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Just when you think you’re about to finish shopping at Costco, the sweet aroma of baked goods fills the air. You’re soon surrounded by a sea of cookies, cakes, muffins, and pastries, presented with the ultimate question: which one do I choose?
Among Costco’s copious bakery items are mix of new releases and returning favorites, none of which go unnoticed by the warehouse’s most devoted shoppers—and the numbers prove it. According to Costco CEO Craig Jelinek, the company’s global bakery sales were up 16% in 2022. “This was actually the biggest growth, in terms of bakery sales, over the last five years,” he said during the company’s January shareholder meeting.
Over the last few months, several Costco bakery items have been spotted and shared on social media, prompting numerous commenters to enthusiastically praise the treats. Here’s a look at the latest items that have members buzzing.
Nothing screams summer quite like a lemon treat, and Costco’s latest bakery addition is helping shoppers kick-start the season. Last week, Costco fan account @costcohotfinds—aka Laura Lamb—announced the debut of the warehouse’s Lemon Meringue Cheesecake. She said, “My husband’s reaction was, ‘This may be the best one yet,’ and I agree. It’s sweet, savory, and tart. The bakery killed it with the meringue. It was perfect.”
The new bakery item is made with a graham cracker crust, lemon cheesecake, lemon filling, and a toasted meringue topping. It clocks in at nearly four pounds, retails for $19.99, and drew significant excitement from Costco members. “That looks amazingly delicious!!!” one Instagram user commented. Another user who said they tried the cheesecake called it “the best dessert I’ve ever gotten from Costco…hands down!”
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Costco’s lemon-flavored desserts don’t stop at its new cheesecake. In April, the retailer unveiled its Lemon Blueberry Loaf, which consists of a two-pound lemon cake featuring blueberries, a lemon icing drizzle, and a crunchy butter streusel.
Across social media, Costco shoppers applauded the $8.99 dessert. “It’s delicious, very moist, nice zing of lemon and the blueberries seem fresh,” wrote one fan on Reddit. Meanwhile, a commenter on Instagram called it “phenomenal” and “even better” than Costco’s popular lemon cupcakes—aka the Lemon Mini Cakes—launched last summer. However, despite the positive commentary, some shoppers have expressed their desire for a stronger lemon flavor.
About two weeks after Costco introduced its Lemon Blueberry Loaf, the bakery dropped yet another berry item. Weighing almost five pounds, the new Four Berry Pie, which is priced at $18.99, is filled with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries. Instagram’s @costcohotfinds spotted the dessert on May 6, writing, “I warmed mine up with a scoop of ice cream and it was delectable!!!” Another Instagrammer wrote, “Absolutely the best pie that Costco has ever made. It should be available year around!”
Step aside, chocolate chip. There are some new cookies in town. Costco’s bakery is now home to a 24-count box of Confetti Cookies. Filled with sprinkles and white chocolate chips, the colorful treats are currently being sold for $8.99.
Among the nearly 300 comments on an Instagram post from @costcohotfinds, a few users compared the cookies to other confections. This included birthday cake and the confetti cookies from the New York City bakery chain, Milk Bar. On Reddit, one user commented on the texture, writing, “They are soft, but, honestly, the crunch from the sprinkles and white chocolate chips balance it out really well. These cookies are amazing.”
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Costco’s Red Velvet Mini Cakes are generating renewed attention this spring. The dessert, topped with cream cheese frosting and red velvet cake crumbles, has made repeated appearances in the warehouse bakery ever since its original release in January 2021.
“The frosting isn’t super sweet, which [in my opinion] is what makes these so yummy,” wrote one shopper on Reddit, after buying the mini-cakes for the first time. Initially, the poster had asked the Reddit community if the bakery item freezes well. To which, several Redditors responded that they typically eat every last one of the desserts before they’ll even need to freeze them. “I’ve never had them for more than 48 hours lol,” one wrote.
These popular pastries are made with flaky dough, filled with almond paste, and topped with slivered almonds and powdered sugar. After one person took to Reddit to celebrate the product, several others followed. “These are the best pastries we’ve ever had, hands down,” one person commented.
Other Redditors shared tips for getting the most out of the almond danishes. Along with the users who said they freeze the bakery item, one suggested defrosting them in the air fryer until lightly brown, which “brings out the butter flavor more.” They continued, “Add one scoop of Vanilla ice cream, maybe a dash of cinnamon on top. You’re welcome.”
Regardless of whether these carrot cakes are actually mini is still up for debate, but one thing is for sure: Costco shoppers certainly love them. “They’re delicious! Love the cream cheese frosting,” one Instagram user commented on a post from @costcohotfinds. “IT’S ABOUT TIME!!!” another one said, referring to the seasonal product’s return to the bakery. The carrot-topped mini cakes are made with walnuts and raisins and are sold in packages of six for $9.99.
Though Costco has managed to create several fan-favorites within its muffin selection, members get especially excited when the Coffee Cake Muffins are available. The beloved bakery treat seems to drift in and out of stock depending on the store or time of year, according to customers who keep tabs on its availability.
Luckily for any fans who haven’t been able to get their hands on the Coffee Cake Muffins for some time, a Costco member took to Reddit three months ago to inform fellow customers that the product had returned. The announcement quickly stirred up excitement in the Costco subreddit. “Praise Costco they heard our prayers,” one user wrote. Others were caught between their excitement for the item’s return and dread that the muffins could potentially derail their healthy eating habits. “I’ll gain five pounds the week they return for us!” another user commented.
First spotted in November and again in January, Costco’s Cherry and Cheese Pastries feature flaky dough with an apricot glaze and a Greek yogurt and cream cheese filling. Available in a pack of six for $9.99, these sweet and savory baked goods have sparked plenty of chatter from shoppers.
One Instagram user commented on a post from @costcosisters, writing, “These are so so good! The filling tastes like cheesecake – I normally don’t eat anything with Cherry but the lady at Costco recommended these so we grabbed them! No regrets! ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.” A Reddit user expressed a similar sentiment: “I work at a Costco and have often [ogled] them for a while. Bought some and they’re amazing! 10/10.”
Costco’s Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse Cake has received much acclaim. A few months ago, social media users expressed their fondness for the dessert, which features chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, white chocolate mousse, brownie chunks, and a chocolate ganache topping.
One Redditor, who called the cake “next level,” said,”I LOVE chocolate and I didn’t think I could like a cake more than the round mousse cake until I had the tuxedo cake,” while someone else commented, “I’m not usually a fan of bakery cakes but that tuxedo cake is unreal.”
In the past, the Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse Cake has been decorated for the holidays, with Costco previously releasing Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, and Mother’s Day-themed cakes.
Earlier versions of this story appeared in January, February, and March 2023. It has been updated to include the latest information.
