We’re no stranger to delicious recipes here at The Group. In the past, we’ve rounded up the Top Pumpkin Recipes from Colorado Food Bloggers and 14 Cozy Recipes from Local Colorado Bloggers — perfect for fall, winter or anytime you need a comforting meal.
Because we’re lucky enough to have a Trader Joe’s here in Fort Collins (track it down here), we decided to share our favorite TJ-friendly recipes this time around. Each one will make your dinner table cozier, warmer and tastier on Thanksgiving and year-round.
Below, you’ll find recipes directly from Trader Joe’s alongside recipes from some of our favorite Colorado bloggers and one from the dessert experts here at The Group, Inc.
Savory
Basil Goat Cheese Tomato Bites
Photo courtesy of Mountain Cravings
These fresh and tasty appetizers will impress everyone, they’re ridiculously easy to make and they’ll disappear very quickly (so feel free to make a double batch). Kate from Mountain Cravings got her heirloom cherry tomatoes, a big log of goat cheese and a full basil plant at Trader Joe’s for just $10!
Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
Plant-Based Cooking turned this classic comfort food into a filling, vegan-friendly dish. Though the full recipe is fairly intensive, Diane recommends using store-bought items like Trader Joe’s canned or boxed lentils to make things easier. Try it once and you’ll want to bake one for every family gathering — and maybe even every weekend!
Brie-lieve it or not
In less than 20 minutes with just three ingredients, you’ll be ready to serve this creamy, seasonal appetizer. Honestly, we can’t decide if we’re more excited about the warm brie or the pumpkin tortilla chips. The optional addition of the TJ’s Pumpkin Butter brings it all together as the perfect holiday app!
Bacon, Potato and Leek Soup with Roasted Garlic
Photo courtesy of Creative Culinary
Warming, satisfying and plenty of garlic — these are the descriptors that make for a perfect fall or winter soup. For this recipe, Barb from Creative Culinary used cleaned and sliced frozen leeks from Trader Joe’s to minimize waste and make preparation a bit easier.
Savory Pumpkin Stew
Trader Joe’s shared this savory stew option just in time for fall. We especially love it because you get to take advantage of so many of Trader Joe’s year-round products — so you can make it again after autumn officially ends. In less than an hour, you’ll be ready to serve this equally decorative and delicious meal or side dish.
Fig & Prosciutto Bruschetta
Photo courtesy of Mountain Cravings
Trader Joe’s superfan Kate from Mountain Cravings has us drooling already. Her Fig & Prosciutto Bruschetta is both creamy and crunchy, sweet and salty. And if you make it with Trader Joe’s Fig Butter, you’ll love it as much as we do!
Grilled Blue Cheese, Apricots & Spicy Pecans
This Trader Joe’s recipe is made entirely with year-round products; make it for the holidays this year and you’ll want to make it every week. Ready in just 15 minutes, the bready, fruity, savory and nutty treat is the perfect last-minute dish! If you want to switch up the flavors or the season, you can swap apricots for peaches, apples and other delicious fruits.
Brussels Sprouts with Raisins
For this easy, healthy side dish, Diane from Plant-Based Cooking recommends using Trader Joe’s bagged Brussels sprouts. They’re inexpensive and ready to go after just one quick cut! Additionally, you can also find raisins and veggie stock at TJs and it’ll all be ready in less than 20 minutes if you follow Diane’s recipe.
Sweet
Whipped Coconut Cream
The best last-minute addition for your dessert table is a quick, whipped coconut cream. With other brands, you’ll have to separate the cream and the milk, but at Trader Joe’s, you can get TJ’s Organic Coconut Cream which makes the process take about seven minutes total. Then, use it as a topper for your favorite dessert or drink — just like whipped cream! See the recipe card here.
Harissa Honey Butter
Photo courtesy of Mountain Cravings
We would put this Harissa Honey Butter on just about anything, but Thanksgiving dinner rolls are the perfect intro treat. Using just butter, harissa, honey and salt, Kate of Mountain Cravings creates a next-level condiment you’ll want on every dinner table. With Trader Joe’s traditional Tunisian harissa, preparation will be even easier!
Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
Photo courtesy of Creative Culinary
This tasty dessert from Creative Culinary combines our favorite comfort cookie with pecans, bourbon caramel sauce and sea salt to create the perfect fall dessert. Using Trader Joe’s chocolate bars in place of standard chocolate chips, Barb takes the chocolate and the deliciousness up a notch!
Pumpkin Pie Donuts with Maple Glaze
We’re not suggesting you replace your pumpkin pie, but you can certainly up the pumpkin dessert quotient with this recipe from Trader Joe’s. You will definitely impress with a handmade donut, but you probably won’t have leftovers; you’ve been warned!
Cheddar Pepper-Jelly Thumbprint Cookies
Photo courtesy of Mountain Cravings
We almost put this Mountain Cravings recipe in the savory section, but ultimately this “goldfish-cheddar-cracker meets sweet-spicy-jelly” is the perfect post-meal treat. Kate’s favorite jelly is Trader Joe’s hot and sweet pepper jelly which she puts on top of these five-ingredient cookies.
For the Love of Pumpkin Cheesecake
If there’s anything that makes classic pumpkin pie even better, it’s cheesecake. This Trader Joe’s recipe is the perfect cheat because it uses an already made cake and the addition of TJ’s Fudge Sauce and TJ’s Sweet & Spicy Pecans.
Pumpkin Apple Crisp
This sweet dish is filed in Trader Joe’s breakfast section so feel free to keep the leftovers for the morning of November 24th. The quick and easy recipe includes pumpkin cookies, apples and cranberries — three perfect fall treats!
Sips
Iced Chai Latte
There’s something about a spiced chai that makes fall even better. And this iced coffee version from Trader Joe’s takes the treat up a notch. The additional Vanilla Chai Whipped Cream takes it up at least two more.
Boatswain Chocolate Stout Float
In classic FoCo fashion, this Trader Joe’s recipe adds a delicious chocolate stout to our favorite dessert drink. It’s ice cream, it’s chocolate, it’s beer — and you can certainly feel free to substitute your favorite Fort Collins stout!
Happy eating!
Let us know which recipe you’re trying out this season in the comments below.
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