Quick Answer: Start with Creamy Toscano with Cinnamon (about $11.99/lb) and White Stilton with Cranberries ($13.99/lb). Add Pink Peppercorn Fontina, Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps and Maple Brown Butter Almonds ($3.99 each or so).
Our top picks
Holiday items arrive around November. We'll update as they land.
All 10 picks
Prices from 2026 roundups unless marked. Items marked "not yet confirmed" were sold last season and usually return.
Best overall
Creamy Toscano Cheese Dusted with Cinnamon
- Status
- Back for 2026
- Milk
- Cow, Wisconsin
- Pair with
- Apples, honey
Why it's here: The rind does the decorating: it looks like a holiday cheese with no work.
Watch out: Sold by weight, and it's a fall item, so the end date isn't known.
Splurge
White Stilton with Cranberries
- Status
- Back for 2026
- Texture
- Crumbly
- Look
- Red and white
Why it's here: Red-and-white color and a sweet-tart taste that guests who avoid blue cheese still like.
Watch out: The priciest cheese per pound here.
Why we picked it (sources)
Chowhound and Sunset list it at $13.99/lb for 2026 (Chowhound, Sunset). Trader Joe's describes it as young, crumbly and mild (Inside Trader Joe's).
Best spread
Holiday Cheer Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread
- Status
- Not yet confirmed for 2026
- Mix-ins
- Cranberries, Riesling, cinnamon
- Where
- In stores only
Why it's here: A festive spread for crackers at a low price.
Watch out: Limited time; it was last seen in December 2025.
Why we picked it (sources)
Parade lists $4.99 for 9 oz in December 2025 (Parade). Trader Joe's says it returns for the holidays and leaves when the season ends (Inside Trader Joe's).
Best goat cheese
Cranberry Chèvre Goat Cheese
- Status
- Not yet confirmed for 2026
- Sporked score
- 9.5 / 10
- Season
- Fall and winter
Why it's here: Cheap, tangy-sweet and festive-looking.
Watch out: Its 2026 return isn't confirmed yet; freezing makes it crumbly.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked scored it 9.5/10 (Sporked). Become Betty puts it at about $4.99 (Become Betty), and Trader Joe's says it returns each holiday season (Inside Trader Joe's).
Best showpiece
Pink Peppercorn Fontina
- Status
- In stores, 2026
- Made in
- Wisconsin
- Format
- 7 oz wheel
Why it's here: The most eye-catching cheese here for under $7.
Watch out: A fall item; how long it lasts into December isn't known.
Why we picked it (sources)
The Kitchn lists $6.99 for 7 oz in October 2026 (The Kitchn). Tasting Table describes the peppercorn and freeze-dried strawberry coating (Tasting Table).
Best cracker
Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps
- Status
- Back for 2026
- Pairs with
- Goat cheese
- Type
- Thin crisp
Why it's here: The only seasonal cracker confirmed for 2026.
Watch out: It's a fall item and can sell out before December.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sunset lists it at $3.99 (Sunset), and Green Wedding Shoes pairs it with goat cheese on a board (Green Wedding Shoes).
Best nuts
Maple Brown Butter Flavored Almonds
- Status
- In stores, 2026
- Nut
- Almonds
- Flavor
- Maple brown butter
Why it's here: A sweet-salty filler for under $4.
Watch out: Size and how long they stay in stores aren't confirmed.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sunset lists them at $3.99 (Sunset).
Best budget spread
Pumpkin Butter
- Status
- In stores, 2026
- Size
- 10 oz jar
- Best for
- Thanksgiving boards
Why it's here: The cheapest jam-style spread here, and it suits the fall cheeses.
Watch out: A fall item; plan it for Thanksgiving rather than Christmas.
Why we picked it (sources)
Mashed lists $2.99 for 10 oz in October 2026 (Mashed).
Best shortcut
Brie en Croûte
- Status
- Not yet confirmed for 2026
- Section
- Freezer
- Bake
- About 375°F, 35–40 min
Why it's here: A warm centerpiece with almost no prep.
Watch out: We couldn't confirm the price or its 2026 return.
Why we picked it (sources)
Trader Joe's podcast gives the freezer location, baking directions and a tip to add jam before baking (Inside Trader Joe's).
Best sweet
Sleigh Ride Cookies
- Status
- Not yet confirmed for 2026
- Size
- 8.5 oz box
- Flavor
- Peppermint
Why it's here: Peppermint for the sweet end of the board.
Watch out: Its 2026 return isn't confirmed; the regular Candy Cane Joe-Joe's were pulled in 2025.
Why we picked it (sources)
Tasting Table lists $3.99 in December 2025 (Tasting Table). Allrecipes reported the Candy Cane Joe-Joe's change (Allrecipes via AOL).
How to build a Trader Joe's holiday board
- Pick one cheese from each lane: the cinnamon Toscano (firm), a cranberry cheese (soft or crumbly) and the pink peppercorn fontina (showpiece).
- Shop early. Fall items are in stores now; holiday cheeses usually arrive in November and leave when the season ends.
- How much: about 2 oz of cheese and 2 oz of meat per guest before a meal, 3 oz each if the board is the party food.
- Fill the gaps with the maple brown butter almonds, apple slices and a small bowl of pumpkin butter.
Every Trader Joe's cheese we rank year-round is on our best Trader Joe's cheeses list, and the full shopping list is in Trader Joe's charcuterie board.
Trader Joe's holiday questions
When do Trader Joe's holiday items come out?
In two waves. Fall items like the pumpkin cranberry crisps and pumpkin butter were in stores by early September 2026. Holiday cheeses such as Cranberry Chèvre and the Holiday Cheer spread usually arrive around November.
How long are Trader Joe's holiday items in stores?
Until the season ends or they sell out. Trader Joe's says its holiday cheeses leave when the holidays are over, so buy them as soon as you see them.
What's the best Trader Joe's cheese for a holiday board?
For 2026, Creamy Toscano Dusted with Cinnamon, which is confirmed back. Pair it with a cranberry cheese: White Stilton with Cranberries, or Cranberry Chèvre when it arrives.
How much Trader Joe's cheese do I need for 12 guests?
Before a meal, about 2 oz of cheese and 2 oz of meat per guest: 1½ lb of each for 12. If the board is the party food, plan 3 oz of each, about 2¼ lb.
Can you freeze Trader Joe's holiday cheeses?
Some. Cranberry Chèvre can be frozen but turns crumbly after thawing. Brie en Croûte is sold frozen. For the others, buy close to the party instead.
How we picked these, and sources
Picks come from 2026 fall roundups by Chowhound, Sunset, Mashed, The Kitchn and Tasting Table, plus Trader Joe's own podcast and 2025 holiday coverage. We marked each item as confirmed for 2026 or not yet confirmed. No taste test covers all of these, so there are no star ratings. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Chowhound: Trader Joe's savory fall finds 2026
- Sunset: Trader Joe's 2026 fall lineup
- Mashed: best new Trader Joe's items, October 2026
- The Kitchn: best new Trader Joe's items, October 2026
- Tasting Table: Trader Joe's best seasonal items 2026
- Chowhound: Trader Joe's cheeses for charcuterie
- Parade: Holiday Cheer cheese spread
- Inside Trader Joe's: holiday episode transcript
- Inside Trader Joe's: holiday shopping list
- Become Betty: Cranberry Chèvre
- Sporked: best sweet cheese at Trader Joe's
- Green Wedding Shoes: Trader Joe's fall items 2026
- Haunted Attraction Network: Trader Joe's fall 2026
- Tasting Table: Trader Joe's December 2025
- Allrecipes via AOL: discontinued holiday treat
For the year-round list, see what to buy at Trader Joe's for a charcuterie board, and for the holidays, our Christmas charcuterie board ideas. Every guide is on our charcuterie buying guides page.
