The 9 Best Trader Joe’s Stocking Stuffers Under $5

The 9 Best Trader Joe’s Stocking Stuffers Under $5

You can do more holiday shopping at Trader Joe's than you think. Here are the best finds.

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Trader Joe's chocolate bars
Photo: The Image Party (Shutterstock)

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.

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Hot cocoa polar bear

Hot cocoa polar bear

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Photo: Laura Wheatman Hill

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.

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Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa Stirring Spoon

Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa Stirring Spoon

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Photo: Laura Wheatman Hill

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.

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Seasonal tins

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Photo: Laura Wheatman Hill

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.

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Belgian Truffle Ballotin Box

Belgian Truffle Ballotin Box

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Photo: Laura Wheatman Hill

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.

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Dark chocolate sea salt caramels

Dark chocolate sea salt caramels

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Photo: Laura Wheatman Hill

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.

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English toffee bites

English toffee bites

English Toffee Bites
Photo: Abby Blumhardt (Shutterstock)

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.

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Chocolate coins

Chocolate coins

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Photo: Laura Wheatman Hill

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?

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Handmade candy canes

Handmade candy canes

Image for article titled The 9 Best Trader Joe’s Stocking Stuffers Under $5
Photo: Laura Wheatman Hill

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.

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Specialty teas

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Photo: Laura Wheatman Hill

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.

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