Costco’s bakery section isn’t exactly a secret, but people still underestimate just how good some of their cakes actually are. I mean, you walk in for bulk paper towels and suddenly there’s this massive sheet cake calling your name. And honestly, some of these are way better than you’d expect from a warehouse store.
The tuxedo cake takes the crown
After trying pretty much every cake in the bakery section, the Tuxedo Cake comes out on top. This thing isn’t messing around. You’ve got layers of chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, white chocolate mousse, and these chewy brownie chunks scattered throughout. The ganache on top is super thick and fudgy, not that weird thin frosting that tastes like plastic.
But here’s what really gets me – the texture variation keeps every bite interesting. The mousse layers are light enough that the whole thing doesn’t feel like a brick in your stomach. At least not immediately. And those brownie chunks? They’re basically the best part of the entire cake. The whole thing costs $18.99, which seems totally reasonable for what you’re getting.
Vanilla cake surprises everyone
The vanilla cake at Costco is one of those things people skip over because vanilla sounds boring. That’s a mistake. This cake has an incredibly light, airy texture that’s pretty much like biting into a cloud. The sponge reminds me of angel food cake, but richer. There’s a white chocolate mousse layer in the middle that edges toward custard territory, and the vanilla frosting actually tastes like real vanilla, not that artificial extract flavor you get from grocery store cakes.
Every time I’ve had this cake at parties, people always seem surprised it’s from Costco. The texture stays consistent throughout – none of that dense, heavy feeling you sometimes get. And the price matches the Tuxedo Cake at $17.99. Honestly, if they combined this vanilla cake with the chocolate one, it’d be perfect. But I guess that’s basically what the Tuxedo Cake already does, sort of.
Chocolate cake does the basics right
Sometimes you just want a straightforward chocolate cake, and Costco delivers on that. The cake itself is moist and spongy with a solid cocoa flavor. There’s a chocolate mousse layer in the center that breaks up the texture without going overboard on sweetness. The frosting could be sweeter for my taste, but that’s probably a good thing for most people. What’s clever is how they coat the edges in cake crumbs instead of just more frosting, which prevents those last bites from being a sugar overload.
This one costs $17.99 and it’s basically foolproof. Not the most exciting option, but it does exactly what it’s supposed to do. The texture throughout is consistent, maybe a bit too consistent compared to the Tuxedo version.
The mocha crunch situation
If you’re a coffee person, the Mocha Crunch Bar Cake might be your thing. But wow, does this cake commit to the coffee flavor. We’re talking every single layer tastes like you’re drinking espresso. There’s mocha mousse, cappuccino mousse, chocolate cake, and this crunch layer that’s honestly phenomenal. That crunch layer tastes like a Kit-Kat bar had a baby with fancy mousse, and it’s probably the best textural element in any of these cakes.
The problem is the coffee flavor is just so intense. After trying it, my kitchen smelled like a Starbucks for hours. The mousses are light and not too sweet, which is great. And that crunch layer really is something special – they should put it in every cake. But if you’re not obsessed with coffee, this probably isn’t the one. It costs $18.99, which feels like a lot when the flavor is so divisive. I mean, I liked parts of it, but I wouldn’t buy it again.
Pumpkin cheesecake works for fall
This is one of those seasonal items that shows up around autumn and disappears fast. The pumpkin cheesecake has two distinct layers – a spiced pumpkin whipped cream on top with graham cracker crumbles, and a pumpkin cheesecake layer on the bottom. The whipped layer is heavier than normal whipped cream but lighter than traditional cheesecake, which creates this interesting contrast. You can actually taste real pumpkin in there, with that slightly gritty texture that makes it feel more authentic.
The spices taste like fall, basically. The combination of the two layers works way better than just a regular cheesecake. Though honestly, the regular cheesecake at Costco is pretty solid too. This one costs $21.99, so it’s pricier than most of their cakes. But if you’re tired of bringing pumpkin pie to Thanksgiving, this is a good alternative.
Classic cheesecake needs help
The plain cheesecake at Costco is fine. Just fine. It’s four pounds of cheesecake for $19.99, which is a decent deal. The texture is smooth and slightly airy, not too dense. There’s that tangy cheesecake flavor you want. But it’s kind of boring on its own. The graham cracker crust does its job but doesn’t stand out. That decorative frosting around the edge adds some sweetness at least.
After trying this, I kept thinking it needs something on top. Berries would help. Chocolate sauce would help. Caramel would help. Basically anything to give it some visual appeal and flavor contrast. As a blank canvas, it’s great. As a standalone dessert? Pretty forgettable. The flavor is mild, maybe too mild. It’s not bad cheesecake, just not exciting cheesecake.
Carrot cake has mixed results
Carrot cake fans have strong opinions, and Costco’s version will probably divide people. The cinnamon flavor is super prominent – like, really prominent. Almost too much. The cream cheese frosting is way too sweet though, which kind of kills the spice balance. And the carrots themselves are stringy in a way that makes taking a bite more work than it should be. The nuts don’t add much texture variation either, which is disappointing since that’s one of the best parts of carrot cake usually.
But here’s the thing – despite those issues, the depth of flavor is actually pretty impressive for a warehouse store cake. The cinnamon really does come through. It costs $18.99 and it’s not terrible, just not great. If someone brought this to a party, I wouldn’t complain. But I also wouldn’t go out of my way to buy it myself.
Tres leches misses the mark
The Caramel Tres Leches Bar Cake looked so good. The layers were neat, the caramel sat perfectly on top, the chocolate pieces looked fancy. And then you bite into it and realize it’s just too soggy. I know tres leches is supposed to be moist – that’s literally the point. But this crosses the line into borderline mushy territory. The sponge cake absorbed so much liquid that the texture becomes off-putting. Does anyone actually prefer their cake this wet?
The caramel on top has this weird gelatin-like consistency that wasn’t what I expected at all. The flavors themselves aren’t bad – it tastes like tres leches should taste. But that texture issue is hard to get past. At $17.99, there are better options in the same price range. The tres leches just didn’t work for me, even though I really wanted it to.
Why the tuxedo wins
Going back to that Tuxedo Cake – it really does hit different than the rest. The combination of textures keeps it interesting from the first bite to the last. Those brownie chunks scattered through the mousse layers add these little pockets of chewiness that contrast perfectly with the smooth mousse and the denser cake layers. The ganache on top is rich without being overwhelming. And somehow the whole thing feels indulgent without making you feel sick after one slice.
After sampling all these cakes, this one just stands out. It’s basically everything good about the chocolate cake and the vanilla cake combined into one dessert. For $18.99, you’re getting over two pounds of cake that’ll easily feed 8-10 people. Maybe more if you cut reasonable slices, but let’s be real, nobody does that with this cake. It’s just that good.
Next time you’re at Costco and need a dessert, skip the sheet cakes and grab a Tuxedo Cake instead. Your guests will thank you, and you might not even want to share it. But you probably should anyway.
