If you’re the type who goes bonkers for company potlucks, you’ve probably scoured the aisles of Trader Joe’s looking for something a little bit out of the ordinary to share with your friends and coworkers. And it’s quite possible that in one of these searches, you’ve stumbled upon the Trader Joe’s Camembert Cheese and Cranberry Sauce Fillo Bites. Are these the sort of treat that will make potluck enthusiasts jump for joy? We picked up a batch to find out.
First off, to all you microwave maestros out there, these treats need to cook in the oven. They also come in a plastic tray that’s sealed in a plastic wrap (which is unusually difficult to open without a pair of scissors), and you’re going to want to make sure you remove the treats from the tray before cooking. You don’t want to end up with melted plastic all over your dessert, do you? (If you want to see the full cooking instructions, check out our package scans at the bottom of this review.)
As long as you don’t overheat these, they come out smelling fantastic and having a pale color with golden-brown edges. The outer shell ends up very crispy, but it is also flakey in the way that a croissant is. That makes these very satisfying to bite into.
Of course, what makes them even more satisfying to bite into is the cranberry sauce filling. It’s gooey and sweet with that crisp zing of toasted cranberry. Alongside the cranberry filling is a layer of camembert cheese, which has a little bit of a bitter flavor. it’s a great contrast for the sweetness of the cranberry sauce.
So let’s revisit the question we posed at the beginning of this review: Would these be a hit at a potluck? Well, maybe. They’re certainly tasty, but there are only eight pieces in a package. If you want to bring enough for everybody, you’ll probably have to pick up several boxes (unless you’re attending a very, very small potluck). If you’re willing to buy enough for everyone — and figure out a way to keep them warm in the meantime — these do have potential for potluck pleasers, though they’re probably a better fit for a family holiday meal.
The box considers a serving to be two pieces, and we think that’s apt. One serving contains 130 calories (50 from fat) and 125 mg of sodium. In the Freezer Meal Frenzy office, we split these between two people, and each person felt like they had eaten the right amount for a small dessert or appetizer — these are definitely not designed to be a full meal. So our four-piece servings each contained 260 calories (100 from fat) and 250 mg of sodium. That’s still not all that bad for a holiday dessert.
The Trader Joe’s Camembert Cheese and Cranberry Sauce Fillo Bites are tasty holiday treats that come in a small box. And with that small box comes a small quantity of dessert pieces, so if you want to bring these to a large gathering, plan on picking up multiple boxes.
If you want to learn more about the nutrition content, ingredients, or cooking instructions for these Trader Joe’s frozen treats, check out our package scans below.
