Trader Joe's Strawberry & Watermelon Marshmallows are the soft, two-tone pink-and-green summer candy that look like they were made for a kid's snack drawer - fluffy fruit-flavored marshmallows imported from Spain in an 8 oz bag. They show up in the seasonal candy section near other novelty sweets like the Xs & Os Valentine candy and the Mini Hold the Cone strawberry ice cream cones. They're cute, they're soft, and they're a fun grab - just manage your expectations on the flavor.
Quick Take: Adorable, pillowy two-tone marshmallows with a fun look, but the strawberry-watermelon flavor is mild - more sweet than fruity. Verdict: Buy. Scores: Taste ⅗ · Value ⅗ · Convenience 5/5 · Cult Score ⅗.
First impression
Let's start with the looks, because that's the selling point. These are swirled pink and green, soft and squishy, and genuinely cute sitting in a bowl. My kids grabbed the bag before I'd even put the groceries away. The texture is the best part - pillowy and tender, a little springier and fresher than a standard bag of white marshmallows. Then you taste them, and the flavor is… gentle.
There's a soft sweetness and a faint fruitiness, but if you went in blind, you might not immediately call out "strawberry" or "watermelon." They're pleasant and fun, just not the fruit-punch flavor bomb the happy packaging suggests.
Price & value
The 8 oz bag runs $2.99 and tends to be a seasonal summer item (you'll usually see it in the warmer months, not year-round). For a fun, imported novelty candy, three bucks is reasonable - it's an impulse-buy price, and the bag holds a good amount for snacking or a small project.
That said, the value math depends on what you want. As a looks-and-texture novelty for kids or a cocoa topper, it's worth it. As a bold fruit candy, you might feel a little shortchanged given the mild flavor. Compared to a basic bag of plain marshmallows (usually cheaper), you're paying a small premium mostly for the color and the cuteness.
Nutrition snapshot
Nutrition snapshot (per 6 pieces, 30g): 100 cal · 0g fat · 25g carbs · 22g sugar · 2g protein. Notable: this is a pure sugar treat - 22g of added sugar is 44% of the daily value in one serving - but it's fat-free. Made with bovine gelatin, so it's not vegetarian. Product of Spain.
Taste, quality, or performance
The quality of the marshmallow itself is good. They're soft, fresh, and fluffy, with that nice springy chew you want, not the dry or crumbly texture cheap marshmallows sometimes have. The two-tone color is genuinely fun, and they hold their shape well. If texture and looks were the whole grade, these would score high.
The flavor is where they fall a little short. The strawberry and watermelon come through as a light, candy-sweet fruitiness rather than a distinct, juicy fruit punch. It's not bad - there's nothing artificial-tasting or off about it - it's just subtle. You taste "sweet" first and "fruit" a distant second.
They do warm up nicely: drop one in hot cocoa and the heat brings the fruit notes forward a bit more, and toasting them over a flame (or under the broiler) deepens the flavor and gives you that gooey marshmallow magic. For s'mores, they bring color and softness, though the fruit flavor mostly disappears under chocolate and graham. Bottom line: a really good marshmallow texture with a flavor that's more whisper than shout.
What other shoppers are saying
Shoppers tend to agree on both points: the soft texture and cute colors get the love, and the mild flavor gets the gentle criticism. The most common comment is that they're fun and kid-pleasing but don't taste as strongly of strawberry or watermelon as the bag implies.
A few people note they're great melted into rice krispie-style treats or hot cocoa, where the softness matters more than bold flavor. The cuteness factor and seasonal availability keep people grabbing them, even knowing the flavor is subtle.
Who it's for & best uses
This is for families with kids, anyone who likes a fun seasonal candy, and people who want a soft marshmallow for cocoa, s'mores, or a cute snack bowl. Three ways to use them: float a few in hot cocoa, where the warmth coaxes out more fruit flavor; thread them on skewers for a colorful s'mores night; or set them out as a simple sweet snack the kids will happily devour.
If you're after the actual fruit flavors more than the candy, you'll get a truer hit from a fresh treat like this berry watermelon smoothie, and for another easy fruity treat the kids ask for on repeat, this Ninja Creami frozen yogurt is a fun one. Dietary notes: fat-free but high in added sugar; contains bovine gelatin, so not vegetarian.
Similar items
- Trader Joe's Mini Peppermint Meringues - another soft, light, sweet novelty that's great with a mug of cocoa.
- Trader Joe's Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups - the bite-size candy-bowl pick when you want bolder flavor.
- Trader Joe's Heart Macarons - a softer, prettier sweet for when looks matter as much as taste.
- Costco's Best Healthy Snacks for Kids - the cross-store roundup if you're stocking the kids' snack drawer.
The scores
- Taste - ⅗. Pleasant and sweet, but the fruit flavor is mild - more sugar than strawberry or watermelon.
- Value - ⅗. Fair at $2.99 for the novelty and texture, but you're paying mostly for the cute factor.
- Convenience - 5/5. Open the bag and snack. Great for cocoa, s'mores, or quick treats.
- Cult Score - ⅗. Cute and seasonal enough to grab, but the soft flavor keeps it from must-buy status.
Verdict
Buy - with clear expectations. If you want a soft, adorable marshmallow for hot cocoa, a colorful s'mores night, or a fun kids' snack, these deliver on looks and texture and they're a cheap seasonal treat.
Skip them if you're chasing bold fruit flavor, because that's the one place they don't quite land - the strawberry and watermelon are gentle, not punchy. For novelty and softness, they're a yes; for a flavor headliner, set your expectations to "mild."
Where to find it: Trader Joe's Strawberry & Watermelon Marshmallows, 8 oz at Trader Joe's. Pack size: 8 oz bag. Price: $2.99, seasonal (typically a summer item). Storage: shelf-stable; store in a cool, dry place. Aisle: candy/seasonal sweets section.
Disclaimer: TradeReats is an independent review site and is not affiliated, endorsed, or sponsored by Trader Joe's. All opinions are my own, based on personal experience.
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