The 4 Best Breakfast Pastries In Costco's Bakery

If you regularly find yourself wandering through Costco's bakery section, you know how difficult it can be to leave without something. The smells alone are enough to fuel an impulse buy, especially since Costco bakes its breads and pastries in-store. But let's be honest, they often look as good as they smell. When it comes to breakfast, the popular warehouse store has no shortage of drool-worthy baked goods. And because most come in generous packages, they're especially handy when you're feeding a family, hosting a brunch, or simply want to stock your freezer for future breakfasts.

But which pastries are actually worth indulging in and making room for in your cart? We narrowed it down to four of Costco's best Kirkland Signature breakfast bakery buys: the classic butter croissants, the decadent triple chocolate muffins, the nutty almond danishes, and the salty pretzel bagels, a more bread-like baked good that absolutely deserves a spot at the breakfast table.

These four stand out for more than just their popularity, though. They're versatile enough to work for different kinds of breakfasts, from a quick pastry with coffee to a hearty breakfast sandwich, while offering a mix of sweet and savory options. They're also the kinds of bakery items Costco shoppers have strong opinions about, with many diehard fans endorsing repeat buys or even hoarding and freezing pastries in case they go out of stock. So, let's take a look at each of these breakfast pastries to see what makes them so great.

Croissants are definitely one of those foods you should never make at home (they're way too labor-intensive). But if you want delicious, buttery croissants in bulk that are baked same-day, look no further than your local Costco. The warehouse club sells a pack of 12 Kirkland Signature Butter Croissants for just $6.80 in its bakery. That's enough to feed a small crowd or to have enough croissants for a week or more, depending on your appetite or family size.

Although Costco certainly has fancier croissants, customers love the OG ones, with some Reddit users going so far as to call them underrated. "Costco croissants are heavenly!!!" reads one Reddit post, with many commenters similarly gushing about the flakiness of the pastries. Apparently reheating them in the oven makes them even better. "Hack, toss them in your oven right on the rack and press start, set to 350 [degrees Fahrenheit]. As soon as the oven hits temp, they're ready. Fresh, crispy croissants. Works every time," explains another Redditor.

Of course, you can doctor up Costco croissants and use them for sandwiches or to make a homemade pain au chocolat. "A fresh Costco croissant with Nutella is peak," a Reddit user offers. Another breakfast lover relives making a mind-blowing French toast using Costco croissants. Needless to say, they are incredibly versatile breakfast pastries that are a must-get on a Costco run.

Although a Kirkland Signature triple chocolate muffin could easily pass as dessert, its muffin status makes it fair game for breakfast. Costco has carried chocolate muffins in the past, but the current version is smaller and comes in an eight-pack for $7.93 instead of the buy one get one free six-packs for $9.99. Costco shoppers are so far divided over the change, but plenty love these.

"New muffins are straight fire. So moist, soft, and tasty," one Reddit user raves. Another describes the consistency of the new chocolate muffins as closer to chocolate cake, which may be due to the use of butter and a cocoa-based batter. The generous amount of chocolate chips and chunks in every bite makes these muffins particularly decadent, especially for chocolate lovers. They're also apparently quite good warmed up. Shoppers in the same Reddit thread recommend microwaving them for about 15 seconds, while others freeze them for later and say they hold up surprisingly well after thawing.

If you're looking for a less dessert-like breakfast, these probably won't be your top choice. The calorie content reflects the cakey batter and extra chocolate, with each serving coming in at an eyebrow-raising 410 calories. But for those mornings when you just want some chocolate with your coffee, these muffins will surely hit. At roughly $1 per muffin, they're also a relatively inexpensive way to indulge, especially compared with one from a coffee shop or bakery.

Kirkland Signature danishes are definitely one of the Costco breakfast items under $15 we always pick up, but the almond one is in a league of its own. "Almond danishes clear literally everything else in the bakery as far as I'm concerned," gushes one Costco shopper on Reddit. Others chime in about how amazing they are, but warn they'll pack on the pounds if you eat too many. That's unsurprising, though, considering each is around 760 calories with 30 grams of added sugar. You could always cut one in half, although having the willpower to not eat the rest is another story.

The pastries are packed with almondy flavor, including a fair helping of sliced almonds on top, and are a nice change of pace from fruit-filled danishes, particularly those that also come with cheese (which are no fun if you're lactose intolerant). At Costco prices, you get a bakery-style pastry without the bakery-style price tag. The danishes are sold four to a pack, but you must buy two packs for $13.61. Not bad when a typical pastry costs at least $4–$6 a piece at a cafe.

As with any of the pastries in this article, the almond danishes are best when reheated. But one Reddit user suggests how to really elevate the experience: "A tiny dab of butter on the crust of each section after a quick crisp in the air fryer and it's heavenly." Now wipe that drool off your chin and go grab a pack.

If you love your breakfast between two slices of bread, apparently Costco's pretzel bagels are the GOAT when it comes to breakfast sandwiches. One Reddit user suggests how to eat these bagels: "Breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese, ham or bacon and your favorite mustard." TikTok users Meg and Maddie opted to dip their bagels right into a tub of cream cheese, noting they taste just like a pretzel and were a little salty.

Interestingly, Costco notes its pretzel bagels are made using an "authentic pretzel process" in the "Bavarian-style." As we revealed in a previous article on the secret behind the flavor of commercial soft pretzels, that process involves the use of lye. Yet, there is no lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, listed in the ingredients. However they're made, they certainly look like the real deal with their glossy brown finish and soft, pillowy interior.

While there's nothing wrong with Costco's plain or everything bagels, they haven't really inspired fervent social media posts or news articles. Amazingly, you can get any of Costco's bagels in a pack of eight for just $5.66. Be sure to freeze whatever you don't eat the same day you purchase them. Redditors frequently complain that Costco's bagels, including these pretzel bagels, get moldy within a few days due to the lack of preservatives.