6 Aldi “Little Luxuries” I’m Picking Up Before the End of Summer (They’re All $3 or Less!)

6 Aldi “Little Luxuries” I’m Picking Up Before the End of Summer (They’re All $3 or Less!)
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Moreno Valley, CA / USA - December 8, 2019:  ALDI Store Front
Credit: jdewar96/Shutterstock

August is a month that holds a lot. Some of us are preparing for back-to-school (hi!), while others are making a beeline for the beach. No matter what the weeks ahead have in store for you, Aldi has thousands of staples and seasonal finds worth checking out. 

Sometimes there are a few dollars left for me to treat myself to “little luxuries.” These inexpensive items — a new-to-me snack, dinner shortcut, or summery drink — fall into the “nice to have, but not necessary” category. I don’t usually buy them, but they will make my week run a little more smoothly when I do. 

Here are six little luxuries I’m picking up at Aldi this month (all for $3 or less). 

Box of Baker's Corner Classic Yellow Cake Mix with a slice showing yellow cake and chocolate frosting, surrounded by other cake mixes.
Credit: Patty Catalano

1. Baker’s Corner Classic Yellow Cake Mix, $1.09 for 15.25 ounces

Baking during a heat wave is not my favorite way to spend my summer days, but there’s no other way to dig into a fruit cobbler before the sun sets on the season. If I have to turn the oven on, I’m making the task of preparing my favorite summer dessert easier by using boxed cake mix instead of making it from scratch. Aldi regularly carries three varieties of boxed cake mix: classic yellow, devil’s food, and classic white. Yellow cake mix is my pick for most fruit dump cakes, so that’s what’s going in my cart. 

A hand holding a Tropical Acai Bowl with granola, mango, and pineapple in a grocery store freezer aisle.
Credit: Patty Catalano

2. Simply Nature Tropical Açaí Bowl, $2.85 for 6-ounces

My 11-year-old discovered açaí bowls this summer, and she can’t get enough. I, on the other hand, could do without spending $10 a pop on the bowls from smoothie shops and health food stores. For practically the same price I can buy several days’ worth of these frozen fruit finds at Aldi. For just $2.85 each, they come complete with pieces of mango and pineapple and a carton of granola to sprinkle over the top when serving. 

Bottle of Sparkling Lemonade with a yellow label, displayed in a store with a price tag of $2.79.
Credit: Patty Catalano

3. Nature’s Nectar Sparkling Lemonade, $2.79 for 25.4 fluid ounces

When I look back on the flavor I’ve been enjoying most this summer, it’s lemons. I’ve been making frozen whipped lemonade on repeat and serving citrusy Atlantic Beach pie at neighborhood barbecues. Nothing quenches my thirst on a hot summer day quite like a frosty glass of lemonade — unless that glass comes with built-in bubbles. For just $2.79, you can buy an elegant bottle of sparkling lemonade at Aldi. It’s sweet, tart, effervescent, and perfect for summer.

A hand holding a bag of roasted pepitas with salt, displayed on a store shelf next to pumpkin seeds.
Credit: Patty Catalano

4. Southern Grove Roasted Pepitas with Salt, $1.99 for 6 ounces

Adding a few extras for flavor, texture, and crunch makes even these hodgepodge salads taste special. That’s why one of my favorite little luxuries is a bag of roasted, salted pepitas. Pepitas are a type of pumpkin seed with thin skin and a delicious crunch that’s worth a few extra dollars. 

Box of strawberries covered in dark chocolate with a price tag of $2.69, featuring nutritional information and serving suggestions.
Credit: Patty Catalano

5. Season’s Choice Dark Chocolate-Covered Strawberries, $2.69 for 5.3 ounces

One of the best parts of shopping at Aldi is finding dupes for my favorite name-brand foods. Often I discover that I prefer the taste of Aldi’s less expensive product to the name brand. We’ve all seen the chocolate-covered strawberries in the freezer section, and felt the pain at the register at checkout. It was only a matter of time before the geniuses behind Aldi’s freezer finds came up with their own version. 

These frozen strawberries are smaller and covered in a slightly thinner layer of rich dark chocolate. IMO, that’s not skimping on ingredients — that’s smart product development. It’s easy to pop these fudgy fruits into your mouth in a single bite without risking brain freeze or chocolate-coated fingertips.

Cranberry white cheddar cheese in packaging held above a price tag showing $2.99, with other cheese products in the background.
Credit: Patty Catalano

6. Emporium Selection Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese, $2.99 for 8 ounces

This round of cranberry-studded white cheddar cheese is a longtime favorite, but after the holidays I take a months-long hiatus from buying it. That all changes in August when I start adding it back to my favorite appetizer and dinner spreads. After the break, this cheese tastes even better than I remember. 

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