If I mention a product on my blog, it’s because I really like it and most of the time, it’s because I love the product or item.
Unfortunately, many of my favorite products have recently pulled a disappearing act. All I need to do is blog about something, profess my love for it, and then poof. It goes out of stock, becomes sold out, temporarily unavailable, or permanently discontinued.
They’re seasonal in San Diego, although I have been told by readers that some Southern Trader Joe’s stores carry them year-round.
Now that I know the seasonal situation, I buy a dozen bags or so in December because by December 31, and many times sooner, they are gone for the year and they’re my favorite white chocolate to bake with and the price is also a steal.
Hot Pepper Jelly is gone, too. I’ve been told it’s seasonal.
And I’ve been told they’re just having a hard time keeping it in stock.
Either way, they’ve been out since before 2012 at my store and in surrounding stores, because I’ve checked. Hot pepper jelly and cream cheese makes a great dip.
My next plan was to make a hot pepper jelly and cream cheese stuffed puff pastry appetizer like the Avocado, Cream Cheese, & Salsa-Stuffed Puff Pastry, but that plan is on hold until I find another type of hot pepper jelly.
I blogged about the national travesty the nationwide shortage.
I’ve been told thisfor a few months now that this is on its way back, but so far, it’s still M.I.A.
I’ve also seen that there’s a new Dark Chocolate Bar with Cookie Butter Spread inside of it, but that’s not really what I want. I want jars of Speculoos Cookie Butter spread back.
I have high hopes to make more Cookie Butter Spread Ginger Molasses Cookies (No Bake, Vegan, with GF option). I better locate some Biscoff, stat.
Whoopie Pie Pans are sold out now at my local BB & B San Diego Mission Valley store. I bought the last two pans, but other stores may have inventory and you can order online.
Unfortunately, sometimes stores like BB & B or Target will have seasonal merchandise in the fall and early winter for the holiday baking season and for gifts, and then when those things sell out, they’re gone for good and not restocked.
I need to make another batch of Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies with PB Cups & PB M&M’s in the whoopie pans.
You can make the cookies without a whoopie pie pan and on cookie sheets; they just won’t be deep dish.
Or try a muffin pan.
There were about 20 cans of Cafe Bustelo Coffee for sale at the grocery store when I bough it about 10 days ago, but after blogging about it and professing my love for it, it’s disappeared and is sold out from my local grocery store.
I need to check other stores in the area for it, but in the meantime, I found this Cafe La Llave on the store shelf next to the open space where the Cafe Bustelo is normally kept.
It’s really dark and even bolder in flavor than the Cafe Bustelo, with a bit less “bite”, and it was on sale for $5.99 for the 12 ounce can.
I’ve been brewing it up in my new coffee maker the last two days.
In that sense, the disappearing act of Cafe Bustelo had a silver lining because this was a nice find.
Have there been any items that have pulled a disappearing act from your stores?
This happens to me frequently as I mentioned at the bottom of this post.
I also mentioned here that items like my favorite Balance Bar to seasonal Victoria’s Secret body sprays to hair, makeup, and beauty products that are no longer being made. Fall in love with something and watch it vanish.
Have you found anything as a replacement to replace what disappeared? Is it as good? Even better perhaps?
Sometimes disappearing acts force me to seek out new products that are even better (or just as good). Gotta look for that silver lining.
The winner of the Chobani Yogurt Giveaway is Kris
And thanks for your entries on the new $50 Spa Gift Card & Tropicana Giveaway
So many things that I can’t get anymore being in a small town. But, there are some things that I can get here, but couldn’t find anywhere else. You know, like potatoes. And any kind of sausage or cheese. ;)
This happens to me a lot. Usually it’s because I like the quality version and they are more expensive/less popular and get pulled. A related issue is when I have a fave product and, for whatever reason, the formulation gets changed. A good example is apple sauce. Slowly, each brand started to appear with added flavour (grrrrr.). Also yogurt. A trend lately is for added stabilisers, even in brands that didn’t have them and, IMO, didn’t need it. So annoying.
I hate when they add chemicals or slightly alter foods that were just fine in their previous version or state. Case in point, one of the non-stick cooking sprays I loved, Pam Buttery Spray, was reformulated about 6 mos ago and went from great to un-useable.
I didn’t know if they changed the Pam recipe or were forced to list all the true ingredients, but I recently looked at the label to check the ingredients and I threw the Pam away. That can’t be good for humans, and I’m not a real fan of organic eating or anything like that. I’m going to use the pump spray oils.
I wish I had a TJ’s or a Whole Foods where I live here in Canada. I’ve always wanted to check them out and see what unique foods they carry!
I’ve been having a hard time with stores not having La Tortilla Factory tortillas, anyone know what’s up?
And I’ve been looking for the Cafe Bustela ever since you mentioned it but have yet to locate it:(
Who knew about the Bustelo that it was such a hot ticket. Good luck w/ the tortillas!
You are lucky to even have TJ near you. When I lived in Seattle, TJ’s was on a walking distance from me, now the closest one about 600 miles… :) Although, they are opening soon one in Dallas, TX which is only 250 miles! I can’t wait to go back to Seattle… Enough said, everything disappeared for me in this food desert. I don’t do shopping at WalMart, and finding a good source of natural and organic was a bit challenging. But I found Squash Blossom in Van Buren, AR and I call them “my little Trader Joe’s”.
Glad you found something that (sort of) works for you and you’re making due.
I’ve seriously debated buying that chocolate bar just for the cookie butter spread inside. I’m not sure I should admit something like that but it’s the truth!
Had I known about the cookie butter spread situation about 1 week earlier, I would have packed a suitcase full of Dutch cookie butter spread on my way home from Aruba. The stuff is like $3 bucks for a huge jar and blows all other brands away. Darn.
Those stuffed pastries are perfection! Beautiful photos, as always!
I’m too fickle of a shopper to really notice missing products- I hope from brand to brand a lot, but I was DEVASTATED when my local grocers stopped carrying Newman’s Own/ Green Mountain Flavored coffees. Fair trade coffee is really important to me but I REALLY prefer flavored coffees. Oy. I’ve been hoarding them at my mom’s grocery store upstate and filling my suitcase to bring them back to NYC. :)
Good luck getting your beloved coffee in stock again!
You are so funny, but I understand! I can’t believe the pepper jelly is gone, thank god I have have a jar left in the fridge. From Trader Joe’s I used to love the milk chocolate covered almonds, and the cocoa powdered almonds, all gone! I know there is a few there that I love that is now gone. As for Victoria’s Secret, I love the Vanilla Lace lotions, ect… and they discontinued it. Loved it!!
Oh I do think the Cookie Butter will be coming back soon, it was a hit!
You can get Biscoff Spread at Cost Plus. I compared it to Trader Joe’s and I like Trader Joe’s so much better! Oh just read the comment above and yah, TJ’s got rid of Peanut Flour, I never even got to try it, wish I did!
Oh yah! And TJ’s got rid of my non-fat Frozen Yogurt! I loved that stuff. It’s the only kind I’ll eat! Now I’m angry thinking of all the discontinued items I miss!!
I just moved to a town with a TJ’s and was soo excited to try Peanut Flour and Cookie Butter, among other things, only to find out that they had neither! Of course you already know the reason for the Cookie Butter, but apparently the peanut flour wasn’t popular so they stopped carrying it…I sucked it up and ordered PB2 online. I have Biscoff but was really looking forward to trying Cookie Butter! Would you say it’s better?
In this post
https://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2012/2011/09/discontinued.html
I linked up the peanut flour situation, too. Honestly, I didn’t really love it that much. It was fine but very chalky and although there are a few things to make with it that were fun, I was not a huge fan but I know some bloggers adored it.
Cookie butter vs. Biscoff…Cookie butter is thicker, a bit more intense in flavor. I like them both, subtle differences, though.
You should try to make your own Hot Pepper Jelly! My grandma used to make it when I was very young, I haven’t had it since!
I make chutney but not jelly. Jelly is different because there’s more involved than making jam, preserves, or chutney. For the price, TJ’s is such a deal, not to mention the time factor (and taste) …but…I may have to learn how to make pepper jelly. Wish your grandma was here :)
Makes sense! I’ll have to search TJs on my next trip! I love their Mango Chutney!
I hate that! I thought I was the only one this happens to! It seems like EVERYTIME I find something AMAZING, *poof* what feels like moments later its gone.
So sad!
I just bought the White Choc Chips at TJ’s on Wed, so let me know if you need me ot send some your way!
BTW, I didn’t see any cookie butter and I have heard they have chocolate covered cookie butter which I can’t find either!
Love that your store carries white choc chips year round (or that they still have it from holiday baking season). LMK if/when cookie or chocolate cookie butter turns up for you.
I am bummed by the ‘seasonability’ of red pepper jelly too! I was devastated–for me, I would mix it into tuna fish and serve in a red bell pepper–that was my go-to post workout snack
I love love love that stuff. The more I’d buy, the more I loved it, too. It almost replaced my mango-ginger chutney from them and now that seems a little boring to me, but it’s year round. Your use sounds great and creative. Lmk if it turns back up for you…
it replaced my mango chutney too!! how funny…
The dark chocolate bar with Speculoos spread satisfied my craving.
Yeah and now it’s gone :(
Ug, that is the worst!!! My my heart breaking disappearing act was a Lancome mascara. I recently discovered the Amazonian Clay Mascara, and it is the bomb!!!!!
I have worn Definicils for years if I want to splurge and not just buy the pink & green Maybelline stuff that’s cheap but works for me so well. Glad you found one you like!
I checked out your link, and I’m sorry to say that TJs is not selling a dark chocolate cookie butter spread: it’s a dark chocolate bar with the cookie butter spread inside it. Still, sounds good!
Gotcha, going to edit the post…thank you :)