We Tried The Costco Pumpkin Streusel Muffins (And They Scratch The Pumpkin Itch)

While Costco may already be putting out their seasonal food items fit for Christmas and all of the December holidays, we haven’t quite moved on from everything fall that they have to offer. I mean, we haven’t even gotten past Halloween yet, let alone Thanksgiving.

Videos by Sporked

All this to say, when we took our weekly trip to Costco and were perusing their bakery section, we got excited to see that our local Costco finally started stocking the Pumpkin Streusel Muffins that we’ve waited so long now to try out. While these muffins started being stalked in early September, distribution and access to certain seasonal items at Costco always varies. But alas, we were finally able to give you all our review now. So without further due, here are our thoughts. 

Our Official Sporked Review

Pros — Generally, I would say that we here at Sporked are big fans of the seasonal bakery items at Costco. Since they’re making most everything in-house, there’s a certain guarantee on freshness and quality that you aren’t necessarily given at other grocery stores. Plus, the value for money is something truly spectacular that they have to offer. And that’s the first thing we really appreciate about these muffins. Getting eight full-size muffins for $6.99 is a delight that we truly do not take for granted. That said, something can be affordable and still disappointing to the taste. Luckily for us, these were two for two.

The flavor for these was delightfully natural in a way where you could really just tell that it was made with the actual spices that comprise everything pumpkin spice, and not some artificial flavoring. It didn’t taste like a candle, it tasted more akin to the namesake pie itself. And, it not only has the delicate earthy flavor of actual pumpkin purée, but it also has that delightfully tender texture that you get from it too. Pumpkin does this incredible thing where it increases the moisture in a baked good, and it made these almost creamy. 

Cons — Unfortunately, despite the tenderness and moist quality of the muffins, they were also quite dense. Not so dense that they were unappetizing, but if you’re looking for something super light and fluffy, this isn’t gonna be the right muffin for you.

Additionally, we have a real issue with the streusel topping and the overall look of them too. Don’t get us wrong, the streusel topping did taste good. But, I mean, it really is just cinnamon flavored so there’s not really much that could’ve gone wrong. Our issue with it, though, is the texture and the way it was distributed.

Not only does the streusel have a incredibly mushy quality that didn’t pair nicely with the dense muffin, but it is basically just placed in two to three large clumps on top of each muffin in a way that highlights the unappetizing look of the bare muffin. Plus, with the poor distribution the streusel is barely even a part of the muffin. You’ll only taste it in a few chance bites.