College Life

The Mini $5 Trader Joe’s Dessert I’m Eating Straight Out of the Box Right Now

Isabel Petrou
Isabel Petrou
Isabel is an incoming sophomore at the University of Vermont. She is studying public communication. She grew up in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where she frequented the beach often during the summer. Even though her heart belongs to the ocean, the mountains are becoming a close…read more
published Oct 25, 2024
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Trader Joe's teeny tiny apple pie on plate.
Credit: Isabel Petrou

I am a Trader Joe’s girl, and that is especially true in the fall. I feel like I take one step into the store this time of year, and I hear the Gilmore Girls theme song — that’s how strong the fall vibes are at Trader Joe’s

The store has always won my heart when it comes to autumnal items — it has it all, from butternut squash mac and cheese to a pumpkin spice mini sheet cake to maple and sea salt kettle corn. If you didn’t notice, let me point out that not one of those three examples even requires cooking beyond a microwave heat-up — perfect for myself, a college student. 

Credit: Isabel Petrou

Another famous Trader Joe’s fall find? In 2023, the store reportedly introduced Teeny Tiny Apple Pies, a $4.99 four-pack of mini apple pies “made with juicy apples and topped with brown sugar crumble,” per the description on the box. I recently found out about these much-loved little pies, and after (finally) moving close enough to a Trader Joe’s I had to give the returning treats a try. 

What’s So Great About Trader Joe’s Teeny Tiny Apple Pies?

The pies’ small size really drew me in. They’re the size of a cosmetics compact, and honestly, they’re just really cute! Every night after dinner I like to have something sweet — but I also don’t want it to be something so heavy or filling. These pies are it.  

It’s important to note that these mini pies are actually more muffin-like than pie-like. They’re each covered in a lot of crumble, so each bite tastes more doughy than apple-filled. My one critique of this product (sorry, TJ’s!) is I wish the apple taste came through even stronger in comparison to the brown sugar.

Credit: Isabel Petrou

What’s the Best Way to Enjoy Trader Joe’s Teeny Tiny Apple Pies?

Teeny Tiny Apple Pies do it all — I tried them both heated up and at room temperature, and they truly work both ways. If you heat them, I highly recommend adding some whipped cream. I used the Cabot Sweetened Light Whipped Cream sold at Trader Joe’s (also look for it at other retailers). You could absolutely also scoop on some Trader Joe’s French Vanilla Ice Cream.   

In fact, though, my preference was to eat these right out of the box! In my opinion, snacking on them at room temperature is the way to really taste that elusive apple. Plus, these are small enough to easily transport as a snack for the road if you’re not eating them hot!

Find it at stores: Trader Joe’s Teeny Tiny Apple Pies, $4.99 for four tiny pies 

This post was a collaboration between Dorm Therapy and The Kitchn and originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: The Mini $5 Trader Joe’s Dessert I’m Eating Straight Out of the Box Right Now

Isabel Petrou

Contributor

Isabel is an incoming sophomore at the University of Vermont. She is studying public communication. She grew up in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where she frequented the beach often during the summer. Even though her heart belongs to the ocean, the mountains are becoming a close contender. Her favorite part of living in Burlington, Vermont, for college is its unique coffee shops. Her perfect day would consist of going to a cute café in the morning, then spending the day at the beach swimming and reading, then ending the day by shopping and getting dressed up for a nice dinner downtown. Through Dorm Therapy, Isabel is excited to be a voice for young adults embarking on their college journeys and she hopes to make this big transition of life more comfortable for others in the same place as her.

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SchoolUniversity of Vermont '26
MajorPublic Communication
FavesShopping, the beach, TV/movies, walks, reading, Taylor Swift
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