Trader Joe's Brings Back Popular French Dessert Cannelés for Limited Time

The grocery chain's version of the traditional pastry is available from March through May.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:13pm by Ben Kaplan

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Trader Joe's has brought back its cannelés, a traditional French pastry with a fluted shape, for a limited time. The desserts are crafted for the chain by a bakery in the San Francisco Bay Area and are available in the frozen section for $5.49 a box. The pastries are chewy and caramelized on the outside, yet soft and custardy on the inside.

Why it matters

Cannelés are a beloved French pastry with a long history, dating back to at least the 18th century. The return of this specialty item at Trader Joe's locations nationwide highlights the grocer's efforts to offer unique and sought-after products to its customers, even if only for a limited time.

The details

Trader Joe's version of the cannelés is made using silicone molds instead of the traditional copper, which the company says is a more efficient and cost-effective method that still yields the same delicious result. Each box contains four desserts, and customers can bake them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes before letting them cool for a minute or two.

  • Trader Joe's cannelés are available from March through May 2026.
  • The desserts were previously discontinued by the grocery chain before being brought back.

The players

Trader Joe's

A popular grocery store chain known for offering unique and specialty food items.

Institute of Culinary Education

An organization that provides information about the history and origins of the traditional French pastry cannelé.

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What’s next

Trader Joe's plans to have the cannelés back in stock nationwide in a couple of weeks, making the limited-time French pastry more widely available to customers.

The takeaway

The return of Trader Joe's cannelés, a traditional French dessert, demonstrates the grocer's commitment to offering unique and sought-after products to its customers, even if only for a limited time. This seasonal offering highlights the enduring appeal of classic pastries and the grocer's ability to source and deliver specialty items to its loyal customer base.