I had resisted blogging about this crisis thinking maybe it would pass and resolve on it’s. But it hasn’t.
Trader Joe’s is TOS (temporarily out of stock) on Speculoos Cookie Butter Spread in my area.
I first discovered this calamity last week on my first grocery shopping trip home after being in Aruba for a month.
Local San Diego store employees told me at that time that this is not a seasonal item and that it’s something they do plan to carry but that they were simply out. Thy thought they would be getting some, “soon”.
Today that changed into what they call TOS. Temporarily Out of Stock, meaning their warehouses cannot get it. Being that Trader Joe’s stores are regionally served, it’s possible that Northern California stores have it or stores in Minneapolis or New Jersey have it, but that’s not going to do me any good today.
Good thing I have a backup jar of it.
And a jar of Dutch cookie butter spread
And my grocery store sells Biscoff spread or you can order Biscoff so it’s not like me and cookie butter are broken up long term, but TJ’s being out of stock with it does put a monkey wrench into a few baking plans I had.
I need to make more no-bake cookies for one thing. The cookies that were made using crushed cookies + cookie butter, because I like cookies with my cookies.
Good thing TJ’s wasn’t out of chocolate today.
I depleted my stash of Baker’s Chocolate yesterday during my baking project and figured I’d try TJ’s chocolate.
I asked the woman who was doing the free sample demo (and I know she can cook because I’ve chatted with her previously) what the chocolate is like and she said very comparable to semi-sweet Baker’s, but smoother and creamier. Sounds like a win to me and at a fraction of the price, ounce for ounce, even better.
I packed up my loot and headed to my car. Gotta love January where it’s almost dark by 5pm. Not.
But I can’t complain because it’s been beautiful in San Diego since we’ve been back from Aruba.
All this nice weather makes me want a Cookie Butter Banana White Chocolate Smoothie
Except now I will be rationing out my cookie butter or using peanut butter in it’s place.
Have you tried Cookie Butter Spread or Biscoff Spread? If you have a TJ’s in your area, is it out of stock at your local store?
Have you experienced any “out of stock” items lately? Or any “discontinued items” you wish you could still find?
Trader Joe’s discontinues things all the time. They stop carrying things that are not popular to make room for new products they hope will be more popular which is how they can keep their prices low, according to articles I’ve read.
Peanut flour was one item they stopped carrying that I know had many bloggers hoarding ground peanuts like it was the Great Depression.
I blogged here about everything from my favorite Balance Bar that I ate almost every day when I was pregnant but is no longer produced to seasonal Victoria’s Secret body sprays I wish were permanent fixtures. Just about the time you fall in love with a product (hair, makeup, and beauty products especially), they stop being made.
Now go hoard some cookie butter spread if you can find it.
I’ve read sooooooo much about cookie butter online, but had never seen it in Ireland so I contacted Lotus (the European Biscoff) and they didn’t have a store list! Currently on the hunt for it and cannot wait to get baking once I find it :D
Hello,
I am French. I live in northern France, 2 hours from Paris and 20 minutes from Belgium. At home, the spiced paste is something very familiar and very common. The Speculoos is a biscuit with spices typical of Belgium. I live right next to Belgium, I go very often. There, I find many kinds of pasta Speculoos of all kinds (with and without pieces, crispy or not). If you want, we can arrange a swap?
Kind of you to think of me…I’d love to come to France and pick some up for myself one day :)
Averie, I know you love Victoria’s Secret body sprays. Do you know if Love Rocks and Pink All My Heart are seasonal or discontinued? It drives me nuts. These are my favorites and my bottles are almost empty. I thought you would understand my fears. :) Thanks!!
My TJ’s has never carried the speculoos cookie butter. Nuts! I have to buy the Biscoff brand.
You know, I don’t know about those two because I don’t wear them but you could call their 800 number and find out in a hearbeat if they are or arent…so you can either start rationing out your last few sprays or breath a sigh of relief :) GOOD LUCK!!
Ok, I’ll try that. Thanks! Yeah, I don’t want to wear them now. I should probably shop for some new fragrances. I may try some of their smaller bottles. You never really know if you are going to love something or eventually get sick of it. I find that I get tired of Bath and Body Works fragrances very quickly. The only one I love is Twilight Woods and so far it’s still available. My previous job did not allow us to wear perfume but body spray was OK. I’m finding that I don’t really like perfume anymore and I’m only buying body sprays now.
Have a great day!
I tire of sprays, too. I am going to start buying the smaller sizes even though it’s not as cost effective ounce for ounce, many new scents I try I don’t finish the big bottle anyway b/c I’m tired of it! :)
Im dying to try this cookie butter. Ill have to head to my TJ’s and see if they have it. I could send you some if yours is still out =)
averie, i was going to report this to you last week as well… i’m in long island, ny and the tj’s here is also out of stock!! aaack!!! i have like half of a jar left!!!
You’ll love that chocolate, Averie. It def beats Baker’s by a country mile, in my humble opinion.
I have a post on this coming up tomorrow more than likely!
I tried TJ’s cookie butter for the first time last month. The little girl I babysit for put it on a toasted piece of whole wheat bread, added a few candles and called that my birthday cake. It may have been the best birthday cake ever! I am not a fan of gingerbread, but that Cookie Butter stole my tastebuds.
glad it was the best bday cake ever :)
CUTE story!
I bought that addicting cookie butter and I made Speculoos cookies with it. I needed to make something in a big batch so that I could giveaway because I was eating to much if it. I have a jar of Biscoff Spread which I bought at Cost plus, but I like Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter better. The Biscoff Spread has been sitting in my cupboard for a couple of months and hasn’t been touched, but not TJ’s that was gone in a day! I think my store in N. CA has it in stock, I’ll check tomorrow. Would make for a great giveaway, it seems everyone loves the stuff!
I finally purchased Trader Joe’s Cookie Spread this weekend and I am in love!! I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not since I am such a huge fan of peanut butters in general… but YUMMY!!! Thanks so much for making me aware of it!
glad you like it!
after reading all the comments. I am going to TJs to stock up on their baking chocolate. who knew?
That’s such a bummer. I hate it when I have plans to make something and the store is out of a main ingredient. Nothing makes me crave something more than not being able to make it! Hope you can get some soon.
I am actually a huge fan of that Trader Joe’s chocolate. I find the quality to be really good and the chocolate tastes great!
ah what a bummer! I hope they restock it soon for you! Perhaps the demand spun out of control and they couldn’t keep up with production. I recently got a jar of Biscoff spread and it is fantastic! I love it just on a piece of toast. I cannot wait to try that smoothie though! Genius!
Yes, it’s often out of stock here on the East Coast too. Imagine the surprise of the company owners! P.S. I’m from southern CA and am jealous…it snowed here today.
Averie – Checked for Cookie Butter at TJ’s here in Maryland today and they said it was out temporarily due to the massive demand. Said it would definately be back! Can’t wait to try it.
Thanks for the cross-country field report! Good to know it’s not just San Diego and that it’s a huge hit, thus the nationwide shortage :)
I have never tried the cookie butter spread, but I am sure I would be a huge fan. There’s a Trader Joe’s about 40 min. from me, which is too far for regular trips, but occasionally I go when I am in the area. I am going to put cookie butter spread on my list for the next trip!
I just re-introduced Trader Joe’s into my grocery-shopping program. I was there last week and their cookie butter display was #1 – right at the front of the store and #2 – over-flowing. I resisted buying some for baking for my Quality Assurance Guy, but after reading through all of your recipe creations, I may have to cave and try it!
try it and grab a jar while it’s still in stock :)
I’m actually…not..a big “cookie butter” fan. I posted about it a few months ago, because I had always wanted to try it but it didn’t live up to the hype for me. I actually still have almost the whole jar in the pantry still, minus on spoonful. A smoothies sounds like a decent way to use it though!
That’s too bad but I’d try baking with it or cooking with it, like you would cook or bake things with PB.
I have never seen that spread…Fun post! Hope you had a great holiday!
I tried Biscoff the other day…mmmmm
Cookie Butter?! What have I been missing? I wish we had a Trader Joes near us. The closest one is about 2 hours away! Looks like I need to keep an eye out for it next time I go. I am super jealous of your weather…it is 8 degrees outside my window! Ugh!
Yes, try it!
I just tried biscoff spread for the first time and I think it’s a new love affair…it may even be better than Nutella, and that’s saying something! Come to think of it…I’m running low on both of those spreads. Hopefully my store has it in stock! :)
I like it better than Nutella, too…well it’s hard to compare choc and non-chocolate things but they are my #1 and #2 all time hits, followed by sunflower seed and PB, too. All different but amazing.
Just a wee bit jealous of your weather. Not going to lie ;-) I have never tried Biscoff. In fact, never heard of it until I saw a few bloggers talk about it.
I’ve tried Biscoff but so jealous of TJ’s cookie spread — there’s no TJ’s here in Orlando :(
Ha! I just posted about this on my blog. :)
My Trader Joes doesn’t even carry the cookie butter- and when I asked about it- they didn’t even know what I was talking about!!
So, I’ve yet to try it- and don’t know if it’s a good idea for me to anyway!
Oh your TJs needs to step up their game…lol :)
I have never tried nor heard of cookie butter, and I am so intrigued. I am going to look for it in the shops here. This may be a silly question, but what is it exactly? What is the ingredients? Really, having ‘cookie’ in the title should be enough but I’m so curious to know what is in it. Hopefully I find some soon so I can try it myself :)
The Lotus Bakery/Biscoff site has the ingredient lists of their spread listed and written out and I’m sure the TJs is similar.
Would you believe that I live less than a mile from a Trader Joe’s yet have never gone inside? So wrong…I know.
I might need to finally check it out now after seeing your giant chocolate baking bar!
I am posting about this later today but that baking bar melted so smoothly and perfectly…LOVED it.
I live in constant worry that TJ’s will discontinue the almond flour (although I could easily make my own), skinny fries, and cinnamon pear cider—which apparently is supposed to be a seasonal thing but my store carries year round. I’ve already seen a few awesome things bite the dust.
I plan on heading there tomorrow though, last I checked we had tons of the cookie butter. I could send you one (if it’s there)!
Oh you’re so sweet to think of me. Just LMK if it’s in stock. That will give me faith that it’s not a gone-forever product. And I HIGHLY doubt they would ever discontinue their almond flour. It’s been around for at least 6 yrs (that’s how long Ive been using it) and probably longer and is probably one of their top selling baking items. I think you’re safe :)
Now I need to try the cinn pear cider!
I’m glad to hear the almond flour has had some longevity! It makes macaron making so much easier!
Also, I snuck into TJ’s today…my store had a whole shelf of the cookie butter! I snagged 2, so if you want one…I can send it!
EEEEKKKK!!! I’m sorry to hear about this, love! I know how much this means to you….
Hahah, I can’t wait to try crushed cookies in my nut butter! Man, I need a TJ’s in Canada…please oh please….someone give us a Traders!
xxoo
Yikes, major crisis! I have not tried the cookie spread yet, I keep forgetting to buy it! But that’s probablly a good thing because it sounds dangerous! :-) I remember how sad I was when peanut flour went away, I wasn’t down having fun with it.
I thought they would be seasonal. I’m glad to hear it’s just out of stock here as well (Orange County, CA).
I used to love Remy Red and they discontinued it I think!
well at least it’s not just San Diego that’s out…makes me feel better but sorry you’re out too.
I haven’t tried the TJs gigantic bars of chocolate by themselves, but I can attest that they melt MUCH better than the chips and the bakers chocolate. I used a giant bar during our bakstravaganza for X-mas last winter and it was awesome. Good results, creamy, and no one noticed a difference for the price. Win-win, right?
Good thing you brought cookies back with you. :)
I *just* got done melting choc about 15 mins ago and I will never, ever, ever go back to anything else. That stuff is MAGIC. It melted so easily and smoothly…omg. HEAVEN!
I haven’t tried any of those spreads – we don’t have anything like that here.
There are a few discontinued items that I have been wanting lately, one are my favourite underwear, and the others are menu items from my favourite restaurant in my city. Luckily my friends own the restaurant and they promised me the recipe for some of my old faves that are no longer menu items.
I MADE MY OWN COOKIE BUTTER. Sorry for the large font, but I couldn’t wait to tell you. I couldn’t live without it any longer, so I made it at home. And it tasted AMAZING. Shall I share the recipe with you? It’s going in the blog soon, but I don’t want to make you wait anymore. Maybe I could do a guest post here? Just let me know!
Awesome that you have a recipe. I know I could make my own, too….but ya know.
I’ve baked with the TJ dark chocolate and it’s amazing!!! I made peppermint and almond joy bark for Xmas with it as everyone raved! And it’s good alone:).
you bake with it? and it’s amazing? AWESOME INFO! Thank you for telling me that! Because AFTER you dump it in a bowl with eggs, sugar, butter…the LAST thing you want is for your chocolate to be just so-so and you don’t know that til it’s too late. Thanks for the info!
I haven’t seen any of that spread in the Ohio TJs the past couple of trips. I tried it off of your recommendation and now am sharing in your disappointment.
I guess it is good for the new year’s resolution to eat less sweets.
Really enjoy your blog, thanks!!
Thanks for reading and writing to tell me about the cookie butter in Ohio. And yeah, nothing like a “forced” New Yrs resolution :)
I got pretty upset when my grocery store back when I lives in St. Louis stopped carrying a certain type of mini soy ice cream sandwich which claimed to be really low-cal. Turned out to be sort of a blessing in disguise though-I was seriously addicted to them and could go through a box or two in one night-not a very healthy dinner….and I think all that soy was making me bloat-y too, haha.
that reminds me of the “fat free craze” of the 90s. There was a line of food called Snackwells in a green box and I could eat half a box of anything at a sitting. So yes it was fat free but not sugarfree or calorie free. And all that sugar and gluten in that weirdly refined form, as I look back, was NOT good for me.
Oh man, I think Snackwells still exist, don’t they?
Yeah, it’s fine to overdo it on delicious desserts from time to time, but I’d so much rather eat real stuff that satisfies my cravings rather than a ton of “health” food that is mediocre.
They probably do exist but I’ve outgrown those green boxes. Unless it’s a Thin Mints box :)
No TJs anywhere near me :( I would be interested in tasting them side by side though. Whenever I buy Biscoff I always buy 2. I’m a hoarder that way. Lol!
I’m a hoarder too with certain things…why buy 1 bag when 3 would be better :)
The Tjs is a little thicker than the Biscoff and a little more powerful or more intensely ginger/molasses..but not much. They are very, very similar.
The Fitnessista developed a recipe for cookie butter since she also liked the Trader Joe’s brand. I haven’t tried it, but she liked it do much she gave it away as a Christmas gift! Hope it helps!
http://fitnessista.com/2011/12/nut-butter-envy/
happy new year 2012 averie! i’ve never tried this cookie butter before, looks great ~ i’ll have to try and pick this up the next time i’m at tj’s! ;)
xx, k
Want to know something… I’ve never had Cookie Butter. I know I know, I’m way behind in that trend :/. I must jump on it! But I live in San Diego too and now I’m worried that I’ve already missed out! Hopefully I can try it soon :)
your comment went into my spam but I fished it out :) and we’re both San Diego ladies…love that and your instagram feed, too! :)
TJ’s sells out of their Candy Cane Tea every holiday season. Luckily, I stocked up this year, but it is a total bummer!!!
well some stuff is seasonally-available, i.e.white choc chips in my store (have heard in southern stores in the U.S. they are available year round) or like some of their holiday cookies and it does come back the next year…but that’s a bummer if they sell out of it prematurely. Glad you’re stocked up!
I used to order speculoos spread from overseas before they had something called Biscoff spread. :) this was before blogging, and I still use speculoos but don’t usually publish those recipes.
as far as Trader Joes and their “discontinuing” practice – I don’t generally buy into conspiracy theory, but… ;) I think they KNOW the hype of the blogger world. they have to, right? we are all puppets in their grand scheme. they discontinue things that are SO popular, why?
and BRRR… the temps have gone up in San Diego! we were in Mexico for a month, and the one night we spent in San Diego on our way home was WOW, so cold! I had to dig out my one and only sweater I brought, wearing it for the first time the whole month! :D I think we were just too used to Mexico sun.
the only thing I wish I could still find – a very specific SHOE that Anthropologie used to sell! Jason even has it on his eBay search… it was one that at the time I swore I would never spend that much on, but… here I am years later still thinking about that stinkin shoe! ;) shoulda bought the dang thing!
I hope you get your shoes! And even though we’d like to think we’re influential in terms of purchasing/buying decisions for big companies, I think blogs and blog readers DO influence things; to what degree or to what powers that be really care..who knows. If they only knew how much money they could make if they tapped into blogs and social media more!
Oh good God, they better have it around here. My TJ’s is about 35 minutes away so if I go there and they don’t have it, I might cry. Seriously.
LMK if they have it or not. Will be interesting to see…
Happy New Year!
I haven’t tried Biscoff or any cookie butter yet, but I’ve looked at my Trader Joes a few times and they haven’t had any (I also live in Southern CA).
As for out of stock or discontinued items, I have bad luck with face wash. My old favorite was discontinued about a year ago, and my current favorite is out of stock about half the time I need to repurchase.
Face wash is classic for being discontinued. My Lancome has gone thru three different names in the decade Ive been using it and Ive thought it was a goner each time I couldnt find it. And it’s also frequently discontinued. I’ve been using the TJs face wash and it’s fine…but it’s not Lancome (which is like $40 vs $5 bucks…so yeah you get what you pay for on that one)
TJ’s discontinued rice noodles! My hubby and I make pad thai at home all the time and were making special trips down to the states to pick them up because they were sooo cheap but then they stopped! So frustrating.
Anyway, happy new year to you! Looking forward to your posts and all the best in 2012.
Oh that sucks about the rice noodles! I hope you find something similar!
My sister introduced me to Biscoff a few months ago and I do have to admit, it’s freaking delicious.
I had grand plans for post-New Years cooking today, but early this morning, the gas in my building was shut off because of a leak. The company’s not coming to work on it until tomorrow! Could be worse, though—if nothing else, college taught me how to get by with just a microwave.
I discovered that my local Big Lots store has a version of the speculoos spread, from Belgium. If I remember correctly, it’s about $3 per bottle.
Haha!! Hopefully you can hook it up via IV drip once it’s back in stock. ;)
I need to mainline it, no doubt. And while we’re at it, could we get a girls wine and cheese (or whine and cheese) party going, too? We HAVE to meet in 2012 :)
Man! That always happens to me that I fall in love with a product and then it disappears…….
And man, your weather makes me jealous! It is a whopping 19* here right now!
stay warm!