10 Things You Need to Know Before Buying Costco Cakes

Costco is certainly a magical fairy tale when it comes to grocery shopping, given that their prices (and food) are incomparable to other supermarket brands. There are tons of Costco shopping tips that can help save you money, and we found another that you’re going to love: buy Costco cakes.

Here’s what you need to know before a trip to Costco!

1. Costco Cakes Are Relatively Inexpensive

You can buy a half-sheet cake at Costco for only $24.99. This is cheap already, but it’s an even better deal when you look at the prices for other stores. Just compare to BJ’s and Walmart at roughly $35 for a half-sheet cake, and you can easily see the winner here.

You can get all kinds of good stuff at Costco for a lot cheaper than at other warehouse and retail stores. No wonder we always rush back for their amazing Costco finds.

2. Costco Cakes Feed a Lot of People

Can you guess how many? The half-sheet cake we mentioned above can feed a whopping 48 people. While that may only cover about a third of my mom’s giant family, it will most definitely work for a lot of smaller parties and shindigs. You know, like a surprise birthday party.

3. Costco Sheet Cakes Come in Two Flavors

Taste of Home

Humans can be very simple creatures, and sometimes having too many choices sends us into a tizzy. Don’t panic! Head to Costco and grab a white vanilla half-sheet cake with vanilla cheesecake mousse and white buttercream icing or a chocolate half-sheet cake with chocolate mousse filling and chocolate buttercream icing. We can attest, both are delicious.

4. You Can Place Custom Orders

For people who like to plan, call ahead to custom order Costco cakes from the bakery. Make sure to give them enough time, though—around 2-3 days or more. Whether you’re looking to add cute pictures or specific phrases, Costco has you covered.

5. Bakers Will Decorate the Cakes

Choose from 30 different designs on the sheet cake custom order sheet. Whether you like the traditional congratulatory balloons for a graduation party or need a patriotic American flag, you can order whatever you want.

6. But You Can Decorate Costco Cakes Yourself

Costco cakes really are a perfect blank canvas. Precisely written cakes are a sight to behold, but we love the idea of a homemade touch on this store-bought dessert. Here are the tips you need to learn how to write on a cake! Or, if you want to get extra crafty, use some of these birthday cake decorations as inspiration.

7. You Can Return the Cake

Costco has a 100% satisfaction guaranteed policy, meaning you can return just about anything and get your money back. This includes their sheet cakes. If you purchase the cake and find that you’re not in love with the taste, bring it back to the store for a refund.

8. Costco Has Specialty Cakes, Too

Taste of Home

Don’t feel limited to only the sheet cakes at Costco. You’ll find that they often offer specialty cakes, like 10-inch white or chocolate round cakes which are perfect for birthday parties. These cakes work great if you’re running short on time or need something for smaller gatherings.

9. You Have to Order Sheet Cakes Two Days Ahead

Unfortunately, Costco’s sheet cake policy changed in 2020 from being readily available in the bakery section to now having to be pre-ordered. Keep in mind that they don’t take cake orders online, so you’ll have to go into your local Costco store or give them a call at least two days in advance to place your order.

10. You Can Freeze Your Costco Cake

If you’ve ordered your cake a few days before the big event and want to preserve it, Costco cakes take well to freezing. Just don’t forget to take it out a few hours before your occasion so that it can defrost properly.