Easter is almost here, and most of us are finalizing our menus and picking up everything we need for our spring celebration. I love shopping at Aldi for holiday meals because the discount grocer stocks everything from spiral hams to Hawaiian crescent rolls to amazing carrot cakes.
Trader Joe’s, which is a cousin to Aldi, is another great place to stock up on food and decorations for Easter. There are too many good things at Trader Joe’s to list them all here, but I’ve narrowed it down to a few of my favorites below.
Crate Free Fully Cooked Spiral Sliced Uncured Ham
Trader Joe’s ham slices on a serving platter.
Trader Joe’s sells spiral sliced hams in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and they also show up during the Easter season. They’re usually available in either quarter or half sizes, depending on the size of your dinner crowd. These are good hams that include a powdered glaze packet. The ham we tried last Thanksgiving was fall-apart tender, and I thought it had less fat than other spiral hams I’ve eaten. Don’t forget to save the ham bone to make my favorite cheesy ham and broccoli soup.
Joe’s Diner Mac and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is a great side dish for any celebratory or holiday meal, and it pairs especially well with ham. You can make your own mac and cheese from scratch, or you can buy it ready-made from TJ’s. Trader Joe’s Joe’s Diner Mac and Cheese is pretty good, although this one doesn’t feed a large crowd, so you might want to buy more than one package.
Mini Dark Chocolate Ganache and Chantilly Cream Vanilla Bean Sheet Cakes
What would Easter dinner or brunch be without dessert? Trader Joe’s is not lacking when it comes to delicious desserts and sweets such as ice cream sandwiches, vanilla ice cream for topping a slice of pie, or peanut butter-filled chocolates. Some of my ultimate favorite desserts from Trader Joe’s are their mini sheet cakes, which come in chocolate and vanilla flavors. I like Chantilly cream vanilla the best, with its light frosting with fantastic vanilla flavor. The chocolate is a solid choice, too, with thick fudgy frosting that is absolutely decadent. My family isn’t big on cake, and we tend to prefer other desserts such as cheesecake, but this moist TJ’s cake is irresistible even to us.
Trader Jacques’ A Dozen Macarons Variés
Macarons look like spring with their bright pastel colors, and Trader Joe’s sells French macarons in various flavors in the freezer aisle. These sandwich pastries with a delectable filling have a reputation for being time-consuming to make at home, but it’s easy to enjoy macarons when you pick up a box from TJ’s. You won’t regret it.
Flowers
Trader Joe’s sells some of the prettiest fresh-cut flower bouquets and potted flowers and houseplants around. It’s hard to miss these beauties that are usually located right at the front entrance to the store. Prices start as low as $3.99 for petite floral bouquets. In my experience, TJ’s flowers last a long time and look fantastic as a table centerpiece or wherever you want to brighten up a space.
What are you buying from Trader Joe’s for Easter this year? Tell us in the comments below.
