Trader Joe’s has some of the best seasonal offerings every year, its stores filled with wall-to-wall peppermint-scented whimsy. As the one in charge of all the gift-giving in my household (yes, I am Santa), I am always looking for fun and creative things to pick up as stocking stuffers. Trader Joe’s has come through this season with lots of goodies all under $5. Kids and grown-ups alike will love the sweet treats currently in store—here’s a list of what to be on the lookout for.
Because it’s the universal sign of the season, there’s lots of cocoa floating around Trader Joe’s right now. For a limited time, the Hot Cocoa Polar Bear is available for $1.99, and it’s an adorable sweet treat that won’t taste gourmet but will take up a good amount of stocking real estate, and often that’s what truly matters.
A clever “all-in-one” treat, the Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa Stirring Spoon with mini marshmallows is a single perfect serving of joy, packaged well to slip into any stocking. At only $0.99, it’s a no-brainer.
For the chillier months, TJ’s has several tins of cocoa and sipping chocolate in stock to appease all the whims of your chocolate-loving crowd. The cute containers also fit perfectly in the tube of an oversized sock. There are several varieties that go just over our $5 limit, if you can swing it; otherwise there are single-serve options like the cocoa bombs and stirring spoons.
Wrapped up as a pretty little present, the Belgian Truffle Ballotin Box falls nicely into our budget at $4.49 for 3.52 ounces of assorted Belgian truffles. This box is a hefty prize to find in the bottom of the stocking. Minty Flavored Cocoa Truffles at $2.99 are a decadent choice for your mint chocolate lover.
Smooth caramels dipped in Belgian chocolate and topped with salt are a luxurious little treat at only $2.29. They’re small enough to fit alongside a Christmas card or among the various other surprises in the stocking.
These treats, which are sold in little on-the-go baggies, are a smaller format of my favorite Trader Joe’s candy. The hard, buttery toffee has a great crunch and, in this iteration, is dipped in chocolate and topped with chopped nuts. A classic that only costs $1.49 for a bag of about 14 candies.
The Trader Joe’s version of gelt, chocolate covered coins, features a “coins of the world” print and costs $1.99 for a small bag. I know gelt isn’t always a stocking stuffer, but in my childhood home, which celebrated a hybrid of commercial Christmas and slight secular Judaism, no stocking was complete without them. My kids are thrilled to get their coin bags every year. You can also get a single, large milk chocolate coin weighing in at over 3 ounces for $1.99. They say you can share this one, too, but why would you?
These large (1.75-ounce) handmade candy canes are $1.49 a pop and have a cocoa cream center. These are good eating right out of the bag or dipped in your favorite cocoa as a stirrer for an infusion of nice minty flavor.
For the tea drinker coming to Christmas morning, Trader Joe’s trots out some fun flavors for the holidays. Candy Cane Green Tea at $2.79 is a decaffeinated treat for a cozy day in. The regular mint tea, which TJ’s sells year-round, is my favorite mint tea on the market, in case you’re wanting recs.