8 Costco Bakery Items That Actually Aren't Made From Scratch

Apple pie

Costco's bakery features an array of pies, including cherry, lemon meringue, peach, pecan, pumpkin, strawberry rhubarb, and even a tempting chocolate peanut butter pie. However, none are as renowned as Costco's apple pie. This iconic all-American dessert weighs an impressive 4 pounds, 11 ounces, and customers rave about its flaky crust, delicious filling, and unbeatable price.

While most pies at Costco are crafted entirely from scratch in-house, the apple pie is a notable exception. Current and former employees on Reddit have shared that the apple pie arrives at the bakery frozen, but is baked in-store by bakery staff, who also sprinkle a bit of sugar on top before displaying it. This means the pies are fully baked when you buy them, but you can easily warm them up in the oven if you prefer a hot slice.

There doesn't appear to be any publicly available explanation for why the majority of pies are made in the Costco bakery while the apple pies are not. Additionally, one Reddit user noted that the fruit custard pies utilize a pre-made mix, but are combined and baked fresh in the bakery.

Bagels

Costco bagels seem like they should be a popular choice; after all, bagels serve as a fantastic foundation for a quick meal, come in various flavors, and you can purchase a large box at a reasonable price. However, many Costco shoppers are not particularly impressed with the bagels, describing them as doughy and overly bready, and noting that they tend to mold quickly if not frozen right away.

While it could be attributed to Costco's recipe, one reason the bagels might rank among the chain's less impressive bakery offerings is that they are not baked in-store. Instead, they arrive frozen, which, while convenient for buying in bulk, likely detracts from their flavor and texture. Unlike Costco's pies, there are no exceptions; all bagels are sold frozen, regardless of flavor.

That said, some customers find the bagels to be satisfactory, even if they aren't extraordinary, and appreciate the unbeatable price. Many suggest freezing any unused bagels right away, slicing them beforehand, and toasting them when it's time to enjoy.

Cakes

Costco cakes are truly legendary. Whether you opt for a round or sheet cake, they not only look fantastic but also taste amazing and are budget-friendly. While the ordering process may feel a bit outdated, it adds to the charm of getting a Costco cake. If you decide against preordering, you’ll often find a variety of ready-made cakes available in the bakery. The chain typically offers classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate for their standard cakes, while the mini cakes often feature seasonal flavors.

Regardless of the type of cake you choose, you can rest assured that it’s freshly baked in-store. However, the cakes aren’t made from scratch; instead, bakers use a base mix similar to boxed cake mixes. The fillings, buttercream frosting, and fudge icing are made from scratch, as confirmed by bakery staff on Reddit. The only component not prepared in-house is the colored icing for decoration, which is supplied in buckets. If that gives you pause, you can always opt for a plain cake and add your own personal touch!

Cheesecake

While the bagels may leave something to be desired, Costco's cheesecake is a different story. It's regarded as one of the finest store-bought cheesecakes available, and it's also one of the largest, weighing an impressive 4.5 pounds. The dessert features a crumbly graham cracker crust, a rich cream cheese filling, and is finished with a zesty sour cream layer and a decorative border of vanilla buttercream. Additionally, Costco offers various versions of its classic cheesecake, such as chocolate cheesecake and mixed berry cheesecake.

Customers typically rave about Costco's cheesecakes, so it might come as a surprise to some that they aren't entirely made from scratch. The cheesecake filling is prepared from a mix, but the cake is mixed and assembled in-store, which is a significant step up from being delivered frozen. It's interesting to note that one employee on Reddit claimed their location prepares the cheesecake from scratch, suggesting that this may vary by location.

Cookies

Cookies are among the most adaptable and cherished desserts around. While chocolate chip cookies are a perennial favorite, sugar, oatmeal raisin, and macadamia nut varieties also enjoy their share of popularity. Costco's bakery features a wide selection of cookie options. Some, like the chocolate chunk, are available throughout the year, while others are offered seasonally. Regardless of the variety, they all share one common trait: they are sold frozen.

This isn't particularly surprising; frozen cookie dough is quite common, and given that Costco sells cookies in bulk, preparing them from scratch in-store could be quite time-consuming. Using frozen dough allows the bakery to quickly place them on trays, bake them, and package them for sale.

Thanks to the pre-made dough, customers have discovered a frozen cookie hack at Costco. Some locations offer frozen cookies in bulk, enabling customers to bake only the amount they need at home, which can also save them money. If you decide to take this approach, just remember to avoid eating raw cookie dough. As tempting as it might be, the eggs and, more frequently, the flour can contain bacteria that may lead to food poisoning. In fact, raw cookie dough was involved in one of the largest food recalls in U.S. history for this very reason.

Croissants

Most of the bread products from Costco's bakeries are prepared in-house and made entirely from scratch, including multigrain bread, French bread, and garlic bread. However, croissants are a notable exception, as they occupy a unique space between pastry and bread. These croissants are delivered frozen and baked on-site before being displayed in the bakery section.

To be fair to Costco, making croissants from scratch can be quite challenging. While it's not overly complicated, it involves multiple steps, including chilling the dough for several hours or even overnight. By using frozen dough, the bakery can quickly bake the croissants, resulting in warm, flaky treats in a fraction of the time. For similar reasons, other bakery items at Costco, such as rugelach and baguettes, are also delivered frozen and baked in-store.

Once you bring the croissants home, you can store them in the freezer to keep them fresh for later use. To enjoy them as if they were just baked, simply place the frozen croissants in the oven or air fryer at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about five to ten minutes.

Muffins

Certainly! While muffins may not be the healthiest breakfast choice, they are undeniably delicious. Costco's bakery has featured muffins for a long time, though their offerings have evolved over the years. Recently, Costco revamped its muffin lineup, discontinuing flavors like apple crumb, banana nut, poppyseed, and vanilla chocolate chunk, and introducing new options such as butter pecan and lemon raspberry. Additionally, the brand has upgraded its double chocolate chip muffins to triple chocolate chip and changed the packaging: instead of six oversized muffins per pack, you now receive eight still-large muffins.

It's uncertain whether the new muffins are made from scratch, but the previous ones were not. Costco bakeries utilized a pre-made mix for the muffins, with the batter prepared and baked on-site. It wouldn't be surprising if the new varieties follow the same process, especially given the variety of flavors produced daily. Once packaged, the muffins remain fresh for about a week. To extend their shelf life, you can freeze them and thaw or reheat when you're ready to enjoy.

Tiramisu and Tuxedo Cake

Tiramisu is an indulgently rich dessert composed of layers of ladyfingers soaked in coffee or coffee syrup, combined with a mascarpone mixture. Over the years, Costco bakeries have presented tiramisu in various forms, ranging from individual-sized cups to a hefty two-pound square dessert. When you buy tiramisu from standard grocery aisles, you'll typically find it among the frozen desserts, so it's no surprise that the bakery's tiramisu is also shipped frozen. Upon arrival at the bakery, the desserts are thawed and then displayed for customers.

The same process applies to a few other desserts that are generally not served warm, such as the warehouse chain's tuxedo cake. This rich cake is a favorite among customers. Like tiramisu, tuxedo cake features layers of decadent chocolate cake and creamy mousse, all topped with a generous layer of dark chocolate ganache. Similarly, the tuxedo cake is shipped frozen and thawed before being placed on display. Since this dessert is served chilled, it makes sense for the company to ship it frozen rather than have bakers prepare and assemble it on-site. While homemade treats often taste better, in the case of this tuxedo cake, the frozen version is already outstanding.