I shopped for groceries at Aldi and Trader Joe's, and my go-to budget spot let me down

The Aldi Finds section of the store has a variety of specialty items year-round, and it didn't disappoint this holiday season.

The section was filled with everything from desserts and snacks to holiday-themed party favors.

One standout was the gingerbread kit, a classic activity during the holidays. Priced at $8.50, it included prebaked gingerbread, icing, and assorted candies for decorating.

Unlike Aldi, Trader Joe's didn't confine its seasonal items to one section. Festive snacks and treats were scattered throughout the store, adding little pops of cheer as I walked the aisles.

However, each item was clearly marked as a holiday special, so they were still easy to find.

I saw that Trader Joe's had its own take on a gingerbread-house kit. It was similarly priced at $9.

If you're looking for a classic Italian treat this holiday season, Aldi has a 26.5-ounce panettone for $6.

The store had a chocolate-chip panettone as well as a more traditional version of the cake with dried fruit.

Trader Joe's had a traditional panettone for sale through its Trader Giotto's line.

The 26.5-ounce cake was a dollar more here at $7, and I only saw one flavor option.

Both stores offered unique seasonal snacks, but Aldi's peppermint kettle corn caught my eye.

I'd never seen this flavor before, so I was definitely interested in trying it out, especially since the big bag was only $4.

Trader Joe's seasonal snacks were fairly similar in price to Aldi's.

I liked the festive twist of the $4 spiced cranberry granola. It was refreshing to see a less common holiday flavor profile.

When it came to beverages, Aldi impressed me with its range of holiday-themed coffee creamers.

I saw peppermint-bark creamer for $2.70, and the almond-milk-based peppermint-mocha creamer was the same price.

Over at Trader Joe's, the standout festive drink was its hot-cocoa polar bear.

The $2.50 chocolate bear melts into warm milk to make a tasty mug of cocoa. I think these kinds of items make great stocking stuffers or smaller gifts, especially for families with kids.

If you're looking to save money on holiday treats, Aldi might be a safer bet. It had a nice variety, and its prices were pretty great — I expected as much from the budget grocer.

However, if you want an overall festive shopping experience, I suggest heading to Trader Joe's. The store really impressed me with its range of unique seasonal offerings.

I'll likely be back to both stores as the season unfolds, but for now, Trader Joe's put me in the Christmas spirit just a bit more.

This story was originally published on December 18, 2024, and most recently updated on December 23, 2024.