The $4.99 Trader Joe's Freezer Find So Good I Buy a Few at a Time

It's only in stock in fall and winter, so get it while you can.

Puff pastry is such a versatile ingredient, one that I keep in my freezer most of the time. It’s my go-to topping for a pot pie, the perfect base for a braided pastry, and great for making cheese straws to dunk into soups or stews. Not to mention sweet and savory tarts, turnovers, pigs in a blanket … there are so many uses for this flaky, buttery dough.

My hands-down favorite brand of puff pastry is the one from Trader Joe’s. I’ve tried a few different brands, and TJ’s always comes out on top. It’s only available in fall and winter, so I grab a few boxes to keep on hand when it shows up in stores. The other brand commonly available in my area is Pepperidge Farm, and while it works just fine in a pinch, TJ’s is superior for two reasons. 

Trader Joe’s Puff Pastry

• Price: $4.99 for 18 ounces or two sheets
• Why I Love It: This puff pastry is made with real butter, and it comes in rolled-up sheets, so there are no folds or creases.

Why I Love Trader Joe's Puff Pastry

First, Trader Joe’s puff pastry contains actual butter, and the only other ingredients are unbleached wheat flour, vinegar, water, and sea salt. Pepperidge Farm’s puff pastry is made with shortening and includes corn syrup as well as natural food coloring (turmeric and annatto) to mimic the color of butter. If you need to use a dairy-free puff pastry, choose Pepperidge Farm. Otherwise, the Trader Joe’s version wins in every way! 

Second, Trader Joe’s puff pastry comes in two rolled-up sheets, so there are no folds or creases. If you let it thaw overnight in the fridge, it comes out pliable and so, so easy to work with. Sprinkle a little flour on your work surface, unroll the dough, then roll it out and shape it any way you like. I’ve found that the Pepperidge Farm puff pastry can be a bit stiffer and harder to work with, and since it’s folded into thirds, it has creases when you remove it from the package. 

My Favorite Way To Use Trader Joe's Puff Pastry

My favorite way to use puff pastry is for simple yet impressive-looking dessert braids. They’re just so pretty! I unroll the puff pastry, cut one-inch-thick tabs down both sides, put my filling down the middle, then fold the tabs over, alternating from one side to the other, to make a pretty braided pattern. My favorite filling combo is cream cheese and guava or quince paste. Once the braid is assembled, I bake it in my air fryer oven at 375ºF for about 15 minutes, until it’s puffed up and golden brown. It's so easy and so delicious.

I’m always looking for new ways to use puff pastry, and I happen to have one sheet left in my freezer right now … time to get baking!

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