite Cinnamon Bun Spread, the 10-ounce jar — priced at just under $4 — is made with chopped apples, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and sea salt.
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Although the national chain only just rolled it out on social media, shoppers had been spotting jars earlier in the month and were already experimenting with the new spread at home.
On Reddit, one fan joked that their dad swiped their jar to stir into oatmeal and refused to give it back. Another said a store manager recommended it over vanilla ice cream after a staff tasting. Others had bigger plans — from pork chops to caramel apple thumbprint cookies to granola bowls. Even drinks weren’t off-limits. One shopper swore it blended shockingly well into iced matcha.
The chatter also sparked comparisons to old-school apple butter. Some say the new spread leans sweeter and spicier, with a fresh, lightly caramelized taste instead of the richer, cooked-down flavor of apple butter.
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“We love apple pie any time of year, but it really is extra special in the autumn, isn’t it?” the company notes on its product page. “When spread over an English muffin, waffle, or piece of toast—we especially dig it on a toasted slice Pumpkin Loaf—it immediately evokes the feeling of sweet Apple Pie filling with every full-flavored bite.”
According to the nutrition facts, each tablespoon comes in at about 60 calories, with 8 grams of sugar and 1.5 grams of fat. The spread also contains milk, thanks to the butter base — something to keep in mind if you’re dairy-free.