As the leaves start to turn and pumpkin spice creeps back onto every shelf, there’s no better time to explore a seasonal snack aisle — especially at Target. I taste-tested some of the fall snacks from Target’s Favorite Day and Good & Gather brands to see which ones capture the spirit of the season, and which ones didn’t rake in the fall flavor. Here’s my honest breakdown of what’s worth grabbing (and what you might want to skip) on your next Target run.
Stars of the season
Favorite Day Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream ($2.99)
This fall treat had the best overall flavor and texture. The orange flannel designed pint instantly gave off fall vibes. I wasn’t surprised to see that the ice cream was a light orange color, but the light pumpkin flavor was surprisingly refreshing and the perfect amount. The most unexpected and enjoyable part about it was the graham cracker crust pieces sprinkled throughout. The combination and texture of these two elements made me feel as though I was eating frozen pumpkin cheesecake.
Favorite Day Pumpkin Spice Mini Muffins ($4.49)
The packaging of these muffins was just a plastic container and a brown label, and the muffins themselves were an orangish-brown color, nothing too fancy. On the other hand, the muffins were moist and had a delicious pumpkin spice scent, with a light pumpkin spice flavor. The smell and taste reminded me of a festive pumpkin spice loaf right from a bakery.
Favorite Day Frozen Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites ($8.99)
A flannel design once again wrapped this box, and the photos of the cheesecake bites added to the autumn aesthetic. Although New York-style cheesecake bites were included, I focused on the pumpkin ones. The crust was a little soggy, but the swirls of pumpkin provided a delicate flavor profile. The cheesecake was also smooth and creamy, and the crust still added a great texture.
Close contenders
Favorite Day Harvest Mini Brownie Platter ($7.99)
Although these brownies were packed in a plastic container with a brown flannel-designed label, the decorations made up for it. Each mini brownie was topped with white and yellow dollops of frosting and garnished with an orange pumpkin candy — definitely a fall aesthetic. The brownie itself was moist and fudgy, and the frosting wasn’t too sweet either. Although this one didn’t seem to have any fall flavors, the festivity and flavor of this treat were a standout.
Favorite Day Fall Harvest Pumpkin Spice Dipped Sandwich Cookies ($4.00)
The orange flannel-designed packaging was giving autumn energy, and the cookies had a subtle pumpkin spice scent. The orange topping on the cookie gave a small nod to fall as well. The pumpkin spice coating was mild, and the cookie was crispy. I think the vanilla crème filling may have made this a little too sweet, but the flavors balanced well together.
Favorite Day Fall Harvest Pumpkin Spice Mini Pretzel Twists with White Drizzle ($3.00)
These also had an orange flannel-designed packaging, and there was a slight scent of pumpkin spice, but not too strong. There was a slightly mellow pumpkin spice flavor, but I wish it could have been stronger. Overall, the pretzels were crunchy, and the colors of this treat provided those autumn vibes.
Missing that fall magic
Favorite Day Frozen Caramel Apple Pie Ice Cream ($2.99)
The bold red flannel design wrapped around the pint instantly caught my eye, reminding me of that time of year when flannels make their comeback. Once I opened the pint, there was a light apple smell, and I could lightly taste the swirls of caramel throughout. I was surprised that the apple flavor was so subtle. Although the pie crust chunks added a nice texture, and it felt like I was eating apple pie, I felt like there was too much of an artificial apple flavor throughout the ice cream. I was disappointed that there weren’t real apple chunks throughout the pint; it might have made the apple element more enjoyable.
Favorite Day Pumpkin Spice Cake Pop ($3.00)
As a cake pop enthusiast, I was really looking forward to this one. But the packaging was just a plastic container with an orange flannel-designed label attached. Additionally, the decoration looked rushed, but the green and orange-colored coating made it look festive. The one thing I liked about this was the pumpkin spice smell, as it was not too overpowering. Once I bit into it, though, I was disappointed to find a chocolate cake instead of a pumpkin spice cake. The coating tasted like pumpkin spice, but the chocolate cake had a gluey texture. I didn’t enjoy the combination of the pumpkin spice and chocolate flavor, and I think a pumpkin cake would have been a better choice.
Favorite Day Fall Harvest Caramel Apple Caramel Corn ($4.00)
The green packaging didn’t symbolize fall very much, except for the green flannel design. When I opened the bag, the scent was very strange, but it also kind of smelled like dried apples. I appreciated that there were dried apple pieces mixed throughout, but the popcorn itself was too sour for my liking — even with the caramel coating. All the flavors combined, though, did make me feel like I was eating a caramel apple — with a touch of sourness.
Good & Gather Fall Harvest Stuffing Flavored Wavy Potato Chips ($3.00)
Although the packaging featured leaf-like designs, the chips smelled like ordinarily seasoned potato chips. I don’t usually eat stuffing, but these chips didn’t have a very distinct flavor and I felt like I could have been eating any kind of seasoned chip.
