This Grocery Chain's No-Sugar-Added Apple Pie Outshines Trader Joe's With Its Balanced Flavor

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If digging into apple pies from 7 bakeries sounds like a fever dream, one Tasting Table writer took on the sweet challenge in an attempt to rate bites of a classic recipe sampled from several brands. The top of the list contained some surprises, however, with Walmart's Freshness Guaranteed No Sugar Added Apple Pie coming in at No. 5 out of the 11 pies sampled, edging out Trader Joe's Teeny Tiny Apple Pies at No. 6. Like many no-sugar-added recipes, Walmart's take relies on the zero-calorie sweetener sucralose and the natural sweetness of apple instead of leaning on traditional sugar. 

Our writer had low expectations when faced with the diet-friendly Walmart pie, but the pastry presented a surprisingly well-balanced flavor that offered salty, buttery richness in the crust. The filling didn't result in any artificial aftertaste that often follows bites of sugar-free desserts. The pie tasted more like a traditional apple pie recipe than some substitute for the actual treat. One Walmart shopper even described the sugar-free pie as better than the version with sugar. The option from Trader Joe's, on the other hand, offered a different approach. Instead of a regularly-sized pie, this individually-portioned purchase could be likened more to a pie-cookie love child than a typical slice of apple pie. The bite-sized format might be cute, but the flavor was flat, with a thin apple filling overtaken by crust and streusel. 

Our writer also noted that the dough in Trader Joe's pie could have used a touch more salt to help balance out the sweetness of the recipe. This appraisal wasn't unique. "Teeny tiny apple pies are the worst thing I've ever bought from TJ's," wrote an unimpressed shopper on Reddit, who described the treat, in blunter terms, as an unpleasant, flavorless mess after trying to warm pieces in both the microwave and air fryer. The Reddit thread is filled with other shoppers sharing their disappointments.

As with many food purchases, not every customer has been thrilled with Walmart's pie. Some have noted gummy crust while others have complained about weak fillings. Those looking to reduce sugar intake have been pleased with the purchase, however. "Diabetics dream!" wrote one shopper on Walmart, who enjoyed eating the pie with sugar-free ice cream or whipped cream. It is worth noting that Walmart's no-sugar-added vanilla ice cream was rated first by another Tasting Table writer in a separate sampling of treats. Served plates can be gussied up to fool guests into thinking the store-bought apple pie is homemade with a drizzle of sugar-free caramel sauce or quick sprinkle of cinnamon. As one shopper wrote plainly on Walmart, "Not Mom's but good enough." Plus, when a pie costs under $5, dessert tastes even sweeter.