The holidays can be difficult for people with dietary restrictions, especially when it comes to seasonal sweets. For vegans, it can be challenging to find tasty store-bought winter treats without dairy or eggs.
This year, The Diamondback tried six vegan holiday treats from Trader Joe’s to gauge which ones are worth your money. Our ratings take into account the flavor, texture and overall festiveness of each product.
Italian Confetti Almonds
If you have ever wanted to eat rocks, this is the treat for you. These nuts have the rock-hard, mildly sweet candy coating typical of Jordan almonds. The taste of sugar is very faint, and the ultimate experience is one of texture rather than flavor. 6/10
O’ Nog Non-Dairy Oat Beverage
Trader Joe’s vegan egg nog beverage tastes like their standard oat milk with added cinnamon and nutmeg. Based on the ingredients, that is exactly what it is. As an imitation of the holiday classic, O’ Nog falls short of replicating egg nog’s iconic flavor but the taste is nonetheless sufficiently seasonal.
The most detrimental aspect of O’ Nog is its texture. The drink contains disturbing lumps when poured from the carton, presumably from the xanthan gum emulsifier. 6/10
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Scandinavian Tidings
These gummies have a waxy consistency and delightfully fruity flavor reminiscent of Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks. Scandinavian Tidings are larger than most gummy candies, and do not contain gelatin, making these a good vegan and kosher alternative for the holidays. 8/10
Peppermint Mini Marshmallows
These peppermint marshmallows taste like pure peppermint extract. The tiny pillows pack a punch, and they are not a good substitute for people who enjoy eating marshmallows by the mouthful. The texture is softer than usual marshmallows because of the tapioca substitute.
In hot chocolate, the peppermint taste is milder but still more bitter than sweet. 3/10
Non-Dairy Oat Creamer Gingerbread
Another drink made with Trader Joe’s oat milk substitute, this holiday-themed creamer is a delightful addition to both coffee and tea. It adds a pleasant ginger and cinnamon flavor to your drink of choice without tasting too strongly of oats, perfect for a chilly morning or cozy night. 10/10
Handmade Candy Cane with Cocoa Center
What you read is what you get. This extra-large candy cane has a traditional peppermint exterior with an untraditional chocolatey center, proving you truly cannot go wrong with the chocolate-mint combo.
Be warned: due to this candy cane’s size, we found it a virtually all-day commitment. 10/10
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Bonus: Sparkling Cranberry Ginger Brew Beverage
This drink is marketed for Thanksgiving on the Trader Joe’s website, but the promise of a new sparkling beverage flavor was too intriguing to pass up.
Unfortunately, this has an incredibly strong ginger flavor that almost entirely overpowers the cranberry. As a result, the “limited time” soda tastes more like an antiemetic than a fun, festive drink. 4/10
