Welcome to the review of my favorite Trader Joe’s product.  No joke, we absolutely love this stuff.  We stock up on it every fall when every pumpkin product imaginable grace’s Trader Joe’s shelves, and we keep enough on hand to last us through the rest of the year as new products rotate in to replace it.  When I’m not in the mood to make waffles from scratch, I reach for this mix.  When my autumn-loving boyfriend is craving something pumpkin flavored in the middle of July, I reach for this mix.  I’ve even meal-prepped waffles for weekends away using this mix.  It’s easy, it’s lightly pumpkin-y, and it makes a pretty tasty waffle.

While I’ve personally never used this mix to make pancakes, it can be done!  The box provides instructions for both pancakes and waffles, and for scaling up to make the whole box if cooking for a crowd.  For the waffles, all you need is a little melted butter (2 tbsp), 1 egg, and ¾ cup of water (I’ve subbed with milk too), and along with 1 cup of mix, you’re on your way to waffle perfection.  This is a perfect amount to make two waffles in my waffle maker, although different waffle makers may yield fewer or more waffles depending on the size (mine are pretty big).  I prefer to eat these fresh out of the machine (piping hot!) with a quick slathering of butter and drizzle of maple syrup, but they can be stored in a warm oven (set to 200F) while more are made if cooking for a crowd.

This mix does contain real pumpkin, and its light on the pumpkin spice, which I appreciate.  The flavors of both come through nicely, but are well balanced and not overpowering.  If you want to dress these up, feel free to throw in a handful of mini chocolate chips or frozen blueberries for a more deluxe breakfast experience, or add in a small handful of chia seeds or flax seeds for added health if that’s your breakfast scene.  I usually go with what comes straight in the box, because why mess with perfection?  These also pair very nicely with breakfast sausage and/or bacon, just as a quick breakfast pro tip.

Next fall when you are browsing through the hallowed halls of Trader Joes, sorting through the pumpkin overload, just know that this is one of the pumpkin products that will not let you down.  Maybe you don’t need that pumpkin salsa or confusing pumpkin vinegar (what even will that taste like?), but I will say, you do need these waffles.  Grab a box and treat your cozy, fall self!

Happy waffling, friends!