Trader Joe's Pumpkin Macarons

I remember seeing macarons talked about all over the place. Unfortunately they're not an item that is readily available in my area. That's where Trader Joe's steps into play because it has been the only store that I have been able to find macarons. Granted, they're not freshly made daily at a bakery ... but it's the closest to the real deal I'm going to get. I've tried the different varieties of macarons at Trader Joe's ... so needless to say when I spotted the Trader Joe's Pumpkin Macarons I was on board before I could bat a lash.

 

Macarons are a delicious french dessert made from meringue confection which are filled with a delicious, complimentary spread. They resemble a cookie, but are soft, slightly crisp (along the 'crust') and just all around perfection. These pumpkin macarons have that slightly crisp edge to them as all macarons tend to have ... but I found the filling in these to be a lot softer and airier than the filling in other cookies. The pumpkin filling has the consistency of say a whipped pumpkin dip - where it's pumpkin flavored, but light and airy in texture. It's not bad, but it's just different from the 'norm' so to speak.

 

I found the cookies to be quite delicious. Airy, soft, delicious and pumpkin packed. They're definitely not for the anti-pumpkin club but if you enjoy a good different pumpkin dessert .. these pumpkin macarons are for you. Plus there's no long baking process involved ... all you have to do is allow the cookies to defrost and whatever you don't eat goes right into the refrigerator.

 

A serving is 2 cookies which are 90 calories or 2 points plus values.

Trader Joe’s Chocolate and Vanilla Macarons

Macarons!  Apparently to never be misconstrued or misspelled as macaroons.  I never thought I’d lay my eyes on the actual thing.  That is until I spotted and purchased these Chocolate and Vanilla Macarons from Trader Joe’s!  I live in an area where the French delicacy is not sold.  I’ve heard other specialty food shops sold them – but my local locations do not.  In my area coconut macaroons are a big seller and are sold in numerous stores and specialty bake shops (particularly Italian bakeries).

These macarons were $4.99 for the box and were sold out of the freezer section at my local Trader Joe’s.  The only packaged flavor available at my location was the chocolate and vanilla variety.  I let the cookies defrost per the package directions and enjoyed.

Since I’ve never had the cookie before I have nothing to compare against – but I have to say I really loved these!  They were soft, moderately chewy and not very sweet.  They did break apart very easily, but I suspect that’s due to freezing, defrosting and bouncing around in the shopping bag in the trunk of the car.  I found the vanilla cream (frosting) was a lot softer and was spilling out of the macaron whereas the chocolate was firmer and stayed in place.

2 cookies are a serving size and they only translated into being 2 points plus values. Completely worth it, worth the experience and just plain delicious all around.  I’m a fan.  I’m also glad macarons are not sold in my area (at least no place that I know of) because I’d have to taste test.  I’ve taste tested the coconut macaroons at my local Italian bakery in the past – so I can see possible “damage” if they were sold around me like the coconut macaroons are.  But nonetheless I would and will repurchase these again … so please, Trader Joe’s, do NOT discontinue these!

QUESTION:

Have you tried Trader Joe’s macarons? Did you enjoy them?  If not, have you ever had a macaron?