Costco Bakery Favorites

Bakeries are a lot of fun. They smell great, have delicious looking treats, and feel more special than eating baked goods from a store-bought package. Although the Costco bakery is not the same as going to a small bakery in a cute neighborhood or the city, it is still one of my favorite departments to visit at Costco. I came across a review of several bakery items. Although I have not tried them, I still chose to share the information because it may be useful for people and because it is my website and I like writing about baked goods.

7 Bakery Favorites

1. Carrot Cake

The first item on the list of bakery favorites is the carrot cake. This version is a sliced cake filled with cream cheese frosting and topped with vanilla butter cream frosting. The cream cheese frosting earns rave reviews. The cake  is described as extremely sweet and a great dessert to serve at parties. 

I have only had carrot cake once, back in college. Given how much I like zucchini bread, I am surprised I had never tried it before. It was a simple version, just the cake with cream cheese frosting but I remember it being delicious. While I would happily eat a piece,  now, I would be unlikely to choose it if other desserts were offered and would not buy it to freeze because I am the only one in my family who would eat it. I am sure this Costco version is high quality. However, I actually prefer a plainer cake (I know carrot cake often contains raisins or pineapple chunks) and would prefer a single icing (cream cheese in this case) rather than two types. 

2. Almond Danish

Apparently, even among people who like all the Costco danishes, these almond ones stand out above the rest. The danishes are praised for their flaky outer pastry and the buttery filling. The article suggests warning them up for an even more enjoyable experience.

I am not a danish eater. I used to like cheese Danish and raspberry Danish. However, I now find them too “bready” and sweet. In addition, although I like almonds themselves, I don’t tend to like almond flavored items. However, the descriptions of these pastries sound great, as it can be difficult to balance the different textures of the outside and inside. 

3. Lemon Blueberry Loaf

This bakery item is suggested for either breakfast or dessert. Apparently, the cake is lightly lemon-flavored and filled with fresh blueberries. It is then topped with a sugary icing and buttery crumbs.

This loaf sounds so good. Lemon poppy muffins are my favorite, closely followed by blueberry, making this combination ideal for me. I also love buttery crumb topping. I remember that Costco used to sell lemon-blueberry muffins but I don’t recall seeing them recently, so perhaps this loaf is the replacement. I currently keep a (okay, okay, about three to four) crumb cake from another company in the freezer and cut off a piece every few days. Therefore, I have confidence that the Costco loafs would freeze and defrost well. Maybe worth a purchase…

4. Morning Buns

Another breakfast bakery recommendation is these new cinnamon rolls. They are described as being a combination of sweet and fruity, as they contain both cinnamon and orange flavor. 

When I first read about these morning buns, I was surprised because I don’t recall ever seeing them. Apparently, they are very recent additions to the bakery. Although I love cinnamon rolls (as long as they contain enough cinnamon!), I have never tried the ones at Costco. I would not be inclined to try these ones, as I don’t like orange flavor (although I very much enjoy actual oranges).

5. Cheesecake

The article mentions that the original cheesecake as well as the specialty favored ones. The cake itself is described as “rich” and the crust is recommended for being crispy (vs. soggy). Members like the flavored varieties and also suggest topping the original with fresh fruit. The only “complaints” are the size and the calories.

Ah, the cheesecake…of course it is on the list. I have mentioned that, despite my love of cheesecake, I have never tried the Costco one. This is the first time I have mentioned the cheesecake since my beloved grandmother died in June (99 years old!) and of course I’m thinking about the “cheesecake and Golden Girls” evenings we shared. Maybe one of these days, I’ll actually try it. However, is go for the original, as I have no desire for anything (even delicious fresh fruit) to take away from the pure, sweet, cheesy flavor.

6. Mini Raspberry Cakes

Members enjoy these small cakes (the article makes it clear that they are larger than cupcakes) for the sweet, sugary taste. The cake itself is praised for being soft, filled with real fruit, and topped with buttercream icing. 

Obviously, “mini” is a relative term at Costco. I bet these are delicious. Raspberries present a kosher problem but if certified, I’d be inclined to try these. Despite my love of chocolate, I actually prefer vanilla cake, and these sound like a strawberry shortcake made with raspberries. They are also beautiful.

7. ArtisanRolls

The final item on the list is not a sweet treat. Instead, it is a more traditional bread item, in the form of square rolls. They are crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, and contain a light tangy flavor. Members recommend toasting them or putting them in the air-fryer and then eating them with butter or other spreads, or for sandwiches or burgers.

As I was reading the description of these rolls as being “square”, I wondered about the origin of the word “roll” and whether they technically have to be round. I did not find much. There are actually differences of opinions about the kosher status of the breads at Costco (bread must be pareve and the Costco dough, while pareve ingredients, is cooked in dairy ovens). I do know others who love these rolls and they do look very good, with the different textures.

What do you think about these bakery favorites? Are they some of your favorites as well? Others that you think should have made the list?