Ho, Ho, Ho! It sure feels like Christmas time here around Club Trader Joe’s! Trader Joe’s really goes all out for Christmas and it is highly unlikely any person could get through every Holiday related item in the store! I know I can’t do it, but I make sure to hit the highlights and new items that I see this year.
One of those items is the Eggnog Almonds. I have never been a huge Eggnog fan. Many years ago when I was growing up, my parents would have their fair share of eggnog (spiked with something no doubt!) and it always seemed to be in the fridge during the holidays. No matter how much I tried to like the stuff, I never could. I don’t know why it turned me off. When I was growing up, I drank gallons of milk a week. Between me, my brother, and my sister we kept my mother very busy running to the store to get more milk. So, I don’t think it’s a milk thing. I could’ve been the name that turned me off, Eggnog. Think about it. Sounds like yuck! Either way, I never acquired a taste for it.
Fast forward a couple of decades and now I’m married with two little boys and only one drinks milk, the other has an aversion to plain milk, eggs, and cheese (I’m not sure he’s my son!). He likes hot chocolate and pizza and pancakes all have plenty of milk products in them. Funny thing is that he likes Eggnog! I can’t figure this out. Must be my wife’s genes influencing his choices.
Anyway, back to the almonds. I really like the Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Almonds so I thought I would pick these up and see how they compare. I was a little hesitant because of the Eggnog aversion I have, but I said to myself, what is there that you really don’t like about Eggnog? Nothing. I like white chocolate. I like almonds and I like the holiday spices that make up the eggnog mix. Actually, there isn’t much to these, only a handful of ingredients: White Chocolate, Almonds, Nutmeg, Tapioca, Natural Flavors (spices), and Confectioners Glaze. Pure and simple!
First, when you see these things, they are pretty big. Either the coating on them is pretty thick or the almonds are big. Well, it’s both of those. The “eggnog” is fairly thick, but there are some really nice big almonds inside. They also remind me of Quail eggs when I first saw them. They are lightly speckled with little brown flecks. I cut a couple of them open to see how thick the eggnog was.
Opening the package I could smell the delicious eggnog melange of spices and I quickly popped them in my mouth. They have a nice crunch to the outer covering and are then slightly soft and then your teeth hit the almond in the middle. The flavor of nutmeg quickly becomes apparent but not too much. I can only hope those little brown flecks are nutmeg.
I quickly popped a couple more in my mouth and then more and then I had to stop. They are pretty addictive! Be careful!
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed them. They aren’t quite the crack that the Dark Chocolate covered Joe Joe’s are, but a close 2nd place. Get them while you can, I’m sure you won’t see them after the holidays!
I’m going to rate these 8 Bells!
Trader Joe’s EGGNOG FLAVORED ALMONDS Nutrition Facts
Serv. Size about 1.5 oz (42g/ about 1/4 cup), Servings t 7, Amount Per Serving: Calories 230, Fat Cal. 140. Total Fat 16g (25% DV), Sat. Fat :0% DV), Trans Fat Og. Cholest. 5mg (2% DV), Sodium 20mg (1% DV), Total Carb. 706 DV), Fiber 1g (4% DV). Sugars 18g, Protein 4g. Vitamin A (2% DV). Vitamin C (0% Calcium (8% DV), Iron (4°0 DV). Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2.000 calorie diet.
Ingredients:
WHITE CHOCOLATE (CANE SUGAR. COCOA BUTTER. WHOLE MILK POWDER. SOY LECITHIN [AN EMULSIFIER’. VAS A FLAVOR). ALMONDS. NUTMEG. TAPIOCA DEXTRIN. NATURAL FLAVOR. CONFECTIONERS GLAZE. MILK. SOY. ALMONDS. MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF WHEAT. PEANUTS AND OTHER TREE NUTS
SOLD EXCLUSIVILY Trader Joe’s MONROVIA. CA 91016 NO ARTIFICIAL COLORS OR FLAVORS
