Costco’s Fall Muffins Are Back, And Customers Are Already Angry

We’d like to talk to Costco about this whole streusel thing it’s got going on. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with streusel – I love anything that makes something delicious even more delicious, and streusel, in all its crumbly, sweet glory, has the ability to do that for so many things – but the store seems to be utterly obsessed with it this year. It’s put streusel on strawberry cheesecake; it’s put streusel on cherry almond coffee cake; it’s put streusel on croissants. It cannot. Get. Enough. 

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And now it’s put streusel on muffins. That’s not the reason its customers are angry, though…okay, maybe it’s contributing to it a little. Here’s what we mean. 

Costco Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

Like it or not, it’s pumpkin spice season – maybe not in weather terms, but definitely in retail terms. And Costco isn’t going to miss a trick. Hence, this week, we’ve seen the return of its Pumpkin Streusel Muffins. These muffins are actually a predecessor to Costco’s current streusel preoccupation: They first appeared a few years ago, and have been showing up this time of year ever since. In each pack, you get eight pumpkin spice-flavored muffins, each topped with a crumbly, sugary topping. 

So, why are people unhappy? Well, Costco changed its whole “muffin system” in late 2024, and this seasonal flavor changed, too. Its Pumpkin Streusel Muffins used to come in six-packs, with each muffin huge, generous, and moist. Since the change, they’ve come under fire for their dryness and toughness – and that streusel topping isn’t helping matters, as it creates a somewhat chalky consistency on the top, which then reinforces the lack of moisture within. 

As such, the arrival of these muffins prompted some customers to beg Costco, once more, to revert to its original muffin system. This is a common complaint across its whole muffin line, and we don’t think it’s going to stop any time soon. 

But I Still Want Them…

Well, that choice is entirely up to you – and if you do, they’ll set you back $6.99 per pack (which isn’t too bad, considering you get eight of them). The store’s in full swing with its other pumpkin-based releases, too: Its famous pumpkin pie is now back in stock, and it arrived slightly earlier this year. Chalk it up to holiday creep. Soon, we’ll all be enjoying our pumpkin spice goods in June, or April, or January, if these stores have their way.