Trader Joe's Shoppers Are Divided About Its New Sunflower Butter Cookies

If you have dietary restrictions, then you probably keep a lookout on grocery store shelves for items that fit your requirements and still taste good. While avoiding things like dairy, eggs, gluten, soy, or nuts due to allergies or other dietary needs can limit your shopping options (via ABC 7 Chicago), Trader Joe's is here to make sure that its customers can still enjoy some sweet and tasty treats. The popular grocery chain has just released new Sunflower Butter Cookies, which are vegan and gluten-free as well as free from many common allergens, including peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, eggs, sesame, and soy.

These soft-baked, chewy cookies contain bits of roasted sunflower seeds and boast a hint of molasses, giving them a pleasantly sweet flavor. Instagram user @traderjoeslist made a post alerting their followers to the new find, writing: "As someone who has a lot of food allergies (gluten, peanuts, soy, eggs), I appreciate a good tasting cookie that I can actually eat!" They went on to ask their fellow Trader Joe's fans, "Will you be adding these to your #traderjoeslist?" It turns out, some people weren't excited.

For some followers, the answer to the question of whether they'll buy the cookies was an enthusiastic yes. "Gluten free AND vegan?? These are calling my name!" wrote @yourgfbff (via Instagram). Other Trader Joe's fans commented on a post by @traderjoesobsessed, calling the cookies "Really good!" and saying, "Sunflower butter cups are my favorite!! I'm so excited to try these!" However, not everyone was quite as enamored with these new sunflower butter cookies. Some felt they were just rather meh, while a few commenters outright disliked them. 

A few shoppers responded with less than enthusiastic reviews, simply calling them "not bad" or "not amazing, but a solid semi-sweet soft cookie." Some people liked the molasses flavor, but others found them to be too sweet, like shopper @brendanava33, who said the cookies had "Too much sugar." Follower @christmasangel62 remarked: "I added them to my list last trip. I did not care for them, while another dissatisfied Instagram user agreed: "I got these and hated them. Was so disappointed because I love sunflower butter everything." 

So if you already know you are a huge fan of sunflower seeds, or if you simply like to keep an eye out for new sweet treats that are food allergy-friendly, then this new Trader Joe's find might be just what you are looking for. However, for people with a more particular taste in their desserts, these cookies were definitely a hit or miss purchase.