This New $0.69 Trader Joe's Find Is Better Than Fancy Brands

I'm picky about my yogurt. One of my favorite local brands comes in returnable glass jars and another has a 9% milk-fat ratio that makes it ultra-luxe and supremely delicious.  Yogurt is one thing I'll easily spend too much money on. But thanks to a recommendation from a colleague about the new line of yogurt cups at Trader Joe's, my expensive yogurt habit has been somewhat upended. (Though I'll never fully give up my luxe brands!)

During a regular TJ's run (aka food writer retail therapy), I picked up their new line of  "& Cream" yogurt cups. At $0.67 per cup, I was thrilled that they were already saving me money. But one spoonful of their Meyer Lemon & Cream flavor—consumed in my still-parked car—sold me. How could something this luxuriously creamy cost less than my daily phone screen time in minutes? I immediately went back to buy another package. 

Trader Joe's New Yogurt Cups

I'm referring to them as the "& Cream" yogurt because they come in four dreamy flavors that are, in fact, made with real cream: Vanilla & Cream (for all the vanilla-isn't-boring folks out there), Raspberries & Cream (summer in a spoon), Blueberries & Cream (like your favorite muffin in yogurt form), and the star of the show, in my opinion, Meyer Lemon & Cream. Each 4-ounce cup is the perfect size for a satisfying snack or light dessert.

The texture is like the lovechild of traditional yogurt and crème fraîche. And at less than 70 cents per cup (I know I keep mentioning the price, but I'm still not over how affordable they are), they're practically giving away happiness in yogurt form. Like all of Trader Joe’s dairy products, they're made with milk from cows never treated with rBST. Plus, they use ingredients like turmeric for color instead of artificial dyes, which makes my inner label-reader very happy.

Why I Love the Trader Joe's "& Cream" Yogurt Cups

They're all delicious, but for me, it's all about that Meyer Lemon flavor, which gives fancy lemon curd vibes without any of the fuss. The balance of tangy citrus with rich cream is nothing short of magical. I've been sprinkling on some buttery graham cracker crumbs (basically pieces of this crust) when I'm craving something dessert-like. The combination reminds me of cheesecake, but in a version that’s better for me. After all, at least I'm getting some of that probiotic action.

The range of flavors makes them very versatile. The Vanilla & Cream would be sensational dolloped on top of warm berry crisp or fluffy, buttermilk pancakes, and the fruit flavors are a perfect partner to granola and fresh fruit. In the summer, I think I'll freeze the Meyer Lemon cups until they're just shy of frozen. This will turn them into a literal frozen yogurt when I'm craving something like ice cream but don't want to commit to a whole pint. This yogurt feels way more indulgent than it is, so it could handle being frozen.

Since I usually buy full-fat plain yogurt, they'll never entirely replace my fancy dairy purchases. But they will make a great substitution and addition to keeping my pricey yogurt habit under budget. Even at $0.67 a cup, I can confidently say that they live up to yogurt snobbery.

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