While it’s hard to compete with the plethora of well-priced holiday items at Trader Joe’s, Aldi, a German supermarket chain that was actually once owned by the same family as TJ’s, certainly gives the beloved company a run for its money.
Though Aldi isn’t as prevalent as Trader Joe’s in the United States, the brand is wildly popular in Europe, and is making a clear and concerted effort to open more stores stateside. Like TJ’s, Aldi is known for selling quality food and home items at reasonable prices, which has helped the company gain traction in the U.S.
Still, despite the obvious similarities between the two chains, Aldi and Trader Joe’s differ when it comes to the items they sell. While consumers can count on TJ’s for favorites like cauliflower gnocchi and orange chicken, Aldi really shines when it comes to seasonal items, and the foods that the company stocks for the winter holidays are no exception.
Aldi shared its first crop of winter holiday items on December 1, and it’s clear that the European company favors items that are both useful and festive. For example, one of Aldi’s most popular holiday items is a frozen pizza shaped like a holiday tree and topped with (what else?) apropos red and green bell pepper pieces.
Not surprisingly, Aldi also has a fair number of holiday desserts to choose from. One of our favorites is the jumbo Christmas cookie kit that comes in two festive flavors. The kit includes special holiday flavored cookie mixes, as well as a 9-inch foil pan for you to bake the dessert in. If you’re expecting a big group for your holiday gathering, this treat is a must.
Scroll down to learn more about some of the holiday foods you can find at Aldi that will undoubtedly put you in a festive mood just in time for the holidays!
Mama Cozzi’s Pizza Kitchen Holiday Tree Pizza
Yes this frozen pizza is shaped like a holiday tree, which automatically makes it more festive than your typical frozen meal. It’s topped with a combination of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, as well as red and green pepper chunks that instantly up the festive factor. Instead of tomato sauce, this pizza (which is produced in Italy) boasts a pesto cream sauce. Eat it solo while you’re decorating for the holidays, or cut it up into small pieces (maintaining the tree shape, of course) and serve it to your guests as an appetizer.
Specially Selected Christmas Tree Brioche
There’s nothing not to like about this buttery French bread, especially when it’s shaped like a Christmas tree. You can find it in two flavors—chocolate chip or vanilla cream—which means you can serve it on its own for dessert, or use it as a festive base for some holiday French toast or a sweet and cozy bread pudding.
Emporium Selection Gouda Holiday Trees
Charcuterie platters and cheese boards are seemingly more popular than ever these days, and they make for a perfect holiday party appetizer or snack. Take your display to the next level with trees made out of gouda cheese, which taste good and add an adorable touch to any cheese plate. The best part about these cheese trees is that they’re actually sturdy enough to stand upright on their own, which means they’ll certainly leave an impression on your guests.
Baker’s Corner Christmas Jumbo Cookie Kit
Sure, you can make a batch of a dozen or so cookies for the holidays, but you can also bake one massive cookie in an equally large foil tin that’s filled with festive mix-ins. This cookie comes in two varieties—Reindeer Crunch and Santa’s Sugar & Spice. The Reindeer Crunch version boasts white chocolate cranberry cookie mix and pecan pieces, while Santa’s Sugar & Spice consists of caramel, sugar, and spice cookie mix. Both jumbo cookies are baked in a nine-inch included pan, making this dessert a prime candidate for a large gathering.