Alright, buckle up, pie lovers, because we’re about to dive headfirst into the glorious, colossal, and sometimes controversial world of Costco’s holiday pies! You know the drill: as soon as the leaves start changing color and there’s a whisper of autumn in the air, the warehouse Goliath starts gearing up. They roll out their selection of ginormous pies, perfectly timed for Thanksgiving and sticking around to sprinkle some festive cheer right up until Christmas. It’s a full-on sugar-fed rush, a seasonal event that’s almost as exciting as trying to get your hands on a Tickle Me Elmo back in the mid-90s! These aren’t just any pies; they’re heavy-hitting, oversized, ready-to-serve beauties that save you the defrosting drama and the oven pre-heating anxiety.
Costco, bless their bulk-loving hearts, really knows what their devoted seasonal customers crave. Maybe that’s why they keep their pie menu delightfully simple, offering three cherished selections that cover all the bases: pumpkin, apple, and pecan. It’s like they peered into our collective holiday dreams and said, “Yup, these are the flavors that home cooks are most likely to conjure up for their hungry friends and families.” And let’s be real, while we all cherish the idea of a homemade pie, the thought of skipping the shopping and preparing — all that labor that piles onto an already overflowing holiday task list — is incredibly tempting. These pies are renowned for being comically large and wonderfully cost-effective, but the real question burning in everyone’s mind is: are they truly worthy of a coveted spot on your holiday table?
Well, my friends, I took on the monumental task (and trust me, it was tough, but someone had to do it!) of picking up one of each of these sweet behemoths. My mission? To give them all an old-fashioned taste test, to truly see how they stack up as feast-worthy fare. Every single bite was worth it, a delicious journey to uncover which Costco pie is best primed for your holiday celebration. We’re talking about finding the best, the newest, the most interesting experiences in dining, and today, that means putting these seasonal favorites through their paces. So, let’s get into the nitty-gritty, starting with the contenders that, while good, might not quite hit the top spot.
Coming in at number three on one of our intrepid taste tests, we have the venerable **Costco Pumpkin Pie**. Oh, the pumpkin pie! This is a Thanksgiving and Christmas staple that has practically become an expected part of the entire Costco shopping experience. Seriously, these oversized pumpkin pies are such a fan favorite that they come with their own annual season, eagerly awaited by shoppers meticulously planning their festive feasts. It’s not hard to see why they draw such a crowd; with such generous portions available, ready to serve a gathering of any size, a single purchase can genuinely finish off your entire dessert table.
This prodigious pie is also famous for its eye-poppingly low price, typically ringing in at just $5.99. It makes you scratch your head and wonder, how on earth does Costco manage to sell a pumpkin pie so cheaply? An inexpensive pumpkin pie might sound like a glorious prospect, but how can a pie that costs only slightly more than twice the price of a can of pumpkin possibly measure up when you inspect it more closely? Is there some kind of warehouse sorcery afoot, some secret spell the other chains can’t seem to replicate, that allows Costco to maximize size while minimizing expense? While the sheer grand scale and the heart-swelling price are undeniable draws, the possibility of having a pre-made pie that saves you tons of work is just as enchanting.
Could this real deal ever truly live up to the dream of homemade perfection? Well, the answer is a bit of a mixed bag, a resounding yes, and no, and maybe all at once. The ingredient list is surprisingly trim, providing recognizable flavors. This gigantic bake, with its moist ingredients, absolutely requires refrigeration at the very least. If you’re not serving it right away, you can even freeze it immediately and then thaw it when you’re ready to impress. Just a heads up: you’ll need to clear out a fair amount of freezer space for this bad boy, given its considerable size and inflexible packaging.
Knowing that customers flock to Costco to grab their pumpkin pies as soon as the warehouse puts out the call means you should definitely do some maneuvering ahead of time. You’ll want to make sure you’re able to lock in that flavor before stock dwindles and you’re left tragically pie-less, freezer space or not. When comparing the ingredient lists across all three holiday pie labels, Costco’s pumpkin pie actually appears to be the most natural. There are no thickeners and very few preservatives, which is precisely why it needs refrigeration. This also means your pie won’t stay stable at room temperature for very long, turning soft and slippery and potentially inviting bacteria if left out for more than two hours.
This need for coddling is a quality inherent in most pumpkin pies, and it’s a feature you won’t escape with this one either. So, while you’re getting a truly homestyle pumpkin pie in terms of flavor and ingredients, you’re also getting a bake that needs a bit of tender loving care to stay fresh. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but it’s certainly something to be aware of when you’re making your holiday dessert choices. It’s a whopping 12-inch circumference, enough to feed plenty of hungry dessert fans. To visualize just how much pie this is, imagine a 12-inch pizza cut into the generally accepted eight equal slices. Now, picture serving your guests a pizza-sized slice of pumpkin pie. Sounds pretty liberal, doesn’t it? A slightly smaller slice probably sounds more like the recommended portion, which means you can easily get at least 16 slices out of a single pie.
The short story here is that your Costco pumpkin pie can go a very long way toward satisfying a holiday crowd. For that unbeatable $5.99 price tag, the Costco pumpkin pie is a classic creation served up at a prime price point. You’d be hard-pressed to find even a smaller bake at that price in the freezer section. In fact, a 9-inch Mrs. Smith’s pie at Walmart is $5.94, so you’d get far less pie for a nickel less. That, my friends, is bad spending no matter how you slice it. If there’s any chance you’ll want to skip doing your own baking for your pumpkin pie needs, having a Costco pumpkin pie or two on hand is undoubtedly the most cost-effective way to keep a classic on the table without feeling like you’ve been taken for a ride.
Now, for the verdict! We were so excited to put this famous Costco pumpkin pie to the test against the other holiday pies on the list. This is the one that receives the clarion call every single year – the size! the price! the clamoring crowds! – but honestly, it’s a siren song at best. Even with its modest and recognizable ingredient list and a price point that’s bound to make money watchers ecstatic, there’s just not much to get truly excited about here. It’s a run-of-the-mill pumpkin pie, simply made extra-large and sold on the cheap. The flavor is standard, which is great news for pumpkin pie purists, but holiday dessert connoisseurs might find themselves a tad disappointed by the lackluster flavor.
Adding a sprinkle of candied nuts, a drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce, or even a blast of canned whipped cream can only be an improvement in both presentation and taste. The best that can really be said about this fan-favorite pie is that it’s large, and it prevents you from having to spend time baking when you could be enjoying your company instead. But let’s be honest, you’ve undoubtedly had better pumpkin pie than this, and so have we. It may be better than nothing, but it’s certainly not better than other options in the Costco pie family. Another take on the pumpkin pie noted that while pumpkin pies aren’t winning any beauty contests, this one at least “looked like a pumpkin pie baked the right way.” It’s also the smallest of the three at about 3.5 pounds. All our testers really enjoyed this pie, some even giving it their top pick for its moist, not overly sweet pumpkin filling. It was lightly spiced, nothing overbearing. The crust was a little soft and somewhat bland, but hey, it’s not an overly crust-forward pie, so it didn’t really detract from the enjoyment. It could also use a little whipped cream, but for our purposes, we wanted to taste the pie as is. While good, it was only “good for a slice,” with nobody wanting to keep it in their fridge for leftovers a few days (or hours!) later.
Next up, sailing into second place in one ranking, is the **Costco Pecan Pie**. Get ready for a treat, because Costco’s pecan pie is undoubtedly the most indulgent and deluxe pie in their holiday collection. Seriously, the filling is essentially a candy gel, and the pecans on top are arranged like a delicious mosaic, dutifully considered and carefully placed. There’s simply no mistaking this grand goodie for an underappreciated Costco item, even if the general din raised over the super-affordable pumpkin pie often tends to overpower this pecan pie’s decadent beauty.
Fortunately, Costco knows a good thing when they see it, so they stock their pecan pies right there in the bakery section, conveniently adjacent to the refrigerator case where the pumpkin pies reside. This clever placement gives shoppers a perfect chance to discover the wonder of this luxurious creation while already in the vicinity of the real moneymaker. And speaking of money, pecan pies are indeed the most expensive of the Costco pie array, though, in our humble opinion, their size and quality more than compensate. Does all of that taken together mean pecan is a more desirable option than the other competitors in the pie races? Or does it mean each selection has its own strengths to play up, and the delights of a pecan pie are well-presented enough to justify the additional cost? The results, my friends, were a bit of a mixed bag, which actually came as something of a surprise.
The flavor is great, but the ingredients are, shall we say, a little iffy. Even if Costco fans are divided over the quality versus cost aspect of this massive pecan pie, the possibility of getting a ton of festive food with fewer expenses is still a wildly attractive prospect. The top of the pie is absolutely studded with pecan halves, all perfectly spaced and artfully arranged, and the gel-custard filling is deeply colored and highly glossy. It’s all eye candy, designed to lure in the serious shopper, and it’s a familiar, comforting scene for any true fan of pecan pie. The label proudly displays a listing of recognizable ingredients, including corn syrup, eggs, and, of course, plenty of pecans.
However, on the downside, there are also a few preservatives in the line-up, which are necessary to extend the shelf life of this unrefrigerated pie. Costco’s pecan pie also includes thickeners like carrageenan and xanthan gum, substances you probably aren’t likely to include in your grandmother’s secret recipe. These ingredients are commonly found in foods that require a creamy consistency, and packaged goods like ice cream and coffee creamer, but they’re also known to cause stomach irritation to sensitive eaters. So, if you’re hoping for a full-fledged homemade pecan pie experience without strange elements that might not sit well with your guests, you might be better off biting the bullet and making your own.
This pie is a true whopper of a bargain for both servings and price. According to one TikTok user, Costco’s pecan pie weighs in at an impressive 5 pounds, though the label on the pie we tasted said something closer to 4 ½ pounds — which is certainly close enough for our liking! While “pie by the pound” isn’t quite a concept that has caught on in the baking world (yet!), the idea of getting a weighed pastry definitely adds to the perceived value that Costco so expertly imparts in its bulk shopping algorithm. More is always on proud display in the bakery case, and your overlarge pecan pie provides enough dessert spectacle to become both a favored treat and a stunning centerpiece to showcase among your selection of sweets.
Now, if you’re lucky enough to have a pecan tree in your yard and can harvest all those free pecans, then by all means, go for it and make your own pie! But if you’re opting for pre-shelled pecans from your local grocer, you could be shelling out in the neighborhood of $13.00 just for four cups of nuts to cover your party pie needs. Depending on your holiday headcount, you could end up spending a pretty penny on your pecan pies, plus you’ll have a bunch of baking to do – definitely not the best deal on the block. With one Costco purchase for $16.99, you can have plenty of pecan pie to feed at least 12 guests, and the only work you’ll have is the delightful task of slicing, plating, and serving.
This pecan pie is, shall we say, a tough nut to crack. Loaded with pecan halves from edge to edge, afloat on a gooey filling of brown sugar and corn syrup, a Costco pecan pie practically redefines the idea of a holiday dessert. After all, where else can you find a 12-inch pastry that can be eaten straight out of the package while allowing you to keep your holiday budget well in check? We dove headlong into a slice and found that the taste and texture were as delightful as any pecan pie we’ve ever had… and trust me, there have been many a homemade pecan pie in our holiday past. It was an enjoyable task, indeed.
But after reading that ingredient list, we just couldn’t shake the knowledge that carrageenan is part of the recipe. With the possibility of causing a litany of digestive issues — some of which can be serious — having this culinary thickening agent in the formula just doesn’t seem like the wisest option. So, while Costco’s pecan pie gets great raves for replicating flavor and mouthfeel, as well as presenting a lovely finished product, it unfortunately fails to top the list due to the inclusion of an undesirable ingredient. Maybe there’s hope in the future for a reformulation. If so, a revisit might definitely be called for. For now, Costco’s pecan pie is, regrettably, an also-ran.
Another taste test, however, wasn’t quite as kind. One generalization made was that pecan pie is “probably the least-liked pie flavor, in general, when compared to apple or pumpkin.” While there are certainly pecan pie adorers, it’s also a tricky one to bring to a gathering due to prevalent nut allergies. The appearance of this nearly 4.5-pound pie was quite nice with “lacquered pecans grazing the entire surface,” but once cut, it revealed an “extremely thick sugary custard inside.”
That custard, as one disappointed pecan-pie-loving tester described, “was more like marzipan.” Most of the time, the filling takes on a more caramel taste and texture. Most tasters found that custard to be way too sweet, though one oldest son, who would “literally drink sugar out a straw” if allowed, enjoyed it. Pecan pies are inherently sweeter, made with corn syrup and often both white and brown sugar, but this was simply “just too much.” The pecans on top, however, those were truly delicious. Pecan pies aren’t super difficult to make, either, so whipping up a version to your liking may actually be worth the effort. It’s also the most expensive of the pies at $16.99, making it not the top choice if you’re only grabbing one. So, while it shines in some aspects, it’s clear the pecan pie sparks a passionate debate among pie enthusiasts.
Now that we’ve chewed through the pumpkin and pecan offerings, you might be wondering, what’s left? What could possibly stand above these colossal contenders? Stay tuned, because the best is yet to come, and trust me, it’s worth the wait!
Alright, pie aficionados, if you’ve stuck with me through the respectable, yet ultimately dethroned, pumpkin and pecan contenders, then you’re in for a real treat. Because now, we finally arrive at the undisputed champion, the heavyweight titleholder, the pie that truly captured my heart and taste buds: **Costco’s Apple Pie**. This isn’t just a pie, my friends, it’s an American classic elevated to warehouse-sized perfection, a testament to what happens when bulk buying meets pure, unadulterated deliciousness. It’s welcome at any celebration, an easy go-to for guests who might be a little shy about diving into more adventurous dessert options, and honestly, it’s just plain fantastic.
From the moment you lay eyes on this beautiful beast, you know it’s special. While the pecan pie had its lacquered pecans and glossy facade, the apple pie has a more homely, yet utterly enticing charm. One glance at the quaint, cut crust under that clear plastic lid and you’re already enticed to say “yes.” The top is nicely coated with sugar crystals and boasts almost a flower shape for the vents, allowing you a sneak peek of the luscious apple filling within. Some batches might even have a bit of apple goo delightfully seeping out, a tell-tale sign of the abundant fruit within. It simply looks like a pie you want to dig into right away, a visual invitation to a symphony of flavors. Truly, of Costco’s holiday pies, this is the one most likely to elicit “oohs” and “aahs” from your delighted visitors who easily recognize the hallmarks of care in craftsmanship. It’s a masterwork of warehouse pie production, without a doubt.
But let’s get to the real core of the matter, shall we? The filling. Oh, the filling! Costco truly outdid themselves here. They fill these homestyle apple pies with copious quantities of tangy apples and a silky glaze that strikes that perfect balance – sweet enough to be pleasing, but without that nasty, mass-produced taste or unappetizing texture you often find in pre-packaged pies. We’re talking about thick, perky, and fresh-tasting apple slices that hold their own. They’re soft on the outside, sure, but they maintain their structural integrity, giving you that ideal tender-crisp texture with every single bite. This pie is practically bursting with apples; as someone who has slaved over many a pie from scratch, I know how much apples shrink during baking, so the starting volume must have been enormous. There’s a viscous, sweet, spiced gel surrounding the apples, but it’s just enough to fill in the crevices, meaning you’re primarily getting a glorious stack of real fruit. On my personal sweetness scale, I’d rate this pie around a 7 out of 10 for sugary taste. It will absolutely satisfy a sweet tooth, but it won’t overpower you or become sickeningly sweet. It’s just right.
And the flavors! Beyond the delightful sweetness and tanginess, the filling boasts a rich spice profile that, for me, leans heavily on the magnificent Nutmeg. I love Nutmeg so much, I capitalize it, like the name of a cherished friend. Nutmeg, my old buddy. There’s definitely a generous amount of cinnamon too, no doubt, but Nutmeg is the boss of this show, giving it that warm, intoxicating aroma that’s unmistakable. Important side note: if you don’t love Nutmeg, well, we might need to have a serious chat. This isn’t just a pie; it’s a sensory experience, a comforting hug in dessert form. The slight tartness of the apples cutting through that good cinnamon and nutmeg flavor? *Chef’s kiss*
Now, let’s talk about the crustage. Do you want to know about the crust? Of course you do, you’re still here! And let me tell you, I like the crust. It’s thick, yet wonderfully tender, with a flakey-sugary coating on top that makes it subtly sweet. Among the three holiday pies, this apple pie boasts by far the best crust. It has superior structure – unlike the pumpkin and pecan pies which sometimes crumbled – and a really good flavor that one of our testers even said could “pass as homemade.” That’s high praise, folks! The tender crust, coupled with the generous sprinkling of sugar and its surprisingly decorative top, truly elevates this pie to a league of its own. It holds its shape beautifully upon slicing, making for a much more composed presentation than its cousins.
Now, let’s talk turkey, or rather, apple pie, on the value front. At $12.99, this colossal creation sits comfortably in the middle of the price range, nestled between the insanely cheap pumpkin pie and the slightly more expensive pecan pie. But for a pie this big, it’s an absolute steal. Think about it: an average apple pie recipe can call for three to five pounds of fresh apples, which alone can set you back upwards of $7.00. Add in a few dollars for butter for the crust, and you’re already looking at an $11.00 pie, not even counting your time and effort. With one Costco purchase, you get a pie weighing a whopping 4.69 pounds – or sometimes even over 5 pounds on my kitchen scale – with plenty to serve without having to cross anyone off your Christmas shopping list. If you slice this beauty into 16 servings, each person still gets a generous 5 ounces of pie for just 81 cents per serving. That’s phenomenal value, even if it’s a smidge more than Aldi’s apple pie (which, let’s be honest, doesn’t taste like Nutmeg!). Apple pies are also inherently more difficult to make from scratch, requiring both a bottom and top crust, meticulous peeling and uniform cutting of apples, and generally a more arduous process than pumpkin or pecan. So, nobody scoffed at this price point; it’s an incredible deal that saves you a ton of holiday labor.
My own journey with this pie began two and a half years ago when I first joined Costco. It was one of my very first purchases, and at the time, it was an even more unbelievable $10. I was so blown away by what I got for the money that I immediately took to Facebook, babbling into the void about my newfound love. Most of my friends and family, not being Costco shoppers, gave me a collective eyeroll and a few pity reactions. But you see, that’s because they don’t *know*. You can’t know until you try it. And you’ve absolutely got to try it. I might sound like a weird cult leader when I talk about it, but this pie converted one of my co-workers into a Costco member after I fed her a slice. No, Costco isn’t paying me to say this. I’m just doing my snarkle-tastic job, and when something’s this good, it deserves all the praise. It’s probably the best supermarket apple pie I’ve ever had, and that’s saying something.
Now, how do you get the absolute *most* out of your colossal crust and this divine pie? There’s a tiny caveat, but it’s a game-changer: you really, *really* need to “re-bake” Costco’s Apple Pie to get the best effect. This simple step will transform a “good” pie into a “great” pie in just a few minutes. Here’s the ritual: pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully remove the aluminum pan from its plastic box – and I recommend placing it on a sturdy cookie sheet, because this pie is CHONKY, and that aluminum pan can be bendy. We don’t want any giant, molten pie accidents, do we? Pop the pie (on its pan) onto the center oven rack and bake for about 15 minutes, or a bit longer if it’s been chilling in the fridge, until it’s bubbly and hot. Let it cool slightly before serving, and prepare yourself for a crisper, fresher-tasting crust and an amazingly fragrant filling that will make your kitchen smell like pure holiday magic.
Not serving the whole pie? No problem at all! You can easily toast a single serving. Just slice individual pieces and bake them on a plate in your counter-top toaster oven for a few minutes at 350 degrees. My air fryer/toaster oven hybrid does wonders here, but you might need to experiment a bit. Just keep an eye on it to ensure the crust isn’t getting too browned, especially along those crimped edges. What you *shouldn’t* do, though, is microwave a slice. Ew, microwaving. While it will get you a “warm” pie, you’ll completely miss out on that crisp, freshly baked texture that truly makes this pie sing. Don’t do it!
When it comes to storage, this pie is pretty resilient, though I think the longest I’ve managed to keep one in my refrigerator was around 10 days. As with many pies, the crust can get a little soggy in the middle after a few days, turning a bit white and doughy. I’m not a fan of that, but it’s quickly fixed by, you guessed it, re-baking a single slice (or the whole thing) before serving. And for those with freezer space – a luxury I rarely have – I’ve heard numerous people rave about successfully freezing this pie, both whole and in slices. So, if you’re planning ahead, that’s an option! One final tip regarding the packaging: I genuinely appreciate the plastic pie boxes Costco uses; they seal tightly and make storage much easier. I even wash and reuse mine, because I’m a weird little hermit who does that sort of thing. But be warned: with this pie often being shelved at room temperature, handling the plastic case solely by the edges can cause the rim of the crust to crack. A bit of careful repair work can usually reassemble the offending split, but if you’re planning on displaying the pie whole on your table, I advise lifting and carrying it from the bottom to avoid any pre-feast damage. You’ll have a more composed pastry to adorn your dessert setting before the feast begins.
A quick look at the ingredients reveals why this pie is so good: apples are the first ingredient, followed by enriched flour, sugar, vegetable oil shortening, and then the delightful spices like cinnamon and, yes, Nutmeg. While I generally prefer butter, the vegetable oil shortening here (canola, soybean, palm, palm kernel) doesn’t detract too much. There are also a few thickeners like modified corn starch, xanthan gum, and guar gum, which help make that silky glaze around the apples sturdier – not something you’d use in a grandma’s recipe, but they serve their purpose here. And a preservative trio (malic acid, citric acid, calcium propionate) keeps this pie shelf-stable in the store. While I’m generally not thrilled by preservatives, these aren’t the “terrifying” kind, especially compared to the carrageenan in the pecan pie, and they ensure this colossal creation can make its way to your home without needing refrigeration. It’s important to note, however, that the Costco Apple Pie is no longer made with organic apples and no longer features vegan-friendly ingredients, which previous iterations did. Something to keep in mind, though for many, the taste still reigns supreme.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve purchased at least four of these pies total, which means, *whispers*, I’ve consumed nearly 20 pounds of Costco Apple Pie. It sounds a little nuts when I say it out loud, but it’s a testament to how good it is. From the premium-sized apple slices to the crust that holds its shape and the balanced glaze cradling the fruit, it’s a masterwork. We tried ours after refrigeration, which somehow made it even better; the flavor of the apples shone brighter than a warmed-up slice. The purity and richness of the taste required nothing more – no whipped cream or à la mode topping, though anyone wanting those extras would only have more to enjoy. Served dressed or starkly bare in nothing more than its crust, a Costco apple pie will make happy dessert memories at your gathering. So, if you’re looking for a dessert shortcut that truly delivers, bypass the rest and make a beeline for the apple pie.
