Trader Joe's marshmallows are beloved, so why are they so scarce? We investigated.
Here’s Why Trader Joe’s Doesn’t Sell Marshmallows Year-Round
Published on Feb. 28, 2025
If you love Trader Joe’s, chances are, you have a mental list of favorite items (hello, Jingle Jangle and the ever-trendy mini coolers) that you snatch up when you see them on the shelves because you know they might not be there on your next visit. We get why an indulgent mix of chocolate-covered pretzels and popcorn and pastel-hued coolers are considered seasonal—a decadent treat should be reserved for the holidays, and coolers are naturally in high demand in the warmer months. But why, oh, why do its fan-favorite marshmallows fall into that category?
We spoke to a fan and two people who work at Trader Joe’s to get to the bottom of it. Read on for the scoop.
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What makes Trader Joe’s marshmallows so good?
If you’ve never tried a Trader Joe’s marshmallow, you’re missing out. They have a chewy, creamy and fluffy balance that all good marshmallows ought to possess. They’re kosher and gluten free, and they don’t contain gelatin, which means they are also vegan. That’s a big part of their appeal. But you wouldn’t necessarily know it upon tasting them.
“I’m into the marshmallows! They taste great,” says Selena Hoy, a food writer (and vegetarian) based in Oregon. Hoy reports having tried gelatin-free marshmallows from various brands, and the ones from Trader Joe’s are by far her favorite.
While some folks say that the marshmallows don’t melt as well as traditional marshmallows, Hoy disagrees. “They’re the only readily available and affordable brand of vegan marshmallows that I’ve found [that taste good]—and they work great for Rice Krispie Treats and similar recipes,” says Hoy. “I also use them for s’mores and campfire roasting,” she says.
When are marshmallows available at Trader Joe’s?
Sadly for Hoy, Trader Joe’s marshmallows are not available year-round, though the grocery store sells different varieties a few times throughout the year. You’ll find traditional large, puffy marshmallows during the summer months, which coincide with peak s’mores-making season. “We plan for the large, plain Trader Joe’s marshmallows to return to your neighborhood Trader Joe’s store in a few months,” says Trader Joe’s public relations manager Nakia Rohde.
TJ’s won’t divulge the exact time frame for the marshmallows’ return to shelves, though. Rohde says she can comment only on products currently available in stores. But shoppers and Trader Joe’s employees know secrets, like the fact that these typically show up in late spring or early summer.
Then, in late fall and around the winter holidays, smart Trader Joe’s shoppers know to keep an eye out for the store-brand mini marshmallows. In the past, the store has offered them in traditional, maple and peppermint flavors, says Rohde. The peppermint version was introduced in 2019 as a limited-time product, but TJ’s has since brought them back as a fan favorite.
Why are Trader Joe’s marshmallows not available year-round?
The explanation ties directly to another reason TJ’s is beloved: its low prices. “Our mission is to bring customers the best-quality products at the best prices,” says Rohde. “To do this, we have to manage our store space well. Some Trader Joe’s products are everyday products, and others are only available for a limited time,” she says, adding that most of the brand’s marshmallows are “limited-time products.”
Employees tend to observe and learn about availability too. “Generally, when items are sold seasonally, it either has to do with when the appropriate ingredients are available at a price that Trader Joe’s likes or because the demand is seasonal,” says Elliot Tzinberg, who works at a Trader Joe’s in the Chicago suburbs.
What’s a TJ’s marshmallow fan to do?
- Stock up. Our first suggestion is to buy them in bulk when you see them. If possible, select bags with the longest expiration date and store the unopened bags of marshmallows in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry cupboard.
- Try an in-store alternative. You can always buy the dark-chocolate-covered marshmallows, which are available any time of year. They are more of a sweet treat and do contain gelatin, so they won’t necessarily solve your problem if you’re looking for a vegan alternative.
- Buy a dupe. Give Dandies Vegan Marshmallows a try. Rumor says these are from the same manufacturer as TJ’s marshmallows. But Dandies are more expensive—typically around $5 to $6 for a 10-ounce bag compared with under $3 for the same-size bag of Trader Joe’s marshmallows.
- Search online. If only Trader Joe’s marshmallows will do, you could try the “black market” on Amazon. A recent search turned up two 10-ounce bags of mini marshmallows on sale for $19. Talk about a markup! But as one verified purchaser noted on the site, “Desperate times call for desperate measures!”
Perhaps all the Trader Joe’s marshmallow fans should come together to start a campaign. As Rohde says, the best way to get Trader Joe’s to offer these marshmallows more frequently is to demonstrate the demand. “In general, we believe that customers ‘vote’ on what they love—and what they want to see more of—with their dollars,” she says. You know what you need to do!
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Sources:
- Selena Hoy, food writer based in Oregon; interviewed, February 2025
- Nakia Rohde, public relations manager at Trader Joe’s; interviewed, February 2025
- Elliot Tzinberg, Trader Joe’s employee in metropolitan Chicago; interviewed, February 2025
