I mostly drink tea but sometimes like coffee. TJ instant coffee is amazingly good for instant.

They also have some really good dry Rose wine. Really good for the price. Also, good sparkling wine. I wouldn’t venture into the reds though, mostly so so.

In the breads section of the store, the made pizza crusts are handy. There are endless toppings you could get for that for a wine paring quick meal/snack.

I also really like this hand soap that is so gentle I wash my face with it.

They have bags that open just like old fashioned paper bags. Bulky, yes, but cashiers everywhere love a bag that stands on its own. Too bulky to fit in a gift bundle I suppose...

I too like their hand soaps as well as their dish soaps (I've grown sensitive to smells of most dish soaps for some reason).

We go there for basics like milk and other dairy because they're cheaper and closer to us than the "normal" grocery store and our store is not crowded if you time it right. I know other stores can be always crowded and some have grouchy employees but our store is quite nice.

I've been saying for years; don't leave TJs without a bag or three of the chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels. Yum!

I like their French Orange Blossom liquid soap.

Pretty sure when you get to the store, you will be seeing a lot of special and tempting items for the holidays. Here's a link to their latest Thanksgiving Fearless Flyer:

https://traderjoes.com/home/ff

And be sure to check out their seasoning blends. We love the Chili Lime and use it often - it's mild, not hot, and adds great flavor to all kinds of foods.

Of course there're the wines and beers as well.

I'm a big fan of the Sweet Tango apples, but you get them elsewhere. I buy them at WalMart.

--->Mini pb cups

I’m so loving this thread! And from Carol’s link … this is coming home with me next time I’m there:

For shelf stable and something I don’t think I’ve seen mentioned yet- Trader Joe’s has a good selection of nuts. They have all kinds of flavored nut mixtures, as well as salted, unsalted and dry roasted nuts. My husband always asks me to get him a pack of their Macadamia Nuts.

I like their avocado oil for cooking. We also use their “Everything but the“ (bagel) seasoning on avocado toast and eggs. They had some other seasonings that were new to me when I was there today, so maybe browse the spice/seasoning area for someone who likes to cook.

They have a good selection of cute succulents - my 16 y/o loves them for decor in her room.

I was just there this morning and picked this up as a stocking stuffer for my daughter. There were other beauty products that looked interesting but I haven’t tried them and someone was standing in front of the display so I moved on, but I will go back another time for some others.

Their Swiss Chocolate bars by the registers.

If you buy cheese, the pub cheese is pretty good. We especially like the one with horseradish. For nonperishables, the chili-lime cashews or coconut cashews are great snacks. They also have coffee or raspberry batons (candy bars) that are nice little snacks. It can be hard to make some recommendations because what is stocked can vary. I like the Aleppo Pepper Sauce and another son prefers their chai tea bags. I ditto the French Orange Blossom hand soap. Many of their pastas are great.

Trader Joe’s Farm Raised Smoked Trout Skinless in Canola Oil (comes in small can). Great snack on crackers.

TJ’s Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning

i forget what it’s officially called , but it’s a small round frozen chocolate ganache cake.

Frozen bake at home croissants that you let rise overnight.

We use the chili lime seasoning all the time. I think it is better than Tijan which for me is too salty. The everything bagel blend is good as well. We also love their bottled gyoza dipping sauce which is just like you get at a good Asian restaurant.

Here it is - they call it a torte.

http://www.itsgot.com/companies/33-Trader-Joes/products/615-Handmade-Chocolate-Ganache-Torte

I found a linen pinafore style apron for $25. the corn salsa is good, unsweetered dried cherries, unfortunately the orange muscat vinegar has disappeared from my store in the last year.

The Everything crackers.

Not for a gift basket, but we like a few of the frozen or fridge items that are good to have on hand.

Thai Vegetable Gyoza

Just Sauce frozen turkey bolognese sauce

Frozen coconut shrimp

Lentil soup

Pea Soup

Ravioli

Other

The tiny oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies in the round plastic box

I like their English Breakfast tea

Trader Joe's Sweet and Spicy Pecans

TDF on whipped yams

Triple Ginger Snaps

Dark Chocolate Covered Ginger

Dark Chocolate Chunk & Almond Cookies

Tzatziki

Everything but the Bagel Yogurt Dip

Smoked sardines in olive oil

and as others have mentioned, their endless variety of nuts, trail mixes, etc.

Their cheeses are decent and very well-priced.

Not edibles, but the dishtowels are very nice. And the grapefruit hand soap.

I like the Almond Butter Granola. And yes, the small cookies in the plastic box, all varieties.

Running into a meeting but wanted to thank all for their suggestions.

Unfortunately no wine/beer in our PA Trader Joes.. and since I will be creating 10 bundles, i will have no room for perishables. I am considering cheese only because they tend to be more cheese plates than sweets folks (with a few exceptions). And i could store a few cheeses-- but definitely not frozen items (and they are problematic for any but the Christmas Eve hosts).

Of course feel free to recommend whatever you love-- i am sure others will benefit as well!

Sea Salt & Turbinado Sugar Chocolate Almonds are my DH's fave! The Fig & Olive Crisps (crackers) are my fave!

Make sure you include one of their Fearless Flyers in each package. Those are a hoot to read.

I like their nonpareils and the choc covered blueberries, the chocolate meringue cookies, corn muffin mix, and their soups are delish.

Everything but the bagel seasoning is so good! Spray boneless chicken with whatever oil you use, sprinkle generously with the seasoning, and toss on the grill.

At holiday time, they have a yard-long box of all different kinds/flavors of chocolate covered caramels.

Lots of interesting bags of nuts and trail mix.

Cat cookies (in the shape of cats, not FOR cats, haha) and alphabet cookies — I don’t know why but I love them.

And their frozen pizzas were a staple in our house when kids needed something quick and easy!

21 Seasining Salute!!! THE best!!

Our favorites - I can’t stop thinking about chocolate today.

Dark Cocolate Orange Sticks

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Oatmeal Cranberry Dunkers

Triple Ginger Cookies

Chai Tea

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pretzels

Trader Joe’s Stuffed Olives - Garlic or Jalapeno

Raisin Rosemary Crisps or any of the crisps, all yummy.

Lemon Chess Pie

Cowboy Caviar

Balsamic Glaze

Wonderful but seasonal and probably all gone, grab if available.

Pumpkin Biscotti

Pumpkin Bread Mix

Harvest Salsa

HERE is their website. You might want to review what's generally available to have a plan for your gift bundles.

I buy all my nuts there; they have good prices. For snack nuts, their marcona almonds (in truffle and rosemary flavors) are really nice. Like 4kids4us' husband, I also like the macadamia nuts for eating. I buy the Pound Plus chocolate bars for candy making, but I don't think they are particularly outstanding on flavor, just convenient and a good price.

I put their chili onion crisp in all sorts of things. They also have crispy habaneros in olive oil. I use that much more sparingly.

They sell chocolate-covered marshmallow that I don't buy anymore because I can't keep out of them.

They've recently started selling sodas in interesting flavors in 8.45 oz cans. Cranberry & ginger, Lemon & elderflower, green tea and pineapple, etc. I like them because they satisfy the yen for soda but between the portion size and relatively low sweetness, they clock in anywhere from 10 (for the pineapple green tea) to 90 calories.

My cat likes their ocean fish, salmon, and rice canned cat food.

How good your find their cheese selection is probably dependent on where you live and what your other options are. I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area and have a number of really good options for cheese (independent stores, independent grocers, and chain grocers that have amazing artisan options). But where my mom lived? Trader Joe's selection would have looked amazing.

I am-in canada so no trader joes but whenever i am in the states, i try to find one so i can pick up that Tj orange blossom hand soap. i love it.

i just read the flyer that Carob posted up above and now i am starving….so many delish ideas.

Being Canadian, Trader Joe's is but a distant memory to me, even though there is one in Bellinham, Washington, that is only a half hour drive. The borders are now open for Canadians to go to the states, but Canada requires a covid test for re-entry, so not something I would bother with for a day trip. When I used to go down every couple of months, their shelf stable whipping cream was something I always stalked up on. Can't tell the difference from fresh - it was so handy to have in the pantry either for recipes or for an impromtu dessert.

I love the nuts, dried fruits for cooking and baking. And I buy avocado oil there. Although when thinking about it, many of the things I dash into a Trader Joe's for on my Costco days (neither are local but 50 miles away) are refrigerated, dated. I do love their sliced raclette cheese, and have only a little left. It's on my list for next trip ;0)

Marcona almonds with rosemary

Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream

Fruit Jellies

Chocolate and almond covered English toffee

For cooks/bakers, Pound Plus semisweet chocolate

Rosemary Raisin Crisps or Fig and Olive Crisps

Multi-floral and Clover Honey

Lavender dryer sachets

Thank you, thank you! So many good ideas!

Yup, the plan is to deliver the presents in a reusable bag-- havent seen the dish towels but that's certainly an option. I do plan to make them specific to each household/person so the variety of suggestions is appreciated!

Any recommendations for sauces or easy meals for the young families?

if you're doing any baskets that include self-care items, add their dry shampoo. seriously, it's the best I've ever tried!

also, it's been a few years, but they used to have chocolate coated dried fruit. not sure if they carry that anymore, but whenever I set those out at a party, they would be gone super fast. not sure if this is what the packaging looks like anymore. they're not liquid cherry cordials, they're much, much better. if you've ever tried Dilettante's version, or Chukar Cherries, these are very similar.

Mango Ginger Chutney

Sweet Chili Sauce

A tube of Italian Tomato Paste

I know you said nothing refrigerated, but if you want to buy something for yourself, the Raisin Rosemary Crisps with the Blue Cheese Pecan Dip is fantastic!! Good to have on hand during the holidays.

Nuts and dried fruit, their price and quality are very good.

triple ginger cookies

rosemary raisin crackers (which i actually do not permit myself to buy because i can eat an entire box)

I really liked their cuban black beans. They make a great jarred marinara. Their mint tea is my absolute favorite.

One of my kids loves their white truffle potato chips

peppermint JoJo's - they taste like Chrismas - oreo style cookies with peppermint filling - Haven't had a trader joe's in 3-4 years and I miss it.

If Localeater is talking about the Tomato Basil Marinara, I second that.

Oh my gosh... where to start? You'll find ideas in every aisle, and their seasonal offerings are always so good.

I would include their herbes de provence with the cute little wood spoon, their rosemary mixed nuts, and their holiday nog (in their liquor section and for those over 21).

My favorites: The Pepper Jelly is great to spread over brie or on sandwiches.

I use the Soyaki as a quick marinade for pork, chicken or vegetables.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels BEST ever! Dark and Milk Chocolate

I am a big TJ fan and would like to add a few goodies to the list Speculoos cookies are a delicious cinnamon biscuit, the lavender bar soap have little pieces of lavender almost like a scrub, my dh swears by their chapstick, love to add the corn salza to soups, stews and corn bread. i agree the nuts and seeds are a good price along with the individuals wrapped packets of trail mix . Don’t even get me started on the refrigerator and freezer foods . Have fun shopping

My list for my next trip to Trader Joe’s keeps getting longer and longer.

Brioche toasts by all the crackers. Lots of snacks for sure.

Trader Joe's Harvest Blend herbal tea... I simmer it on my stovetop before company arrives. It makes the whole house smell welcoming.

Two of my favorites, which also happen to be on the healthier side:

So many great suggestions-- thank you!! I hope to make the trip in the next week or two but we have two busy schedules to align so it could push into early December. I am looking forward to it!

We have a new TJ’s that opened about a month ago. So far I haven’t been as the crowds have been devouring the store. Thanks for all the updated tips. I do hope to go soon soon, maybe the middle of next week and hope the crowds have calmed down.

Here's what works for crowds at my store: There are the early birds who are practically standing in line at 8 when they open. They are mostly finished and in the checkout lines by 8:20 or 8:30, so I try to get there at that time, as it picks up again after 9 a.m.
It also is less crowded close to closing. I raced in one time about 10 min before closing and as I checked out and commented that I almost didn't make it before closing, the worker told me that if you're in the store at closing, they don't shoo you out. They are there stocking until later anyway, so they leave you in peace to finish up. At closing, they may be out of stuff on the shelves, tho, but often it's in the back waiting to be put on the shelves. They are GREAT about checking for you and bringing what you need out of the back, if it's there.