15 Trader Joe’s Frozen Desserts, Ranked Worst To Best

Trader Joe’s offers a sea of desserts to satiate a variety of sweet cravings. There’s an entire bakery section of pies, cakes, muffins and cookies. It’s nearly impossible to pass the area without wanting to make your shopping cart overflow with treats. Plus, TJ’s is a champ at showcasing seasonal flavors and also just randomly switching things up to keep shoppers on their toes. The mini sheet cakes alone probably have their own fan club at this point. That’s not the only part of a Trader Joe’s store that has decadent treasures for your enjoyment.

The discount grocery chain has quite the reputation for filling its freezer cases with delicious frozen food options, from dumplings to frozen salmon with compound butter. The other freezer goldmine at Trader Joe’s are desserts. I’m not just talking about ice cream, either. Yes, there are many enticing flavors of creamy ice cream items, but TJ’s frozen dessert game far surpasses that. It’s top tier and offers a great balance of classic sweets and unique confections. The same out of the box thinking that has launched many viral Trader Joe’s products also applies to the frozen dessert selection. I tried 15 of the currently available desserts at my local TJ’s and have ranked them from worst to best for your eating pleasure. 

While I love a chocolate covered banana, the ones from Trader Joe’s could use some work. Dark chocolate belongs with many fruits, and bananas are at the top of the sweet treat list for me. Instead of a whole banana dipped in chocolate, Trader Joe’s shakes things up a little. The banana is sliced and each piece is enrobed in decadent, dark, Belgian chocolate. In theory, Gone Bananas should be at the top of the heap with everything it brings to the table.

The issue with these is the texture. The banana slices are aggressively mushy, while the Belgian chocolate shell is the opposite. So, when you bite into one, the shell cracks in a bunch of pieces upon impact and the banana is a gloopy mess. I didn’t hate it, but structurally it was a weird bite. I didn’t know how to feel about this dessert, but knew I didn’t want another one.

These are exceptionally refreshing, but also exceptionally lackluster. I know it’s starting to cool down in many parts of the world, but that is not the case where I live in Florida. Trader Joe’s strawberry lemonade ice bars are the perfect antidote to a hot day. Just don’t eat them in the Florida sun because they will dissipate into sticky liquid on immediate impact with the sun. The ice bars are intensely sweet and as a result any semblance of tartness is obliterated. There are also issues with the appearance.

The box portrays a very put together, polished image of the strawberry lemonade ice bars. However, upon opening the popsicle, I learned I was a victim of catfishing. There’s nothing about the bar that looks anything like the picture. They also look smaller and much less fun than the scene the box sets. Both visually and flavor-wise, this TJ’s frozen ice pop does not meet expectations and can be skipped.

The name of this newer Trader Joe’s frozen dessert is enough to make you want it. Strawberries and cream cloud cake sounds utterly delightful. Both the photo on the box and the cake itself look the same. There’s no bait and switch with this dessert. Removing the plastic wrap reveals what looks like a standard issue strawberry shortcake right up to the whole strawberries gracing the top.

Is it good? Yes. Great? Not really. This particular cake reminds me of something my mom would have kept on hand in the freezer to serve when friends came over for mahjong, or even for unannounced guests in a pinch. It’s mostly balanced and tastes, well, like a strawberry shortcake. TJ’s cloud cake is made with sponge cake, custard filling, and whole strawberries decorating the top. I did let it thaw slightly as the directions recommended and the first bite was milder than I anticipated. The whipped cream tasted very mass produced and the sugar levels were not out of hand. Unfortunately, there’s just nothing special about it and it’s a snooze fest of a dessert.

There are certain desserts that transcend time, and lemon bars definitely fall into that category. Lemon bars sound like a typical dessert you would find at a church bake sale or tea party. What can make or break a lemon bar is the commingling of tart and sweet flavors. Trader Joe’s classic lemon bars look exactly like the wholesome goody. There’s no denying the lemon flavor profile.

Similar to the raspberry lemonade ice bars, the lemon bars suffer from relentless sweetness. Typically a healthy dose of tartness can help calm it down and introduce another note, but it was not the case with Trader Joe’s lemon bars. It probably doesn’t help that there is also a dusting of powdered sugar on top. Overall, the flavor is fine, but the sweetness completely takes over and makes it challenging to finish even a small square without wincing.

The apple forward flavors that seep into fall menus are a fun way to acknowledge the changing of the seasons. Apple pie is such an iconic treat and I am always up for a variation on the tried and true pie. I will say that the apple blossoms from Trader Joe’s are super cute. They look like perfect little bundles of apple joy. A single serving of a pie is a solid move. There are two apple blossoms in a pack which make them great for date nights or a little treat for yourself without buying an entire apple pie.

They can be microwaved or cooked in the regular oven. Since I had a large amount of desserts to juggle, I opted for the microwave. Normally I would use the oven, but sometimes you have to make tough calls to get the job done. The Trader Joe’s apple blossoms cook up in the microwave in 60 seconds. The apple filling is warm and tastes like fall. There are pieces of tender apple throughout, and it makes for a good bite. The crust was barely mediocre and likely would have been crispier in the oven. It wasn’t soggy, but the dough was oddly thick and gummy, which ended the bite on a sour note.

You can tell just by looking at the pictures on the box of Trader Joe’s Brigadeiros that they are going to be rich. The little chocolate orbs are a Brazilian speciality and are even considered the national truffle of the country. That’s exactly how the brigadeiros eat. A glorious fudgy center is surrounded by rich chocolate and covered in chocolate sprinkles. The chocolate delights are steeped in a rich history from around the time Brazilian women were allowed to vote. That’s a big historical moment for such a tiny treat.

If you have a tolerance for heavy chocolate desserts, Trader Joe’s brigadeiros fit the bill. Each sphere is chocolate on chocolate on chocolate. They look identical to the image on the box and are yummy, but strong. I hope Trader Joe’s made Brazil proud with its take on the beloved brigadeiros, but stay away if you can’t handle copious amounts of chocolate in one sitting. I really do love chocolate, but these definitely came on a little too strong. 

The chocolate lava cake is wildly popular. There are probably more restaurants that offer it than not. It’s one of those dessert staples that has soared in popularity. Unless it’s a lava cake made from scratch, they all kind of taste the same. I know because I never met a chocolate lava cake I didn’t like. What’s not to like? Delectable chocolate cake housing melty chocolate that comes pouring out like lava when you dig in, hence the name.

In less than 60 seconds you can have a warm chocolate lava cake at your own dining room table. That said, the ganache center of the Trader Joe’s lava cakes is slightly disappointing. There’s no dramatic moment where the chocolate oozes out for that quintessential instagram moment. If I’m eating a lava cake, I want drama. I would eat Trader Joe’s chocolate lava cake again, but there would be strategic decisions to make it less ordinary, which is it’s weakness. Throw a scoop of vanilla ice cream and berries to make it more exciting.

I feel like there are two camps when it comes to mochi. There are those who enjoy it and those who can’t get past the texture. I am of the former. There is something oddly satisfying about the chewy rice dough with ultra creamy ice cream inside. Mochi isn’t just a pretty face, she also happens to be cleaner than many other desserts, and heavy on natural flavors and ingredients instead. These mochi are also gluten free. Although both components of TJ’s mochi have softer textures, this somehow works in its favor.

TJ’s strawberry mochi is delicate without sacrificing a single iota of flavor. It’s a delicious bite with sweet notes and a lovely, creamy consistency, likely because of the higher butterfat content of the ice cream, and now I want all the flavors. The thing about mochi is that it feels like a tiny dessert. If you are someone who enjoys bigger dessert portions, the mochi will probably leave you wanting something more. These are good but you have to eat them almost immediately out of the freezer. After the 4 minute car ride home, the ice cream started rapidly melting and paired with the gummy rice dough, it was not a strong finish.

Sometimes you want a simple scoop of ice cream without a single frill. Other times call for an ice cream packed with a multitude of fun flavors and textures. If you seek that level of fun, look no further than Trader Joe’s All Mixed Up ice cream flavor. Buckle up while I tell you everything happening inside the carton. It’s a vanilla ice cream base, but there is nothing basic about it.

Throughout the Trader Joe’s ice cream lies treasures in every spoonful. The party includes ribbons of peanut butter, pieces of sandwich cream cookies, candy coated pretzels, mini peanut butter cups, and of course rainbow sprinkles. The medley of flavors is both a blessing and a curse. WIth the flavors and inclusions, there is a lot going on and you have to be in the mood to have big peanut butter flavor right in your face. I like it but there’s a lot of ice cream noise making even one bite feel like much more.

Macarons are another popular sweet treat that can get mixed reviews. Personally, I don’t get the hype. They’re fine, but I’ve never in my life woken up and felt like I could really go for a macaron. Then I tasted Trader Joe’s macaron ice cream sandwich and I had an epiphany. Maybe I have never been super into macarons because I was doing it wrong. The signature flaky, yet chewy, texture of a macaron paired with the rich and creamy ice cream is a nice combo.

I’m not saying I’m a macaron convert, but using them in an ice cream sandwich is an interesting choice, and a good one. When you place ice cream into a macaron, it’s a whole new game. Trader Joe’s added chocolate ice cream sandwiched between two hefty chocolate macarons and it’s a success. Mostly. Again, this is a chocolate-heavy dessert. Chocoholics will be over the moon. I enjoyed it but think it would be much better if the ice cream was a different variety. In this Trader Joe’s version everything just blends together, into one monotonous bite. 

The chewy Thai coconut cakes had me at coconut. I am an avid coconut enthusiast and love the tropical flavor big time. This little pink box looks completely simple and unassuming. Kanom Dok Mai, as they are called, are a popular street food commonly enjoyed in Thailand, and now direct from the freezer section at Trader Joe’s. The cakes are shaped like adorable little flowers and look simple enough.

When you pop them in the air fryer though, there’s some sorcery that goes down. They might enter cute little blossom looking confections. However, freshly heated up they have an incredible texture. The outside of the cake is crispy and the inside is a delightfully chewy ube treat. I’ll admit, it can be odd at first, but I got over it. For a long time I was intimidated by anything with ube, but it’s such a mild, enjoyable flavor, and in these Trader Joe’s cakes it offers just the right amount of a lovely sweetness. The chewy Thai coconut cakes are the perfect gateway treat if you are ube curious.

Japan turns out some epic culinary delights. On TikTok alone, you can watch mukbangs featuring a number of Japanese pastries and desserts. Trader Joe’s knows when to jump on food trends so now it sells Japanese Soufflé Cheesecakes, one of various cheesecakes available at the popular grocery chain. The pack of two contains individually wrapped cheesecakes that you can eat straight from the freezer or thawed. The texture is divine. It’s light and airy, and not nearly as dense as a traditional New York style cheesecake.

The texture is unique and achieved with a mixture of condensed milk and cream cheese. The other major difference is that the Japanese version of cheesecake is crustless. They make an easy dessert at home as well as a great after school treat that will totally be deforested and ready to eat after sitting in the neverending carline. I thoroughly enjoyed these, but on their own, it feels like something is missing. Next time I would spruce them up with toppings, like ice cream, berries, or Nutella. Perhaps all three.

There are ice cream sandwiches and then there are ice cream sandwiches. While Trader Joe’s freezers feature several different types, there’s one that my family and I keep going back to. They’re called sublime ice cream sandwiches and that’s exactly what they are. Following the inspo of the ice cream phenomenon known as a Chipwich, TJ’s Sublime ice cream sandwiches have a similar vibe. By the way, think about all of the homemade chipwiches you could be making with cookies and ice cream.

Trader Joe’s aced the assignment by taking two full size chocolate chip cookies and using them to sandwich velvety, sweet, vanilla ice cream. Rolling them in tiny chocolate chips that adhere to the edges of ice cream like they were born for the job, adds a layer of pizazz. The whole experience is worthy of a chef’s kiss and I personally will never stop buying these heavenly ice cream sandwiches.

Florentine cookies are largely slept on and they really shouldn’t be. I’m not just talking about the lace cookies you can find in most bakeries. The cookie on its own is fantastic and deserves more attention. My favorite cannoli of all time swaps the traditional pastry shell for a Florentine cookie shell and I will never stop thinking about it. So, when I spotted the mini cheesecake cones in Trader Joe’s freezer, there was no question they were coming with me.

Move over ice cream, there’s a new player in town. You don’t know how much you are going to enjoy a cone stuffed with smooth and creamy cheesecake until you eat one. Trader Joe’s did not hold back when it landed on Florentine cookies to construct the cone. It’s crunchy with the praline notes the cookie is famous for. It was messier than a regular ice cream cone, which I was not expecting, and the cheesecake filling sticking out of the top was spilling over. It was a delicious mess though, and a fantastic treat to keep in your freezer.

It may look like a tub of ice cream, but Trader Joe’s Italian Mascarpone and Mixed Berries is a completely different beast. First of all, when you pull the plastic seal back, the visual is stunning. It’s like a masterpiece, really. Beautiful mounds of a creamy, gelato-style dessert, with bold swirls of mixed berries throughout the tub deserve a moment. It’s the mascarpone that truly elevates this Trader Joe’s frozen treat, the same way it levels up Tiramisu.

One spoonful of the impossible creamy and luscious gelato and you will be hooked. The flavors and consistency are perfectly paired and I fear this may become a hyperfixation treat in my house. Just imagine dragging an almond (or even a Florentine) cookie through the mascarpone infused dessert. Or making a DIY ice cream sandwich with a scoop. There are so many possibilities, but even on its own, TJ’s Italian mascarpone and mixed berries is a winner and the best dessert of the bunch.

I purchased 15 different frozen desserts from Trader Joe’s to complete this review and ranking. The selection is diverse and covers a number of categories. There’s ice cream, fruit-forward creations, ice cream sandwiches, cheesecake, pastries, and so much more. All desserts were tasted without any additional toppings or ingredients, and only a few of them required a quick cook. Rankings are based on taste, texture, flavors, and other similar criteria.