Holiday Foods From Aldi That'll Make You Feel Really Festive

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.

holiday themed food from Aldi — aldi.com

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!

01 of 10

Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Holiday Tree Pizza

A packaged frozen pizza shaped like a holiday tree — Aldi

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.

02 of 10

Connellys Variety Pack

This boozy variety pack comes straight from Ireland, and is perfect for holiday entertaining because it includes one bottle each of Irish cream, crème brûlée Irish cream, and mint chocolate Irish cream. Use these sweet, seasonally appropriate cream liqueurs to serve your holiday guests (or yourself!) Irish coffee, a mudslide, or a celebratory version of a White Russian by swapping the cream for any one of these three options.

03 of 10

Elf on the Shelf Baking Kits

An Elf on the Shelf cookie baking kit with red and black icing — Aldi

If Elf on the Shelf is a star in your house, consider continuing the holiday fun with this elf-focused cookie baking kit. With this kit, you can make 10 elf-shaped sugar cookies and decorate them to your liking with the included royal icing mix and an icing pen. If cookies aren't your speed, look for the elf-themed cupcake baking kit (also sold at Aldi) instead.

04 of 10

Specially Selected Christmas Tree Brioche

A brioche shaped like a Christmas tree — Aldi

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.

05 of 10

Priano Mittens and Santa Hats Christmas Gnocchi

Frozen red and white gnocchi shaped like mittens and Santa hats — Aldi

The winter holidays and gnocchi might not go together like, say, wine and cheese, but Aldi carries not one but two festive frozen gnocchi varieties that are perfect for small or large gatherings this holiday season thanks to their interesting shapes. The mittens and Santa hats are red and white potato gnocchi pieces, while a separate stars and trees version is made with green and white potato and spinach gnocchi pieces.

06 of 10

Emporium Selection Gouda Holiday Trees

A package of gouda cheese shaped like holiday trees — Aldi

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.

07 of 10

Emporium Selection Holiday Goat Logs

Not a fan of gouda? The Emporium Selection label also makes individual logs of goat cheese in a variety of festive flavors, such as gingerbread, eggnog, and cranberry stuffing. While these sweet and savory cheeses might not be everyone's cup of tea, for $2.49 a pop you can spring to feature one of the unusual varieties as part of your holiday cheese selection.

08 of 10

Baker's Corner Christmas Jumbo Cookie Kit

A package of jumbo cookie mix and a foil tin — Aldi

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.

09 of 10

Kellogg's Elf on the Shelf Cereal

Dubbed the "official cereal of the North Pole," this morning treat lets parents (and revelers of all ages) bring the magic of Elf on the Shelf to the breakfast table during the holiday season. Each box of cereal is filled with red and green star-shaped cereal pieces that offer a crispy complement to sweet marshmallows. As if that wasn't reason enough to stock up on this sweet and festive creation, fans note that each spoonful of cereal tastes just like a sugar cookie.

10 of 10

Bolthouse Farms Holiday Nog

For some people, it's not really the holiday season until they have their first sip of eggnog, or something like it. This wintry drink, known as Holiday Nog, is made with milk, egg yolks, a pinch of nutmeg, and a dash of vanilla. Enjoy it on its own, or pair it with some bourbon if you're in an especially celebratory mood. If you're not a fan of traditional eggnog, Aldi also sells the Peppermint Mocha flavor, which has Dutch cocoa, rich arabica coffee, and a cool hint of peppermint.

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