emmakitchen Hey guys! What screams Halloween more than an ooey-gooey, bright orange Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll for breakfast? I don’t know, and I don’t really care, because these treats are so good that no other options are necessary. Today, I’m reviewing Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Rolls.
I woke up late yesterday morning to a blustery, perfect fall day. The leaves were falling in shades of red and yellow, the sky was pale but sunny, and the temperature was just cold enough to be refreshing. My schedule complimented the weather well, containing a plethora of autumnal activities: a walk around the neighborhood, a 4-hour cookie baking marathon, and a distanced Halloween party later in the night. I had been saving these Trader Joe’s pumpkin-spice cinnamon rolls for a special occasion, and I thought this spooky holiday was a great chance to try them out.
packaging
These ready-to-bake Pumpkin Rolls retail for $3.99 and include 5 rolls and a packet of spiced icing, so it’s a decent value. You can find them anytime during the fall season at Trader Joe’s in the refrigerated section. The tube is the same as the famed Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in that it’s made of cardboard and needs to be ‘popped’ open with a spoon. I had never made packaged cinnamon rolls before these, and was a little disappointed with how anticlimactic the “pop” was, but other than that, it was super easy and self-explanatory.
nutrition & instructions
The nutrition facts and instructions are printed on the back of the tube. These rolls go for 270 calories without icing, or 330 calories with. (But, who doesn’t use icing?!)
The instructions are as easy as they come; you simply put the pumpkin rolls onto a baking sheet, bake, and ice.
However, there were some discrepancies between the print and what I had to actually do. I found that they needed much longer in the oven than the recommended 18-20 minutes, but that may be because I chose to put the rolls in a greased 8×8 (for that glorious overflowing, full-pan look). I baked them for around 30 minutes and they were perfectly flaky and moist on the inside.
Trader Joe’s is also VERY generous with the icing for these. It comes packaged in the bottom of the tube, and once unfurled, it’s a pretty hefty package. I do count my calories, so I started out light with the icing and figured I could always add more if we needed. Shockingly, and this coming from someone with a huge sweet tooth, I found that a mere 1/3 of the icing was more than enough to douse the rolls in gooey deliciousness. It didn’t even feel like a skimp! So, I would recommend starting out slow. Besides, that way the warm flavor of the rolls really shone through.
baking
The Pumpkin Rolls, filling, and icing themselves are all slightly orange, which adds a super fun and seasonal touch. They’re pre-cut, and are easy to place into the pan, which I just greased with the slightest bit of butter. I was so excited to see what they’d look like when they came out!
Like I said earlier, I did have to cook them a little longer than the label said, but when THESE came out, it was totally worth it.
The Pumpkin Rolls came out still bubbling and looking absolutely delicious. The orange color deepened as they baked as well. I let them cool briefly before spreading the icing on top.
the taste test
My family and I found these Pumpkin Rolls to be absolutely delicious. I haven’t tried many other varieties of ready-to-bake cinnamon rolls, but these had a flaky quality that was really addictive. Trader Joe’s advertises these online as basically a cross between a cinnamon roll and a slice of pumpkin pie, and I have to say that’s pretty accurate (and a match made in heaven).
They’re moist, yeasty, and super fluffy. The filling caramelizes in the oven, making for a melt-in-your-mouth breakfast experience, especially once combined with the orange-tinted icing. The Pumpkin Rolls themselves are also extremely satisfying. Earlier, I recommended cutting back on the glaze, and I continue my case here⏤ with a bit less icing, the pumpkin-y, almost savory flavor of the pastry stands out. It’s the perfect sweetness, and the spread of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg rolled between the dough is still detectable.
That’s not to say the icing isn’t tasty, though. It’s a cut above your average cinnamon roll glaze, with real pumpkin purée and plenty of fall spices whisked into it.
The pumpkin flavor isn’t crazy strong here, so if you were looking for a snack that starred the squash, look elsewhere. But if you’re craving a cinnamon roll with a little variety, you should try these. It’s a fun spin on a great dessert, and between the glaze and the roll, there’s just enough pumpkin.
the verdict
All in all, I found these Pumpkin Rolls to be a fun, fall morning treat. They were cakey, they were gooey, and they were a really solid cinnamon roll; definitely a heightened version of the normal packaged kind. If you’re a fall junkie or someone who enjoys creative flavor combinations, I totally recommend these Pumpkin Rolls.
These Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Rolls get 4/5 stars from me! I would’ve enoyed more pumpkin, but they were great as-is. And even the next day, with a little time in the microwave.
If you’re searching for more fall flavors, check out my Brown Butter Double-Chip Pumpkin Cookies with Cranberries & Sea Salt! Or, check out my Reviews tab for more posts like this.
Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you had a great (and spooky) Halloween!
I seriously hope you love it,
