“Once in awhile I am struck all over again … by just how blue the sky appears … on wind-played Autumn mornings, blue enough to bruise a heart.” – Sanober Khan
At the beginning of October I compiled a list of “must-have” Autumn pantry and produce staples – things like apples, apple cider, sweet potatoes, winter squash, and a good supply of teabags for hot tea.
This weekend – and through the end of the month – I’ll be sharing some reviews on specific seasonal convenience food products. Some are certified vegan; some are happily “accidentally” vegan.
Please note that some “accidentally” vegan products may contain “traces” of milk since they are not made in a dedicated vegan facility, and may be made on equipment that also processes products with milk. I personally don’t worry about the small chance a minute amount of cross-contamination could occur, as long as milk is not an actual ingredient and no animals had to suffer or die for that particular product.
First up: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Rolls with Pumpkin Spice Icing.
Trader Joe’s has a lot of hits and misses, but when they get something right, they really get it right! If you like cinnamon rolls, you will love these. If you like pumpkin pie spice, you will REALLY love these! These are a very well executed cross between cinnamon rolls and pumpkin spice pastries. Perfect on a chilly Autumn morning with a cup of strong black coffee! And … thanks to the beta carotene used for food coloring, they quite gorgeous as well.
Prep is simple. Preheat oven to 350. Peel the label from the can – and don’t forget to peel the second, white underlabel from the can! Trader Joe’s suggests pressing a spoon against the can to get it to “pop” – I just gave it a good, quick whack on the edge of my kitchen countertop. Easy.
Next, I faced the only slight bit of difficulty. My rolls were scored, but not actually sliced the entire way through, so I couldn’t separate them with my hands. I had to use a knife to cut the rolls apart.
You then bake for 18-20 minutes.
After the buns have cooled slightly, spread the icing. Trader Joe’s provided a generous bag of icing, so every roll had plenty of the ooey gooey stuff. Most of the pumpkin spice flavor is in the icing, not the bread. Keep that in mind if you have some family members who love pumpkin pie spice, and others who don’t enjoy it quite as much.
This year, Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Rolls are retailing for $3.99. Here’s the nutritional information.
Obviously, at 340 calories (120 from fat) and minimal vitamins, this is not going to become your standard daily breakfast; rather an occasional Autumn treat. (And we all need a few treats!) One thing I should point out is that these rolls are HUGE – hence the high calorie count. Also, take comfort in the fact that these – like all vegan food – are cholesterol free!
Have you tried these? What did you think?
VegCharlotte 
Lovely recipe
Amazing! In the UK we get cinnamon rolls like this and they’re a great breakfast, but imagine if they were pumpkin spice! Lucky you!
Are people in the UK as wild over pumpkin spice as we are here? People lose their minds for it every October. It’s in everything. Pastries, breakfast cereals, coffees, beers, kombucha.
I think it’s predominantly just in the Starbucks drink, I’m not aware of it filtering down to every food like it has in the US!
I love their pumpkin rolls!
Aren’t they great? Perfect cross between cinnamon roll and pumpkin pastry!