Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Costco cake is rubbish

56 replies

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 13/04/2025 14:50

I have been a member of Costco UK for years. The cake was always chemical ridden, full of E numbers, trans fats, and sugar laden. I still liked it, though, in a fancying a sugar hit, guilty pleasure kind of way, especially those corner pieces! I knew it was pure unadulterated rubbish, but I just didn't care. On the rare occasion I got a piece, it tasted artificially good, and I liked it! The sprinkle cupcakes were good too!

There is still so much hype around these cakes that I just don't understand. We tried a round one for Mother's Day, and it was 2 x burnt layers of thin sponge cake (bottom thinner than the top for some reason), barely any buttercream or jam in the middle. The frosting tasted predominantly greasy, and not how it used to; rhe greasy taste took over the sweet. It was always a bakery artificial frosting full of crap, but it didn't taste like this. The cakes are no longer edible to people with a sweet tooth imo, who liked the original.

Any body work in Costco? What has happened to the recipe? I took the cake back, and the member of staff looked at me like like I was a spawn of the devil. He told me nobody complains about these cakes, and how can anybody not like them, and that they're famous for these! He convinced us to buy another, telling us it must have been a faulty one. The second one was just the same, disgusting!

OP posts:
LilacPomPom · 13/04/2025 14:51

I am in agreement with you! The first couple I had - I thought they were the best things ever. Then I got sick of the icing and the price for some bog-standard icing and decoration. Plus, they don't taste the same anymore and they're way overpriced.

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 13/04/2025 14:56

LilacPomPom · 13/04/2025 14:51

I am in agreement with you! The first couple I had - I thought they were the best things ever. Then I got sick of the icing and the price for some bog-standard icing and decoration. Plus, they don't taste the same anymore and they're way overpriced.

Edited

Exactly, I mean at least they were cheap and huge, and tasted good. Now they're more expensive and taste awful. The recipe has to have changed. Our local Costco seem to burn everything too, including the croissants, which I love.

OP posts:
LilacPomPom · 13/04/2025 15:02

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 13/04/2025 14:56

Exactly, I mean at least they were cheap and huge, and tasted good. Now they're more expensive and taste awful. The recipe has to have changed. Our local Costco seem to burn everything too, including the croissants, which I love.

I've honestly gone off Costco food. I used to be a bit obsessed! The one thing that will always keep me happy is the shortbread, though. Next Level.

Motherknowsrest · 13/04/2025 15:03

Yanbu. It's quite a good being gluten free as I always have an excuse to avoid them. To me they were always sickly and cheap.

8misskitty8 · 13/04/2025 15:05

It’s very sweet and sickly.
However the chocolate fudge cake and chocolate muffins are amazing.

ChompinCrocodiles · 13/04/2025 15:08

We haven't had one for about 8 months - so I couldn't say if it's changed since then.

We've had several large plain (just white iced) birthday rectangle slab cakes with cream/jam though, for dc parties. They're huge, totally unmatched price-wise and absolutely amazing tasting ime. Always soft and fresh. One of the best tasting cakes I've had.

For birthday cake I couldn't care less what the e numbers or sugar content is.

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 13/04/2025 15:10

8misskitty8 · 13/04/2025 15:05

It’s very sweet and sickly.
However the chocolate fudge cake and chocolate muffins are amazing.

We find the muffins dry and tasteless Asda bakery ones are moist, and much nice imo. I'm seeing so many of their products going downhill. I still like a few certain items, but is the Membership fee worth it?
Hoping a member of staff will come on here and let us know what is going on.

OP posts:
GildedRage · 13/04/2025 15:15

Gross slab cakes some of the bunt cakes and some loaf cakes are good but never the big flat slab ones.
Costco is my local main shop and I generally avoid the bakery section.

TheChosenTwo · 13/04/2025 15:17

People used to bring these to work and after I tried a few I learnt to swerve them.
Awful, no flavour except ‘sweet’ and absolutely stuffed full of crap.

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 13/04/2025 15:20

GildedRage · 13/04/2025 15:15

Gross slab cakes some of the bunt cakes and some loaf cakes are good but never the big flat slab ones.
Costco is my local main shop and I generally avoid the bakery section.

Yes, they used to do a toffee loaf cake which was so good, and I think a lot of people like the lemon drizzle version. I just don't understand who these super-fans are of the celebration cakes. Either people are buying them one time only, the cake is riding on it's old recipe coat tale fame, or they have never tried the old version years ago. I eat a lot of home baking, and was thinking maybe I am just getting older, taste changing. However, after picking up some cake slices with equally artificial ingredients, they taste just like how costco used to! It isn't me.

OP posts:
Workoutrage · 13/04/2025 15:22

TheChosenTwo · 13/04/2025 15:17

People used to bring these to work and after I tried a few I learnt to swerve them.
Awful, no flavour except ‘sweet’ and absolutely stuffed full of crap.

I don’t know how they’re even allowed to call them cake 😄 with those list of ingredients in them. I can only presume that those who think they taste good have never tried a homemade cake before.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 13/04/2025 15:42

Costco has gone downhill for most things IMHO. The cakes however have always been crappy.

Eastcoastdog · 13/04/2025 15:45

I hate all shop bought cakes but Costco are particularly bad

GildedRage · 13/04/2025 15:48

The city I live in is known for sports/sport teams coming here/hotels for several events year round. I assume these slab cakes are for kids.

Crikeyalmighty · 13/04/2025 15:52

I have never ever seen one of these shops-are they specific to a certain area?

HumbleBlag · 13/04/2025 15:53

For anyone who likes Costco croissants, I’d like to say that you can buy them frozen. Pack of 30 for around £8. 15 minutes in the air fryer for hot heavenly work of the gods!

CandyCane457 · 13/04/2025 15:54

I’m not a fan either- everyone at my work seems obsessed and they are often getting bought in for occasions.

It may just be my personal preference though- I much prefer a denser cake with hard icing, than these light fluffy things with the creamy, cloud like icing!

WeirdyBeardyMarrowBabyLady · 13/04/2025 15:55

I love them!

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 13/04/2025 15:56

GildedRage · 13/04/2025 15:48

The city I live in is known for sports/sport teams coming here/hotels for several events year round. I assume these slab cakes are for kids.

Yes, maybe kids' birthday parties and one-off events are keeping them going. The sales can not be what they once were. There were absolutely piles of them left at our branch. Maybe people are finally cottoning on that they're not what they once were. Obviously they're supposed to be artificial, but for old fans like me, who occasionally like a slice of one, they're now inedible.
I homebake all of our families birthday cakes, cookies, brownies etc, so sometimes I like a rest! If there is a time that I can't be bothered, I'll go to a cake place I know that sells cakes by the slice, we can all choose a flavour. It is artificial, but at least it tastes good!

I can safely say I will never buy Costco cake again, unless they change the recipe back!

OP posts:
WateryBottle · 13/04/2025 15:58

I’ve never liked them. I accept they are good value and get why people bought them for that reason, but I’ve always thought they look naff and taste gross.

Moonshinerso · 13/04/2025 15:59

They hurt my teeth, I think there must be some sort of sugar syrup that’s doing this. I don’t have that issue with any other cakes or sweet things.

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 13/04/2025 16:00

HumbleBlag · 13/04/2025 15:53

For anyone who likes Costco croissants, I’d like to say that you can buy them frozen. Pack of 30 for around £8. 15 minutes in the air fryer for hot heavenly work of the gods!

Yes, I have seen those! Somebody had opened a box (not me!), and I peaked in; they look so small. Do they rise loads to reach the full size bakery cooked size, or are they more like the mini size? I wasn't sure value wise if they're as good?

The croissants I still love (when they're not burnt). Dislike their pastries now!

OP posts:
Scottishskifun · 13/04/2025 16:05

We use them for children's birthday party's as it works out way cheaper and frankly they are all high off sugar and e numbers anyway with party food!

HumbleBlag · 13/04/2025 16:06

ChangeisntalwaysfortheBetter · 13/04/2025 16:00

Yes, I have seen those! Somebody had opened a box (not me!), and I peaked in; they look so small. Do they rise loads to reach the full size bakery cooked size, or are they more like the mini size? I wasn't sure value wise if they're as good?

The croissants I still love (when they're not burnt). Dislike their pastries now!

Edited

Yes, they rise loooads, to almost twice the size I’d say. Tip tip - air fryer at 165 degrees and about 7 mins on each side.

Two DS friends have recently started knocking for him on the way to school and I pop a couple of croissants from them to take and eat on the way. I noticed one friend started calling earlier than previously and on the last day of term cheekily asked if he could have two! 😂

tedcherries · 13/04/2025 16:08

It is grim. Especially the birthday cakes. Horrid.

Swipe left for the next trending thread