13 Overpriced Costco Bakery Items, According To Reviews

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As far as grocery stores are concerned, Costco has an enviable following. The Costco community operates like fans following their favorite rock band; shoppers often post on Facebook groups and Reddit threads and share their undying love for the warehouse chain.

Customers often flock to its bakery in particular, then share their opinions and experience on social media. However, not all of these are positive. Frequent customer complaints about Costco's bakery include higher pricing, lower quality, and smaller portions. In recent years, Costco has put out some pretty overpriced bakery items — and shoppers aren't happy. 

To determine which Costco bakery goods are the most overpriced, we looked to customer reviews, including online forums like Reddit and commentary on Instagram and Facebook, and saw what customers had to say about each item's ingredients, portion, product count, appearance, taste, and shelf life. We also compared the price and quality of Costco's items to other stores.

If you're a Costco member and want to avoid bakery-related frustration, we've got you. Here's a guide to the most overpriced Costco bakery items to avoid.

Prices are as of the date of publication and may vary based on region.

Kirkland Signature's Artisan Rolls should be easy to get right, right? However, on various online forums and social media platforms, this product's reported shelf life is poor. This isn't directed at one fluke batch either; it's a shared experience among many customers. Mold and premature spoilage are frequently mentioned across dozens of reviews. Other customers say these rolls don't taste as good as they used to or that they have an unusual texture.

To put price in perspective, a 12-pack Costco's Kirkland Signature Artisan Rolls costs about $5.99. This price isn't bad considering competitors like Randall's and Trader Joe's price similar items higher. However, considering how often mold is mentioned, even an extra cheap price wouldn't make them worth the risk or disappointment. Artisan or not, these Costco rolls should be at least edible.

Costco's Belgian Waffles are liked but not loved, and people generally find them to be of average quality. Their size is also underwhelming. To us, a "Belgian waffle" is fluffy on the inside, crunchy on the outside, and quite large and thick. One customer on Reddit specifically remarks on the portion size, complaining, "[it's] like [the bakery couldn't] even give you the full waffle."

Customers on Reddit vent about the price of these waffles often. A 10-count of these costs $8.99, which many feel is not worth it for small, so-so waffles. For example, even the more upscale Whole Foods has Costco beat; it sells an 8-count of bakery-fresh Belgian waffles for $5.99. It would be easy and relatively inexpensive to make these yourself. You can also buy a frozen pack of waffles at Costco, which would make your breakfast a total breeze. Based on reviews, Costco customers seem to think these Belgian Waffles are just a greedy exploit and aren't worth the price.

It's easy to make a decent and inexpensive chocolate chip cookie at home — and baking them yourself is a better alternative to buying the Kirkland Signature Gourmet Chocolate Chunk Cookies, which are expensive and lack any exceptional qualities. They cost $9.99 for a box of 24, average-sized cookies, which is pretty steep.

Customers who used to root for Kirkland Signature's Gourmet Chocolate Chunk Cookies now say they aren't good anymore. Shoppers paint these cookies as fragile and generic in flavor. Some customers have also claimed that the recipe has changed, though this has not verified by Costco. 

Although these aren't spectacular, is the price still worth it? Probably not, considering chocolate chip cookies are priced similarly at other grocery store bakeries. For reference, Walmart sells a 10-pack of similarly sized chocolate chip cookies for under $4. 

Many reviews also highlight that, aside from letting the quality go downhill, Costco has rapidly and frequently changed the price of this product. One Reddit commenter reported that the price of this product was $7 at one point.

For such a bakery staple, Costco's Pecan Pie gets rough reviews and criticism for its price. $16.99 isn't bad for a 4-pound pie; however, what's the point if it's not well-executed? Most noticeably, customers lament the pie's problematic consistency, which can fall apart at first forkful. Whether the issue is underbaking, the ingredients themselves, or something else, it's not ideal. In terms of flavor, many say the dessert is far too sweet, while others express that the filling has an improper ratio of syrup to pecans. Regardless of the reason for this criticism, customers are disappointed about throwing out pie after paying close to 20 bucks for it. "I may as well just buy the $40 pie that actually tastes good, or get some other cheap pie that will actually be eaten," said one Redditor.

Ultimately, mid-tier pricing plus below-average quality equals overpriced. There are better options out there in both price and quality, like Sam's Club's Pecan Pie. It weighs 3.5 pounds and costs $12.98, and one customer said that "[its] flaky crust and perfectly sweet, nutty filling make each bite a piece of heaven."

Danishes are a type of baked good you can find at almost any grocery store. The Kirkland Signature Lemon and Cheese Danishes, which weigh 156 grams each, are overpriced. Costco sells a twin-pack of them for $11.99. For comparison, Sam's Club sells a pack of four danishes, which weigh 135 grams each, for $5.98. The Sam's Club version comes in a smaller pack, which is more ideal for small households.

Costco's danishes are yet another bakery item to be hit by inflation in recent years, which has stopped some shoppers from buying them. Customers also report that the flavor of these danishes, which they once enjoyed, has also changed. Reviewers complain they're overly sweet and topped with unnecessary icing. The appearance of these danishes isn't up to table presentation either; customers say they often look squished and have wonky and imbalanced toppings.

Oddly enough, these pastries come in packs of four, but Costco requires members to buy two. This rule is not very economical for smaller or single households that won't eat eight large danishes before they expire. Regardless, they are simply overpriced for what they are.

Strawberries and Cream — and not much else. That about sums it up for Costco's $14.99 dessert that has angry customers heading to comment sections.

It's composed of strawberries, whipped cream, and graham cracker crumbs. Although it's a winning flavor combination, it's nothing out of the ordinary. Since it costs nearly $15, you'd expect that the inexpensive ingredients would be upgraded with a special preparation. Instead, it's three ingredients on top of each other, and customers complain that the strawberries aren't even cut. This makes the dessert awkward to eat and pretty lazy in terms of presentation. While the portion is sharable, it's not astronomically sized. Customers have also reported that these portions are not consistently sized and vary from one package to another.

Variable portions, sad presentation, and low-cost ingredients already point to an overpriced Costco bakery product — but there's more. Some reviewers lament the eating experience as well, with descriptions of a sawdust-like flavor, runny texture, and too much cinnamon. Even those who somewhat enjoy it say it's still nothing more than a tub of whipped cream — for nearly $15. Of Costco's overpriced desserts, this one might be the worst offender.

Costco's Twice-Baked Croissants, which come in multiple flavors, are frequently thought of by reviewers as being not very good or mediocre. At $9.99 for six croissants, it's reasonable to expect more. Some of the more optimistic commenters recommend jazzing these up yourself by throwing them in the air fryer. In our opinion, if you have to do part of the work yourself, it's not worth it –-  especially at this price. 

Other reviewers say they lack filling and, therefore, are not very delicious. The flavor isn't impressive, and like other Costco baked goods, "stale" is a very common descriptor. Unfortunately, a few customers hypothesize that these are made from unsold croissants. The filling isn't baked in and one Reddit comment said they were "extremely dried out."

The overall sentiment about these pastries is that they're average at best, which suggests they're not worth it. These come out to a little less than $2 a pop, but there are better grocery store alternatives. For one, Costco's Twice-Baked Croissants don't outshine Trader Joe's frozen Chocolate Croissants.

Strawberry and rhubarb is a combination you can't go wrong with. But it's the price of these Costco pastries that's not right. We imagine these won't stick around for long, as customers recommend trying them once but never again. They reportedly have a wet texture and don't last long at all, meaning they're not worth it if you can't eat them all immediately. Some say they mold easily, and report seeing spores only a day after they bought them. 

Other reviewers say the size is off, the jam tastes suspiciously generic, and the quality isn't anything above cheaper baked goods at other retailers. One Instagram commenter questioned whether they have rhubarb in them at all, as there is no tartness from the rhubarb. Customers may believe that everything in the bakery is made from scratch, but that may change after they try the lackluster Strawberry Rhubarb Pastries. A box of nine of these is $11.99 – which is way too much for sub-par pastries that spoil easily.

For the sake of full transparency, the Kirkland Signature Pumpkin Pie is not universally disliked. In fact, there are a lot of customers that swear by the quality of this pie, and especially like the price tag of $5.99. So why is it overpriced? 

This popular pie ranked the worst on our list of Costco bakery treats. We theorize customers who buy it are distracted by the price and size and overlook the taste. While it receives praise, many negative reviews from other taste-testers also denounce both the texture and flavor of this pumpkin pie. Mushy, soggy, and wet are some of the unpleasant adjectives used to describe the pie's texture, which could be a result of undercooking. In terms of flavor, customers report weird vegetable-like or over-spiced flavors.

Some also report that Kirkland Signature's Pumpkin Pie used to be a great option in terms of size, price, and taste, but it has gone downhill in recent years. Past enthusiasts of this festive pie flavor now head to Costco's competitors, as they have better options at an affordable price point. For example, Sam's Club has a pumpkin pie for $6 that's only slightly smaller (at 58 ounces) and boasts excellent reviews. All in all, even $6 for the Costco option is a lot if there are much better options available.

Costco's Kirkland Signature Cinnamon Coffee Cake has received a lot of feedback for being too dry. One commenter on Instagram confessed they "threw the whole thing out." Another Reddit reviewer said, "I don't think the raccoons will even eat this coffee cake." These reviews are candid, but seem justified. Other less scathing reviews mention that the baked good lacks topping, which is arguably the best part of this type of treat. Others say it tastes overbaked, while some complain the cake is too dense or too sweet. This 30-ounce coffee cake is also described as not marbled enough and mediocre. The list goes on.

$9.99 is too much to pay for such a poor-quality cake, especially when there are far better alternatives out there. For example, BJ's Wholesale sells a Wellsley Farms Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake for around $11. This option is both highly rated and gives you 38 ounces of cake. Trader Joe's also carries a 16-ounce Cinnamon Coffee Cake for only $5.99, though it's about half the size of Costco's offering. 

As in all types of Costco muffins? Yep, and here's why. According to reviews, the Kirkland Signature muffins go bad fast – no matter the flavor. Customers also claim these muffins fall apart easily to the point that they're difficult to eat. Past customers say Costco's muffins have changed dramatically and aren't what they used to be in terms of taste and texture. And to make matters worse, the muffins have allegedly shrunk.

The price has gone up too. Costco's muffins are now sold in packs of eight for $6.99, which seems to be the main point of frustration. In comparison, Costco's packs of muffins used to be 12 for $9.99. Higher prices and lower-quality muffins have customers fed up. Plus, many Costco shoppers return this bakery item. 

Other stores price their muffins similarly. For example, Sam's Club's 6-pack of muffins is sold for $6.74. Although Sam's Club offers fewer muffins in a pack, the total weight of the packaging is around the same. With that said, customers soundly agree that Costco's muffins are overpriced. The argument makes sense when you consider shelf life, size, quality, and the value the warehouse used to offer.

The Kirkland Signature Variety Dessert Bars are not worth the hype. Although the box contains a total of 32 bars, it's still $20 – a high price to pay for baked goods. Plus, more doesn't always equal better. Unless you have a good reason to eat 32 bars immediately, you'll have to freeze them to keep them fresh. At closer examination, the price is pretty close to a dollar per bar, and each bar isn't very large.

More importantly, the bars themselves just aren't that good. One Redditor said that "[they] wouldn't buy them again even at half price." There are also customer reports of odd flavors and concern over the ingredient list. Some of the bars get more compliments than others, and the most disliked ones are described as too dry and too sweet. Many customers say they look better than they taste. In short, spend your money on baked goods that you'll enjoy.

Kirkland Signature's Cinnamon Rolls don't have a great reputation. At worst, they've been described as "gross." Others say they're just okay, but lack moisture and a balanced flavor. Many comment that these baked goods taste intensely sweet, while another customer said they don't even taste like cinnamon rolls.  Long-time members call these a less yummy version of what Costco used to have.

Above all, the main gripe is that a container of six of these cinnamon rolls costs over $12. Customers claim they've nearly doubled in price. Other reviewers have avoided buying these cinnamon rolls, knowing they could make their own at home for $3 and with little effort at that. Plus, making these at home means you probably won't see mold within a day – an issue that's been brought up by forum commenters.

Like others on this list, online users have shared their recommendations for how to doctor them up. But at this price, we think these cinnamon rolls should be outstanding right out of the box.

Online discourse about Costco abounds. The grocery chain's bakery especially receives a mixed response, as its baked goods come in and out of favor. The often high price of these items is at the crux of many online discussions. 

There are a few factors to consider when determining whether or not a bakery product is overpriced. The most obvious is quality compared to cost, especially if the quality has not kept up with inflated pricing. Smaller portion sizes and short shelf lives are also red flags. If a bakery item is not good enough to finish, it's not worth buying. These are the primary factors we considered when drafting this list of the most overpriced Costco bakery items. We uncovered information through online forums, social media platforms, and product websites, and also compared the price and quality of Costco bakery items to other stores to compile the final list.