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12 Things Tasty Staffers Tried This Month That We Absolutely Swear By

Think of this as your one-stop menu of the gadgets, bites, and cozy fall treats our team couldn’t stop raving about.

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

It's no secret that we here at Tasty are huge foodies. (It is our job after all.) To spread our love for food and cooking even more, we decided to compile a list of our favorite products, recipes, restaurants, cafes, cooking tools, and more that we're loving every month in a one-stop shop. So you can finally know if that viral matcha you keep seeing on TikTok is worth the hype or if you should grab that new snack from Trader Joe's. Whatever it is, we're here to give you our totally honest recommendations.

Without further ado, here's what our staff was obsessed with this month:

The image shows the word "Food" on a decorative background with a leaf pattern

1. High-protein Magic Spoon Cereal that gives you all the nostalgic taste of breakfast cereal without the sugar crash.

Joelle Park

"As a teenager, cereal was my go-to after-school snack, but I had to stop buying it in college when I realized that the carbs were making me groggy and fall asleep reading my lecture notes. Fast forward a few years, and Magic Spoon sent me some of their cereals to try. I was SHOCKED to realize how much protein and how few carbs one serving of these cereals has. The flavors are simple and nostalgic — my favorite combo is a mix of the chocolate and peanut butter. I'm so glad that cereal can re-enter my snack (and sometimes meal) rotation without putting me in a carb coma."

—Joelle Park, Lead Producer, Tasty

Get a 4-pack of Magic Spoon Cereal for $39 (or $31.20 when you subscribe).

2. Chobani's Cookie Butter Coffee Creamer that will turn even the biggest coffee creamer skeptics into instant fans with its warm, cozy spice blend.

Claudia Santos

"Let me start by saying: I'm not a coffee creamer gal. Every time I buy one, I'm usually disappointed by something that's overly sweet or has a weird, tongue-coating texture. But everything changed when I tried Chobani's Cookie Butter Creamer. My oh my. She tastes like a cozy hug with those warm fall spices we all know and love (without being overly spiced, like a pumpkin spice). You don't need to add too much, either! Just a splash in my cold brew was heavenly.

If you need more convincing, the bottle is pretty much empty after being in our communal office fridge for just a few days, so clearly I'm not the only one enjoying it."

—Claudia Santos, Assistant Editor, Tasty

You can grab Chobani's Cookie Butter Coffee Creamer from Target online or in-store starting October 5.

3. A box of Del Real Foods 3 Cheese Quesadilla Bites from Costco for a hosting sidekick that might very well steal the show.

Plate of mini quesadillas held in the foreground, with people and a dog socializing in a backyard setting in the background
Ross Yoder

"My husband volunteered me to host a backyard pizza and wings party for his unit of nurses at the hospital where he works, and I immediately knew I'd need to supplement my menu with some store-bought apps and sides to make it an easier lift. If the 'homemade plus store-bought' dinner party method is good enough for Ina Garten, it's good enough for me. Unfortunately for me (read: my ego), these quesadilla bites stole the show. I probably should've just pretended that I made them, but alas, I have too much anxiety to lie. With a quick crisping in your oven, they're the perfect gooey, melty, bite-sized snack to serve guests alongside any dip of your choosing. Each package also comes with 30-plus quesadilla bites, so rest assured you won't run out while you're fiendishly preparing the rest of the meal." 

—Ross Yoder, Head of Tasty Editorial

Get it from Costco from $15.59.

4. A do-it-all Deep Roasted Sesame Dressing from Kewpie that you can use as a dressing or marinade, and pretty much goes with anything (it's that good).

Fresh green salad with a dollop of creamy dressing and sprinkled sesame seeds
Katie Ward / Kewpie

"This sesame dressing has such a deep and rich flavor. I love that it can be used as a dressing for a traditional green salad, but I also use it to make a quick sesame noodle or a tofu marinade. It has a smooth consistency, so it easily coats your greens, too. Pictured here on a breakfast salad with a poached egg!" 

—Katie Ward, Staff Product Manager

Get it from Kewpie for $8.49.

5. Tillamook's Salty Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream, which one staffer described as "dessert heaven." It's only available for a limited time, so run, don't walk.

A hand holds a container of Tillamook Limited Edition Salty Caramel Pretzel ice cream
Katie Aubin

"I tried Tillamook's Salty Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream, and it was SO delicious! The pretzels are dipped in chocolate, and that mix of sweet caramel, creamy ice cream, and salty crunch is honestly dessert heaven. It’s supposed to be a limited edition, but I really hope they keep it around forever."

—Katie Aubin, Executive Producer, Tasty

Find where you can buy Tillamook's Salty Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream near you.

6. Taylor Farms Creamy Dill Pickle Chopped Kit from Costco for a bagged salad that'll let you skip all the chopping and get straight to eating.

Bag of Taylor Farms Creamy Dill Pickle Chopped Kit held above a salad in a wooden bowl with tongs, in a kitchen setting
Ross Yoder

"Judge me all you want, but I've been staunchly anti-bagged salad for a while. No good reason; I just wanted to think that making something 'fresh' would reign supreme. Reader...I was WRONG. Costco's Creamy Dill Pickle Chopped Kit was my wake-up call. (Now I'm grabbing bagged salads every week.) I only tried this salad because it was randomly free on Instacart while I was putting together my weekly Costco haul, and now I won't check my cart out without it. It's more ranch-coded than pickle-coded, IMO, and it's the perfect hearty salad to toss together with a protein of your choosing for a quick weeknight meal. I'm partial to the Just Bare breaded chicken, but that's just me. You do you." 

—Ross Yoder, Head of Tasty Editorial

Get it from Costco from $7.93.

7. A bag of Trader Joe's Furikake Snack Mix for when you inevitably crave a 2 p.m. (or 2 a.m.) treat. Maybe just buy that second bag in advance, because you'll likely finish this in one sitting.

Bag of Trader Joe's Furikake Snack Mix featuring mochi crisps, sesame sticks, peanuts, and more. Bright and tropical package design
Claudia Santos

"Unfortunately, this bag lasted mere minutes in my house. With all the new Trader Joe's fall products coming out, I think we can sometimes get lost in the pumpkin and apple of it all and miss some true gems. So here's your sign not to overlook this snack mix. It's a surprising blend of sweet and savory (especially the waffle crisps, which have a strong maple flavor), and so satisfying to crunch on. Think of it as trail mix all grown up. The sesame sticks are my personal favorite in the bunch — a whole bag of those and I'd be set." 

—Claudia Santos, Assistant Editor, Tasty

Get a bag of Trader Joe's Furikake Snack Mix for $3.99 in stores.

The image features the word "Drinks" in bold, set against a leafy background, likely promoting beverage options

8. SEX Pinot Noir Rosé for a wine with a cheeky NSFW name and refreshing taste for those of you who like to hold onto summer for as long as possible.

Ivanna Lopez Guajardo

"When someone reached out to ask if I wanted to try 'sex wine,' I said, "Um, excuse me? YES!" (Disclaimer: Sex not included). This Pinot Noir rosé is the perfect Sunday brunch addition. It's citrusy, floral, and so satisfying to drink chilled. I think this was the first time I'd ever heard of and tasted a wine from Quincy, Washington. When I drink American wine, I typically stick to Northern California, but this was a nice surprise.

For the price, you're getting good bang for your buck. Although I enjoyed it on its own, it would also be a great pairing with a light meal like grilled fish and veggies, a chicken harvest salad, or maybe even a margherita pizza."

—Ivanna Lopez Guajardo, Producer, Tasty

Get a 750ml bottle of SEX Pinot Noir Rosé for $20.

9. A box of seasonal Trader Joe's Maple Espresso Black Tea that will give you all the fall vibes without the caffeine jitters.

Claudia Santos

"I'm working on kicking my two coffees a day habit, and this tea has been my savior. The maple and espresso flavors are a little more muted, so don't expect it to taste like a hot cup of coffee, but I find it to be the perfect amount to trick my brain into thinking I'm having a second cup. Adding a little maple syrup and/or milk would up the cozy vibes of this even more (clearly, I opted for an apple cider donut on the side in the name of fall).

This is a seasonal item, so don't fret if you don't see it in stores yet! (I just happen to stock up every season.) The little birdies of the r/traderjoes subreddit tell me you may start spotting it mid-October if you haven't already."

—Claudia Santos, Assistant Editor, Tasty

Get Trader Joe's Maple Espresso Black Tea for $2.99 in stores.

The image has a stylized background with the word "Restaurants" prominently displayed in bold letters

10. Rōk Coffee and Tea in Los Angeles for a viral matcha that's actually worth the line.

Iced matcha latte in a clear cup on a black napkin, with seated people in a blurred background
Joelle Park

"I was dying to call this cream-topped matcha I've been seeing all over my feed overhyped, but even with the line out the door, the first sip was any matcha lover's bliss. I ordered mine less sweet, and it was perfectly creamy, balanced, and had the nutty/grassy notes of matcha that I personally love. I went at 10 a.m. on a weekend and the line was already peeking out the door, but quickly after I arrived, it doubled behind me into the street. The barista said the right time to come is when you're in the mood to wait, but if you come with a good book or a friend, the wait time zooms by and the delayed gratification makes your treat that much sweeter." 

—Joelle Park, Lead Producer, Tasty

You can follow Rōk Coffee and Tea on Instagram to keep up to date with their latest menu.

The image shows the word "Recipes" in bold letters surrounded by a leafy pattern design

11. A recipe for Senegalese Chicken Yassa that might be a labor of love, but is worth every tangy, spicy bite.

Chicken thighs baked with onions and green olives, garnished with herbs, served on a white platter
Simply Recipes

"I love Senegalese Chicken Yassa because of its simple yet complex flavor profile. If you love spicy, tangy flavors, this will be your new go-to. I marinated the mixture overnight with chicken quarters, and the next day, the flavors married so well together. 

After it cooked, I threw in some green olives and ate it with fluffy jasmine rice; it was amazing. I love this recipe because of the flavors, but also the process of making it. It is truly a labor of love!" 

—Anthonia Onyejekwe, Senior Creator Strategist, Tasty

Get the recipe from Nancy Odogwu here.

The image features the word "Tools" surrounded by leaf patterns

12. A 5-in-1 Utensil from Joseph Joseph that will replace the dozens of cooking tools that are crowding up your drawers.

Person cooking vegetables in a pan on a stove, smiling at the camera, in a home kitchen
Katie Ward / Walmart

"My mom gave me this tool five years ago, and I find myself reaching for it time and time again when I'm cooking. It's truly the perfect multi-tool since it is double-sided, has holes in it for draining, and a serrated edge for cutting. I hardly use any of the other kitchen tools that I have. It still works like when it was brand new, but I've still bought a few back-ups that I keep just in case!" 

—Katie Ward, Staff Product Manager

Get it from Joseph Joseph for $11.

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