New season. New Trader Joe’s Shopping List! I wasn’t going to do a Trader Joe’s Christmas Shopping List….but a lot of you asked for it! And I am so glad you did. I found some really fun new Christmas items, thanks to you! And I ended up hosting our book club for December and strictly used all Trader Joe’s items. I have learned from years of hosting parties that the easier I make it the happier EVERYONE is! Well, Mainly me. And Kevin, because he helps me a lot. I like to get ready-made food’s and Trade Joe’s some of the best holiday party foods! Simple things that can go in the crock-pot to complete a meal. I have a Trader Joe’s Christmas Bucket List FREE printable for you too at the end of this post. Making your Trader Joe’s Shopping List simple.
Yes, I do get their bags. I use their paper bags for SO many things that I look forward to shopping for these bags. They get re-used and then recycled. I feel I should mention that because I did get a comment on my last Trader Joe’s blog post. And someone had the best response that “paper employees so many people, paper is bio-degradable. Paper is NOT bad”.
Snapped a picture before everyone arrived for bookclub. I will share what everyone loved the most from my Trader Joe’s finds!
These are all the top recommended treats from Trader Joe’s for Christmas. I really think any of these would make a great gift with a little gift card attached to it for: teachers, bus drivers, mailman, music teachers, custodian, librarians, gym teachers etc. The TOP RECOMMENDED item were the Joe-Joe’s! You all love them. My kids do too. And Jingle Jangle, but that was already sold out at my Trader Joe’s. My favorite is the Dark Chocolate Mint Stars! See what I like to do with them below…..
The Dark Chocolate Mint Stars are such a cute gift if you can find a star dish.
I also really like to use the Trader Joe’s Mint Chocolate Stars to top off a brownie. It will make any brownie look fancy! I put the star on as soon as the brownies come out of the oven! (THESE are our favorite Paleo Brownie).
More awesome gift ideas for Christmas from Trader Joe’s. My girls got super excited to give their teachers some of these things with a Starbucks gift card. Really cute stocking stuffers too!
Best place to get a Gingerbread house kit. We like to have a gingerbread house making contest around Christmas with my family. I grab these then everyone can customize them! We made a beach house out of our’s last year.
That Winter Wassail is a favorite. I heated it up in my kettle and served it at book club. It smelled so good. Or on Christmas Eve I put some in a crockpot so it is all warm when we wake up and smells up the kitchen! Literally smells like Christmas morning should.
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Ok this idea appetizer or addition to a meal came from a reader and it was a hit! I used three bags of the frozen turkey meatballs with one jar of the Pepper Jelly and about half of the Sriracha BBQ Sauce bottle. Added it all to the crockpot and let it do it’s thing for about 6 hours. Served it with salad and everyone loved it! I was worried it would be spicy, but it wasn’t. My kids even ate it. (Three bags will serve about 12-14 people, well I should say, women).
I also served the Creamy Cauliflower Onion Dip with raw veggies. That salad was awesome. And everyone’s FAVORITE were those Mini Brie Pastries. I served them with some Fig Dipping Sauce. But that Pepper Jelly would be so good too as a dip.
Always a hit to grab some veggies and dip for a party. But take it up a notch with the Fig and Goat Cheese Spread. Or the most liked was the Cranberry Chèvre.
You can also decorate your home with Trader Joe’s Christmas items! The Arched Ivy comes with a strand of twinkle lights! Very affordable and a great hostess gift.
Trader Joe’s mini wreaths are a must-have! I hang them on windows or mix them into a gallery wall for an easy festive touch. I also hung one over our bed.
Picked up the Christmas Cactus too. Has a little pop of pink. Couldn’t resist.
Honestly Christmas is the best time of the year, but also one of the most stressful with so many things going on. So if you can make hosting a party or taking food to a party simple, I highly recommend it! We typically make all our meals from scratch, but a holiday party I make an exception. I always makes sure to offer a salad, veggies instead of just crackers and of course some indulgent food that you only get this time of year. It’s all about balance.
Here is to making Christmas fun and easy so we can focus on the real meaning and the gift of the season.
You can print your Trader Joe’s Shopping List or as I like to call it Trader Joe’s Bucket List FREE PRINTABLE HERE
Check out my everyday Trader Joe’s Shopping List HERE
PS- if you are curious about book club, how to start one and top books to read then you will love THIS blog post on Book Club’s!
Love your charming Christmas kitchen! Wish I could drop in it looks loaded with warmth and welcome. On my way to TJ’s after work to hunt a few of these items.
I wish you could too!!! Have fun shopping!!!
Oh my goodness!! It’s lije you followed me round Trader Joe’s yesterday!!! I saw your post about the spiced jelly so went out and bought some yesterday! Plus a ton of the items you’ve listed here!!
Need to buy a pot today for my Christmas cactus!! Keep up the good work Brooke; you’re keeping this British girl entertained and making me love my home and nesting, for the first time as an adult (I’m 38!!)
Happy Christmas to you and your wonderful family
Lucy
ahhhhh I love you! Thank you!
Thanks for the yummy suggestions! I love love your chalkboard in your kitchen by your table… would you mind sharing where you got it!
Thanks! It was a broken mirror that I found and painted the back panel in chalkboard paint!
We go to Trader Joe’s at least once a week. There is always something we need or want from there.
Love the chocolate orange and the dark chocolate mint star cookies ( these are some of my husband favorites).
We are fortunate that the store is just a mile away from us. They have some really great holiday items.
This is great!! Thank you! I visit Trader Joe’s at least 1x per week!! My Trader Joe’s was already sold out of the peppermint Jojos. I love your idea for the dark chocolate stars. So cute and i will totally be doing that for my girls teachers! 🌟 And now I’m looking forward to hosting our next book club!
I use Trader Joe’s paper bags all the time for various things. I love them!
Oh my goodness at all of the goodies. You did good girlie. So many great tips. Love it!!!
Oh my goodness at all the goodies. You did good girlie. Love it all. And thanks for the tips. 💚❤️💚❤️
I think it would be very hard to make everything thing yourself all the time, when you work and have a family. People are so critical of each other it really needs to stop. I love your Instagram posts and stories and your blog. I’ve purchased the budget bedding, Beddy’s for my 91 year old mom and a few of your favorites ! Keep sharing your ideas and positive messages ! Love ya Brooke!!
Thank you so much Janet! I love you too! And the beddys for an elderly parent is such a smart idea! xoxox
Awesome goodies. My closest Trader Joe’s is almost an hour away. 😑
I live in Utah. I am a mail lady in Mapleton UT, and we love appreciation gifts.
Oh thank you!!! we have a walking route and we always give our mail man or mail lady a gift!
Hosting. a Christmas Party with a bunch of our friends from church. We are doing appetizer/finger food type dinner. Because they are the best part of the meal, so let’s make them the meal! I always do meatballs with grape jelly and BBQ. I LOVE pepper jelly over cream cheese served with crackers, so I am going to buy an Extra jar and try these meatballs. Thanks for the Inspiration. 🙂
Great ideas! I just wish I’d had it before I went to Trader Joe’s yesterday😁 I’ll remember it for next time!
My book club is going on our 25th year and I always have Trader Joe’s “cater” when it’s at my house. 😊
YES!!! You know what it is the best idea (if I do say so myself):)
I just love everything you do! Thank you for being so inspiring.
Definitely getting some of these treats at TJ’s.
Thanks Kelly!!!
I love TJ’s but don’t have one near me:(
A real bummer!
PS: 👍🏻 To TN; that’s my hometown! I visit a few times a year
My favorite is the pepper jelly, it’s so good topped over a block of cream cheese as a dip. Unfortunately our Trader Joes in AZ switched it out for a different pepper jelly.
Do you add the chocolate mint stars before or after baking the brownies?
After! As soon as they come out of the oven!
We love the chocolate oranges! It’s a tradition and everyone wants to be the one to smack it open!
Yummy! Looks amazing!
Time for a trip to Trader Joe’s! Thanks for sharing. Have to ask – what did you read for book club?
Fun!! Yes! We read “The Light We Lost”. It was ok….not one that I was too thrilled about. But it was a good discussion.
So many good Trader Joe finds! I love the arched ivy with lights. I have not seen that at my store. But, I will have to look again. I just love following you! You’re so genuine and share such great tips. Thanks!!!
Can’t wait to head to Trader Joe’s and check out these items! I bought several things from your last list & they were all a hit! Thanks so much for sharing all your terrific ideas! You give me so much inspiration!! ❤️
I’ve been assigned appetizers for 4 get togethers this holiday season – now I know what I’m bringing!
Thanks for sharing this great and EASY 🙌🏻 ideas.
Merry Christmas! ❤️
I have never been to a Trader Joe’s. That’s on my to do list some day. Unfortunately I don’t live close to one. All the items look so good and yummy!
You have great giveaways and are so generous! Thanks for all the decorating tips you share. It is so helpful!! Also, loved the idea of the book club you started!
These look like fabulous gifts or just a few special holiday things to keep on hand to take to a party.
I love TJ’s! Your post is great! I’m familiar with some of the products you showed but some are new to me or you gave me a new idea of how to use them. I actually love those little gingerbread men cookies. So does my mom in northern Michigan. They’re super cute to use with a gingerbread house as well as to eat them. I’m interested in trying the warm vanilla sugar body butter. in the past they’ve had pomegranate which I absolutely love. So I guess that’s a scent change this year. I’d love the giveaway! Thanks for the helpful, inspiring post. Merry Christmas!
Just so you know on a daily basis I love to visit your blog and Insta feed/stories. In a time when it’s easy (and encouraged) for people to focus on the negative….and even worse, share every thought that pops into their heads….I find you a breath of fresh air. Positive, kind, creative, happy and not rocked by those who have something negative to say. Thank you so much for sharing your life, your family and your talents/gifts with “us” out here in cyberspace!! AND…as I get ready to host Christmas Eve for 22, I very much appreciate your Trader Joe’s Christmas recommendations! In fact….I will be copying many of the above mentioned goodies to share with my family!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family and please, keep sharing!! You are no doubt the bright spot for so many on Instagram!!!!
Brooke you book club meal looked delicious! Your house looked so cozy and feast! Loved everything! Could you please tell me where that beautiful bowl is from that the salad was served in?
Thank you! That was a Target find! But not available any more 🙁
A little late to the party but if someone doesn’t live near a Trader Joe’s but does live near a World Market, the exact gingerbread house is sold at World Market for the same price but with the added bonus in that there is usually a coupon at WM. We’ve always done the TJ gingerbread house so I was delighted when I was at WM and saw it there too.
You have my dream Christmas kitchen.
Making the Trader Joe’s meatball recipe today but quick question…do you cook it on high or low for 6 hours?? Thanks so much!!
I did low for about 6 hours!!