Trader Joe’s Just Brought Back This Fan-Favorite Holiday Dessert After 7 Years—And You’re Going to Love It!
Ask a Trader Joe’s shopper what their favorite product is, and you’ll probably get more than one answer. The grocery chain has a near-cultlike following thanks to its high-quality, affordable private-label food and drink staples, and it’s hard to settle on “the one.” But when they take a beloved fave away, as TJ’s tends to do, suddenly we can’t get “the one” out of our minds.
So it’s a particularly great day when a Trader Joe’s product stages a comeback. Intrigued? You should be. This one’s been gone for the better part of a decade, and it’s a gem. Care to take a guess? Nope, it’s not Pancake Bread—that wound is still fresh. Chocolate Hummus would be nice, wouldn’t it? Alas, no—but now we’re getting closer.
Coming up, find out which fan-favorite dessert has finally returned to Trader Joe’s, and what fans have to say about this early Christmas gift to us all.
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What fan-favorite dessert is Trader Joe’s selling again?
After a multiyear, decidedly unpopular absence from store shelves, Trader Joe’s Chocolate Mascarpone is back! This soft, spreadable dessert cheese is creamy and delicious and delivers a rich chocolatey flavor that people just can’t get enough of.
Over the last two weeks, loyal Trader Joe’s fans have started to notice the once-discontinued dessert appearing in the refrigerated section. The company quietly updated its website to include the delicious returning favorite, but without a date indicating when the changes were made, so it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when it arrived. But it’s here now!
@laurenmadisonwellness tastes like heaven #traderjoesmusthaves ♬ La donna malese – Riz Ortolani
Chef Lauren Madison, a loyal Trader Joe’s fan, was so excited by its return that she immediately took to TikTok to post a video of the creamy treat with the caption “tastes like heaven,” if that’s any indication of just how exciting this delicious turn of events happens to be.
So wait—is it chocolate or cheese?
It’s both! Mascarpone is a rich, smooth and creamy cheese that originated in the Lombardy region of Italy. It’s typically used as an ingredient in desserts because of its high butterfat content and mildly sweet, slightly tangy flavor. Think of it like cream cheese, but not quite so sharp. To make TJ’s yummy version, chocolate is added into the mix—resulting in a delectable dessert akin to chocolate mousse or whipped cream, but a little bit denser.
The beauty of Trader Joe’s Chocolate Mascarpone is that it’s shockingly simple as far as ingredients are concerned. It’s just pasteurized cream, milk, citric acid, cocoa powder and sugar. Unlike many other grocery snacks and desserts, you can actually pronounce all of these ingredients, making it a slightly less guilt-ridden choice for holiday snacking.
What’s the best way to eat it?
Chances are you’ll be chomping at the bit to dig in to TJ’s Chocolate Mascarpone, so if you pop open the lid and grab a spoon, you certainly wouldn’t be the first. However, there are plenty of other equally delicious ways to enjoy it.
Mascarpone has historically been a holiday treat because it’s used in festive Italian dishes like tiramisu and cheesecake. Chocolate mascarpone is no different—you can use it to make the same types of creamy desserts. Just substitute it for regular mascarpone in your favorite cheesecake, crepe and tiramisu recipes.
During the holiday season, it’s also commonly served with a type of a sweet Italian bread called panettone. Want to keep it simple? Use it as a dip to accompany a tray of fresh fruit.
Why did Trader Joe’s discontinue it originally?
While Trader Joe’s has never given a definitive reason for discontinuing the item, it’s been quite some time since shoppers could pick up a container of this beloved dessert.
According to one loyal fan on Reddit, “they retired [it] like 7 years ago. That was the only time I wrote an email to a company asking for them to reconsider.” Most likely plenty of other fans wrote to Trader Joe’s too, which would explain, at least in part, why it’s back on shelves just in time for the holidays.
However, it’s always been considered a seasonal, limited-time-only release. While fans were used to seeing it every holiday season, Trader Joe’s decided some years ago not to bring it back—until now, that is.
What are fans saying about its triumphant return?
Trader Joe’s fans old and new are thrilled about Chocolate Mascarpone’s return to stores, and many confirmed that they’re wasting no time diving into it as soon as they get the container home.
- “I had to stop myself from eating the whole thing straight from the tub,” wrote one fan on Reddit.
- “I am personally offended that it doesn’t explicitly require adult supervision,” joked another.
- “I’ve waited so long for this,” said another Reddit user.
On TikTok, fans raced to the comments section to share their excitement. Many simply shared how delicious it looks, while others got way more specific.
- “One of the best things they’ve ever put out tbh,” said one commenter.
- “Eating this with a spoon 😍,” said another.
- “Stop it — running to trader joes in the morning,” a third chimed in.
Any Trader Joe’s fans who love chocolate should definitely give it a try before the holiday season is through!
So is Trader Joe’s Chocolate Mascarpone here to stay?
Even though Trader Joe’s finally brought back its fan-favorite Chocolate Mascarpone, it’s not going to be around for long. The limited-time-only treat is back for the holiday season, and it will be phased out with the rest of Trader Joe’s seasonal items once it sells out or the season comes to a close.
Holiday-themed items are usually available until shortly after the new year, but there’s no hard-and-fast rule. Until then, you can stock up to your heart’s content—at just $3.99 per container, it’s affordable enough to put together a little stockpile to enjoy in the year to come.
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Sources:
- Trader Joe’s: “Chocolate Mascarpone”
- Reddit: “New item: Chocolate Mascarpone $3.99”
- TikTok: “Heavenly Seasonal Chocolate Marscapone from Trader Joes”
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