Trader Joe’s already has multiple flavors of cashews and pecans available year round, but for the holidays they dropped Caramel Coffee Cashews and Cocoa Chile Spiced Pecans. I love both cashews and pecans, but between these two, Trader Joe’s Caramel Coffee Cashews are the clear winner.
There’s just a tiny hint of bitterness from the coffee powder as you first crunch into them and then it’s immediately followed by the sweetness from the caramel. I think these would be great in a chocolate cookie, though I don’t usually think to use cashews in cookies. Or maybe crunch them up over some vanilla ice cream.
I usually really like chile and chocolate together. If you’ve ever had the diablo cookies at Tacofino in Tofino or Vancouver, I mean, you know. But with Trader Joe’s Cocoa Chile Spiced Pecans, something about the cocoa and the texture overall make these just ok for me. They have a nice kick from the chile, but I’m kind of like, meh, whatever. They’re not bad, I just don’t love them. I didn’t even think about going back for a second handful. If I was going into an office right now, I’d be leaving these in the breakroom. That said, maybe chop them up and mix them into brownies?!
Check out some other We Tried’s from Trader Joe’s:
Porchetta (rolled Pork Loin)