Trader Joe’s frozen pastry aisle has plenty to offer in 2026, from new apple Danishes and cinnamon-swirled Morning Buns to buttery croissants and savory appetizers. But not every pastry lives up to the hype. Based on recent taste tests and shopper reviews, here are 18 frozen pastries ranked from the most disappointing to the ones worth making room for in your freezer.
18. Raspberry Filled Donuts — $3.99
NEW FOR 2026 • LIMITED-TIME SUMMER FIND
These Belgian-made frozen donuts look promising with their pink coating, soft dough, and sweet raspberry center. Just thaw them in the refrigerator, and they’re ready to eat.
Unfortunately, several reviewers found the raspberry filling too sparse. The flavor is pleasant, but too many bites are mostly plain dough. A fun novelty that doesn’t quite deliver.
17. 8 Mini Croissants — $5.99
FREEZER STAPLE • MIXED TEXTURE REVIEWS
These bite-sized croissants go straight from the freezer to the oven without overnight proofing, making them one of Trader Joe’s easiest pastry options.
While convenient, they haven’t always impressed shoppers with their texture. Trader Joe’s has changed suppliers to improve the recipe, but the larger filled croissants remain the more exciting choice.
16. 12 Mini Blueberry Scones — $5.49
NEW FOR 2026 • EASY BREAKFAST FIND
These miniature scones bake directly from frozen, creating lightly sweet, buttery pastries with a soft, crumbly center. They’re convenient for mornings when you only want a couple.
Reviews praise their homemade-style texture but point out an uneven distribution of blueberries. Some bites are fruity and delicious, while others are mostly plain scone.
15. Mini Spicy Pumpkin Samosas — $4.49
RETURNED FOR FALL 2026 • LIMITED-TIME SAVORY FAVORITE
These crispy little pastries contain pumpkin, paneer cheese, and warming Indian spices wrapped in flaky dough. They’re a nice alternative to the usual sweet pumpkin treats.
The filling delivers a satisfying blend of sweetness and heat, although the stronger spices aren’t for everyone. This seasonal favorite was scheduled to leave stores around the end of October.
14. 12 Mini Pumpkin Ginger Scones — $5.49
RETURNED FOR FALL 2026 • DIVISIVE GINGER FLAVOR
After being absent from shelves for several seasons, these frozen scones returned in fall 2026. They’re made with pumpkin and pieces of crystallized ginger for an extra burst of flavor.
Some shoppers have already stocked up, while others find the ginger pieces overpowering. They’re best for anyone who prefers a less-sweet pastry with a noticeable spicy kick.
13. Greek Spanakopita — $4.99
CUSTOMER FAVORITE • SAVORY FILO PASTRY
Trader Joe’s Greek Spanakopita layers delicate filo pastry around a rich filling of spinach, feta, and other cheeses, with herbs adding extra flavor.
Once baked, the exterior turns crisp while the filling stays soft and savory. It earned a runner-up spot in Trader Joe’s 2026 Customer Choice Awards, making it a dependable freezer option for appetizers or light meals.
12. Parmesan Pastry Pups — $5.49
2026 CUSTOMER CHOICE FAVORITE • PARTY APPETIZER
These miniature beef hot dogs are wrapped in buttery puff pastry and finished with Parmesan cheese. They bake into golden, flaky bites with a savory center.
They’re an easy crowd-pleaser for parties and movie nights. Their continued popularity earned them a runner-up position in Trader Joe’s 2026 appetizer awards.
11. Pastry Bites with Feta Cheese & Caramelized Onions — $5.49
FAN FAVORITE • SWEET AND SAVORY COMBINATION
These small puff pastry cups combine tangy feta with sweet caramelized onions for a surprisingly rich appetizer.
The buttery pastry adds a crisp contrast to the creamy filling. They’ve earned praise in 2026 frozen-food roundups and are especially convenient when you need an appetizer that looks more elaborate than it is.
10. Double Chocolate Croissants — $5.99
CHOCOLATE LOVER’S FAVORITE • RICH BAKERY-STYLE TREAT
Trader Joe’s takes its popular Chocolate Croissants a step further with cocoa-flavored dough and a generous semisweet chocolate filling.
After overnight proofing and baking, the croissants develop flaky layers and a deeply chocolatey flavor. They’re deliciously indulgent, although the richness might be too much for anyone who prefers a lighter breakfast pastry.
9. Cannelés — $5.49
NEW FOR SPRING 2026 • LIMITED-TIME FRENCH PASTRY
These traditional French pastries feature a deeply caramelized exterior and a soft, custard-like center flavored with vanilla and a touch of rum.
They earned enthusiastic reviews when they arrived in March 2026, particularly for their rich flavor and bakery-style finish. The biggest drawback is availability: they were offered as a limited spring release through May.
8. Mini Mushroom Tartelettes — $5.99
2026 REVIEWER FAVORITE • SAVORY PARTY PICK
These miniature tartlets feature buttery pastry shells filled with mushrooms, garlic, shallots, and creamy cheeses.
They’re rich without being overly heavy, and their crisp shells make them excellent appetizers. Recent frozen-food reviews have praised their flavorful filling and delicate pastry.
7. Mini Apple Danish Pastries — $4.99
NEW FOR FALL 2026 • BUZZING FREEZER FIND
One of Trader Joe’s biggest frozen pastry arrivals this fall, these mini Danishes are made with buttery puff pastry and an apple-and-caramel filling. Each bag contains eight ready-to-bake pastries.
An October 28 taste test rated them 8 out of 10, and many shoppers praised their crisp, flaky texture. Not everyone agrees, though, with some finding the apple filling too mild. They’re especially good served warm.
6. Uncured Ham & Swiss Cheese Pockets — $4.99
NEW FOR 2026 • POPULAR SAVORY BREAKFAST
These frozen pockets wrap uncured ham and Swiss cheese inside buttery croissant dough, creating a convenient alternative to a bakery breakfast sandwich.
They’ve been receiving enthusiastic shopper feedback since their spring debut. The pastry becomes particularly crisp in the air fryer, although a few reviewers noted that the filling could be distributed more evenly.
5. Apple Blossoms — $2.49
LONGTIME FAVORITE • EXCELLENT DESSERT VALUE
These individually portioned apple pastries combine a flaky crust with a sweet, cinnamon-spiced apple filling. Each package contains two, making them ideal for smaller households.
They’re especially appealing when served warm with vanilla ice cream. At just $2.49 per box, they’re one of Trader Joe’s best-value frozen pastry desserts.
4. 4 Almond Croissants — $5.99
2026 FAN FAVORITE • BAKERY-QUALITY RESULTS
These frozen croissants feature buttery laminated dough, a sweet almond filling, and sliced almonds on top. They need overnight proofing before baking.
Recent shopper discussions continue to praise their flaky texture and rich almond flavor. At roughly $1.50 per pastry, they’re an impressive alternative to buying croissants from a bakery.
3. Rustic Apple Tarte — $5.99
FALL 2026 FAVORITE • TOP-RANKED APPLE PASTRY
This open-faced frozen tart features a flaky, buttery crust surrounding sweet and tart apples, a cinnamon-spiced cream cheese filling, and sliced almonds.
It returned for fall 2026 and continues to receive outstanding reviews. Warm from the oven, it looks and tastes like a dessert that took considerably more work to prepare.
2. 4 Chocolate Croissants — $5.99
2026 CUSTOMER CHOICE RUNNER-UP • LONGTIME FAVORITE
Trader Joe’s classic frozen Chocolate Croissants remain hard to beat. Their buttery dough rises overnight before baking into delicate, golden layers surrounding semisweet Belgian chocolate.
They placed second in the 2026 Customer Choice Awards breakfast category and continue to earn praise for their bakery-quality flavor. For chocolate lovers, these could easily take first place.
1. Morning Buns — $4.99
NEW FOR 2026 • MOST BUZZED-ABOUT PASTRY
Trader Joe’s Morning Buns are the standout frozen pastry of 2026. Made with the same laminated dough as the store’s famous croissants, they feature cinnamon, brown sugar, and bright orange zest.
After overnight proofing, they bake into golden pastries with crisp, buttery layers and a caramelized cinnamon-sugar finish. A late-October fan discussion drew hundreds of enthusiastic comments, while recent food reviews continue to rave about them.
At $4.99 for four pastries, these deserve the top spot for their impressive texture, distinctive flavor, and enthusiastic shopper response.
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe’s frozen pastries can turn an ordinary breakfast or last-minute gathering into something special. The Morning Buns, Chocolate Croissants, and Rustic Apple Tarte lead this ranking, while newer favorites like the Mini Apple Danish Pastries and Ham & Swiss Cheese Pockets are worth trying.
Editor’s Note: This editorial ranking is based on 2026 product information, published taste tests, and customer reviews, not an independent tasting of all 18 items. Prices and availability may vary by location. Some seasonal and limited-time pastries, including the Cannelés and Mini Spicy Pumpkin Samosas, may no longer be available.
