Costco Vs Aldi Bakery: Which Is Better?

Isn't it great having bakery sections at chains like Costco and Aldi to make your shopping money go further? With bread prices rising faster than the dough used to make it, it's hard to depend on your usual grocery chain to provide the goods without draining your wallet. Costco and Aldi feel your pain and price their bakery items more sensibly than most national grocers, all while stocking a tasty catalog of loaves and sweet treats.

There are plenty of similarities between the two. Both are cost-effective solutions for people who love baked goods, and are relatively easy to access thanks to abundant locations spread throughout the U.S. It's worth laying the bakery sections from these two popular retailers side by side to see which one has more to offer. Taking quality, price, selection, and customer reaction into consideration, I've compared the major categories from both chains and gathered the facts about what you can expect to find at each. Is one a better option than the other, or will you be sweetly served no matter which you choose? Let's find out.

One of the most obvious distinctions between the bakery sections at Costco and Aldi is that Costco has a working bakery and Aldi doesn't. Aldi only has a bakery aisle with signature brands such as L'Oven Fresh and Specially Selected. While many of Costco's items are pre-packaged, the freshness factor for products made onsite is a definite plus. Customers say Costco's bakery is better than it should be, a backhanded compliment that rings true thanks to the surprising quality of so many Costco baked goods.

Having live workers is helpful when customers have questions about stocked items. Costco's bakery workers can be seen behind the counter, stacking up piles of fresh-baked loaves and rolls and taking orders for customized sheet and half-sheet cakes. This means you can order the flavor of the cake, the frosting, and the filling, and even get a jolly message emblazoned across the top. Aldi offers none of these options, so you'll have to take what you get. That's not necessarily a bad thing, just a notable difference.

If you're into seeing some of your baked goods roll off the assembly line or specifically requesting your favorite cake combo, Costco has the advantage over Aldi.

Costco's rustic loaves are well known among members. However, its baguettes are sometimes harder than expected, and the rustic Italian loaves that replaced country French bread haven't been well-received. Customers point out experiences with poor texture in the Italian loaf due to what they suspect is a case of Costco underproofing and underbaking the dough.

One point in Costco's favor is its variety. Artisan bakes like cranberry walnut round bread can be found alongside multigrain loaves. However, the biggest drawback here is that the selection and availability sometimes vary by location. In my experience, certain breads seem to be more dependably stocked at the locations near me, which can make finding what I want when I'm away from my area a bit challenging.

What Aldi doesn't have in fresh-baked products, it makes up for in quality. The brioche rolls are fantastic, a posh substitute for traditional burger rolls. The selection of loaves includes seeded and sprouted breads that offer more nutritious options that some customers love as a stand-in for Dave's Killer Bread. Having tried the best and worst bread at Aldi, I've sampled a variety of the company's loaves and rolls. Though there's a hierarchy among the various types on hand, there's plenty of affordable, delicious bread waiting to be explored. Aldi edges out Costco in the loaves and rolls category, thanks to a selection and quality you can count on.

You'll find a refrigerator case in the Costco bakery that holds special creations, such as tuxedo cakes, cheesecakes, and eye-catching Chantilly cakes, all of which are restaurant-worthy. Costco's half-sheet birthday cakes always offer tasty value, something I've dipped into regularly to serve a houseful of guests. One caveat when shopping for Costco cakes is that, because these creations use buttercream frosting, you do need to refrigerate Costco cakes to ensure stability. Even those sold on the tables with unrefrigerated baked goods should go in the fridge to stay as fresh and well-formed as possible.

Aldi's smaller selection of cakes features all premade items, with no customization available. The baked goods aisle features everything from triple chocolate crème cakes to 7UP lemon-lime cakes, both of which should go into the fridge as soon as possible. If you wander to the freezer section, you'll find a cheesecake sampler that deserves a spot in the bakery section. Aldi's bakes do the job, but thanks to its broader selection and customizable creations, Costco's bakery section takes the cake.

Buying cookies from Costco's wonderland of baked items is like going to Baskin-Robbins and ignoring its most popular flavors in favor of a vanilla cone. You can find supersized cookies in multi-packs of expected flavors, such as chocolate chip and oatmeal, and they're perfectly tasty. I've had them myself, and I'd never decline one. But I can't imagine the restricted flavors make cookies the best choice for your sweet needs. Even its holiday cookie tray has five flavors that look incredibly plain instead of filling the table with festive cheer.

Aldi does its best to provide tempting cookies in more ambitious flavors — such as cream cheese frosted pumpkin sugar and a cookie that's half chocolate chip, half double chocolate — that have generated positive reviews from customers. Despite the jazzy flavors, some customers have noticed a fishy taste in the cookies that others suspect comes courtesy of canola oil. Unless you or your family are cookie connoisseurs, this may not be a deal breaker, especially when you get 10 cookies for under $5. For cookie lovers looking to cut costs, either Costco or Aldi can help, but don't expect great things from either store.

The legend of Costco muffins is known far and wide by shoppers who crave supremely sweet treats. In particular, the triple chocolate muffin is a popular pick (and my personal favorite). Newer flavors like blueberries and cream and lemon raspberry come in more sensible sizes, unlike the previously gigantic muffins that presented multiple servings in a single cake, a huge reason why Costco muffins have been so concerning to some consumers. And chocolate chunk muffins are a must-have for members who know how fantastic they taste, though they disappeared from shelves for a while.

Aldi has its own four-packs of Bake Shop brand blueberry, banana nut, and chocolate chip, as well as mini muffins that offer a fun two-bite twist. Some customers have detected a change in the recipe in recent years, which could make it dicey to try them out. I've had them, and I can't say they tasted anything less than delicious. Considering the flavors don't seem too trendy, Aldi keeps things nice and dependable, something Costco tends to overlook in favor of adding novelty to its muffin selection. Points go to Aldi for keeping muffins on hand that are as tasty as fresh-baked, and for stocking flavors you can count on.

Costco's Danishes are considered dangerous by customers who are afraid they'll eat too many. That's a mighty fierce testament to how delicious they are. Mix-and-match Danish collections featuring cherry, cream cheese, and almond flavors are available for anyone brave enough to make the purchase. Cinnamon rolls are a big part of the bakery section, too, which members seem to love.

Aldi keeps the pastry section decently stocked, with classics like cheese and raspberry Danishes on full display. Customers love the quality of the strudel, comparing it to actual bakery-fresh goods, and one-offs like holiday kringle give shoppers a sweet thrill when they show up unexpectedly. Aldi's Bake Shop label offers premade cinnamon rolls that hit the bottom of my ranking of grocery store cinnamon rolls from worst to best, which was an eye-opening moment for me. However, you can also find chocolate and birthday cake dipped donuts and fun mini-sized donuts here, which shoppers find soft, tasty, and well-priced. Since Costco limits its selection and skips donuts entirely, Aldi takes the crown in this category.

Customers were taken aback when Costco changed the shape of its croissants from circular to the more traditional crescent shape. They've long been a regular purchase in my Costco shopping life. I've used them to make sandwiches as well as enjoying them on their own. Some reviewers find them soggy and lacking flakiness, but acceptable, which probably isn't a ringing endorsement when faced with buying a dozen at a time. Some locations also provide blueberry caramelized cheesecake croissants for customers, who find them hard to resist, and almond croissants, which are considered perfect by certain reviewers.

Aldi takes the standard route with its croissant collection, offering large, regular, and miniature versions of the French classic. Shoppers have sometimes found both Specially Selected and Bake Shop croissants on shelves, making it difficult to know which to choose. I've had the Bake Shop version and found it to be a little on the bland side, though it was incredibly soft. Maybe sealing a butter-based bake in a plastic clamshell isn't the best way to package them. No matter which store you choose, you'll be getting croissants of similar quality.

You won't find the largest selection of flavors in the Costco bagel section. The warehouse tends to stick with the basics. Plain, everything, and blueberry are the most frequently found flavors at my location. Customers tend to love the bagels themselves but don't always need a dozen (bags of six are sold as a two-bag mix-and-match purchase). The preservative-free nature of Costco bagels is appreciated by label readers who favor a wholesome bake, but having so many on hand can lead to mold within a day or two. It's best to freeze what you don't need, though having space for so many bagels can also pose a problem.

At Aldi, bagels are a bit more exciting, with seasonal flavors dotted throughout the year. The harvest-style bagels, in particular, are a decadent morsel with a robust fan base. There are also Bagel Skinnys, which cut the volume in half and drop the calories. Though some shoppers are less than impressed with Aldi bagels, I've tried some varieties and found them to be just as pleasant as Costco bagels. They're soft-centered with chewy exteriors and have just enough flavor to let your chosen toppings shine through. They're also sold in bags of six, making it easier to buy only the quantity you need. If you favor novelty over tradition, Aldi is your bagel stop. If you love the classics, Costco has you covered.

Given Costco's tendency to pick up and drop products at the drop of a baker's hat, finding loaves of sweet breads is like playing bakery roulette. If you can find them among the other packaged items, you may see a lemon and blueberry loaf, butter cinnamon bread, or all-butter pound cake that reviewers say tastes similar to the same cake from Sara Lee. Pumpkin spice loaf is a holiday win when it shows up, and the banana pecan loaf seems to be a real people pleaser.

Loaf-style dessert treats, such as sweet breads and cake slices, are a standard part of Aldi's bakery offerings. Café-style offerings such as lemon, pumpkin spice, and a banana nut loaf come sliced for easier serving. Meanwhile, Aldi's iced cinnamon bread comes in loaf form but falls somewhere between a sweet bread and a cake-like slice. And the chocolate chip brioche loaf is one of the best things I've ever tasted, even if it isn't freshly baked.

Ultimately, you can't fault either chain's bakery sections for playing it small with the sweet slices. There's great stuff waiting at both stores.

Costco pies are famous fare, especially the massive pumpkin and pecan pies available during the holidays. The pumpkin pie in particular is a signature specialty, offering a super-sized creation for less than $10. The quantity of pies sold during the season sits in the millions. Considering it's only available at the end of the year, these numbers are a testament to its popularity. There are also apple pies available to add variety to the dessert table.

Aldi pies are a bit of a struggle for lovers of decadent sweetness. The limited selection includes apple and cherry, though quantities and availability are both limited in my experience. Most of the pie options in the store exist beyond the bakery section and can instead be found in the cold storage of the freezer section. Since this doesn't qualify them as bakery items, it drastically reduces the pie presence Aldi provides for its patrons. For that reason, Costco is the clear winner in the pie-selling contest.

Anyone who scouts for grocery bargains knows that they will find good prices at both Costco and Aldi. The real difference comes when you have to decide whether you'd rather spend less on more sensibly-sized purchases or if you're stretching your food dollars by shopping in bulk. Only you know how much you're willing to spend to add baked goods to your countertop. Knowing you can get perfectly enjoyable items at both chains lets you cherry-pick from each and make decisions that work for you and your household.

One aspect that might put Aldi slightly ahead in the race to win your cash is the lack of membership fees. If you're not a Costco shopper but have been thinking about trying it out, you'll pay an annual charge of either $65 for a Gold Star Membership or $130 for an Executive Membership to access the store, which may or may not pay off, depending on your shopping habits. At Aldi, you can stroll right in, head for the bakery aisle, and see what's what. All you pay is $0.25 to rent a shopping cart, and even that gets refunded to you when you're done.

Costco prices are great for bulk shoppers who don't mind paying for access to the store. Meanwhile, Aldi prices are fantastic for bargain shoppers who don't need huge quantities.

It's nearly impossible to choose either of these chains' bakery sections over the other. Where Costco provides fresh goods thanks to an in-house bakery that works in real time, Aldi provides premade items clearly labeled with best-by dates to ensure peak enjoyability. Both chains supply premium sweet and savory options. While Costco's in-store loaves may struggle a bit, the pumpkin pie is an annual tradition that members anxiously await. And if Aldi doesn't provide quite as wide a variety of croissants and muffins, at least you can count on finding the selections you've come to love, no matter when you shop.

When it comes to pricing, you know both of these super-saving shops are going to give you the best deal for your money. Whether you're grabbing sweet treats for an office gathering or stocking up on loaves for weekly dinners, there's plenty of potential for keeping your spending as low as possible, regardless of which store you choose. The difference comes from whether you prefer membership-style warehouse shopping in bulk or a more traditional chain experience.

It's hard to be partial to either Costco or Aldi when it comes to baked goods, as you can tell from my back-and-forth descriptions. Just know that it's more a matter of taste and the individual baked good you're craving than necessity when you choose one to try. And if you shop at both? Then even better for you.

Clearly, both Costco and Aldi aim to take care of their clientele by providing a range of both fresh and premade bakery items. To get to the nitty-gritty in this comparison, I started with variety, since seeing a greater selection of options can often sway a shopper's decision. The fact that Costco has in-store bakeries and Aldi doesn't is a huge distinction, but it didn't end up making as much of a difference in the quality and variety as I thought it might. Price was obviously another factor that was well-balanced between the two stores, since warehouse shopping and discount shopping both have budgetary benefits.

To help pass judgment on the various products available at both stores, I relied heavily on customer reviews across social media. I also tossed in my two cents for the items I've tried, as I am an avid shopper at both chains. I kept an eye on availability, too, since Costco is infamous for changing its catalog without notice, leaving lovers of particular baked goods high and dry. Aldi seems to have more stability, peppering in seasonal selections and special editions without entirely removing fan favorites from the menu.

These aspects combined to give me a well-rounded view of how Costco and Aldi bakery sections stack up against one another. All in all, you have great stuff at solid prices at both — and isn't it nice to have choices like that?