In the world of baking, finding high-quality ingredients and supplies can make all the difference in your culinary creations. Our beloved warehouse retailer has become a go-to destination for home bakers and professional pastry chefs, thanks to its wide selection of top-tier Costco baking supplies and pantry essentials.
From the finest Costco Almond Flour and rich Costco Vanilla Extract to essential items like Costco Baking Soda, Costco Sugar, Costco Powdered Sugar, and Costco Brown Sugar, this retail giant offers a treasure trove of options for your every baking need.
So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a budding baker, join us as we explore 23 exceptional Costco Baking Items, uncovering not just the staples but also the hidden gems like Costco butter that will take your baking projects to the next level.
23 Costco Baking Supplies To Save Money
These pantry staples easily rival name brands, and the prices are excellent compared to grocery stores.
Kirkland Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Chocolate chip cookie fans rejoice; many were concerned that Costco discontinued this baking staple, but alas, there are two types of Kirkland Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips in the warehouse. Both are great, and you can’t beat the price!
It gets tricky to pick the best one since both packages are semi-sweet chocolate chips, and the biggest difference is seemingly the package color. However, there are two main dissimilarities: ingredients and sustainability.
Kirkland Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips Red Package Ingredients:
Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Milkfat, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, and Natural Flavorings.
Kirkland Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips Blue Package Ingredients:
Chocolate Liquor, Sugar, Soy Lecithin (an emulsifier), and Vanilla
The red package contains ingredients similar to Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chips. The blue bag omits the natural flavorings and likely adds vanilla instead. The Red package produces a richer chip, thanks to the milkfat and cocoa butter, adding texture and flavor.
As for the percentage of cocoa, there’s a vast range for semi-sweet chocolate (35-65%). One of the most popular brands, Nestle Toll House, contains 47%, while the blue Kirkland Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips includes 51%. There is no information on the red package.
As for taste, we couldn’t find the blue bag in our local warehouse. As for the red packet, we liked it better than the Nestle chips. They were much smoother, melted in your mouth, and had an excellent chocolate taste. We could easily snack on these!
Kirkland Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips Red Package Price:
$9.99 for a 4.5-pound bag
Kirkland Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips Blue Package Price
$14.03 for a 4.5-pound bag SAME DAY PRICE (Instacart marks this up)
Costco Vanilla Extract
One of the easiest flavor boosters for recipes is vanilla extract. Even in small amounts, it packs a flavorful punch. Unfortunately, this liquid is known to be very expensive due to the delicate nature of the plants, which only flourish in tropical environments. These factors and others feed into large price fluctuations.
Enter Costco with another affordable product rivaling the competitors: Pure Vanilla Extract. At $9.99 for 16 ounces, it’s ⅕ of the price of the other warehouse product, Nielsen-Massey which retails for $49.99.
Costco Vanilla Extract is one of the best deals in the warehouse.
Costco Pure Vanilla Extract Ingredients:
Vanilla Bean Extractives in Water, Alcohol (35%).
Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract Ingredients:
Water, Cane Alcohol, Cane Sugar, Madagascar Vanilla Bean Extractives
The amount of alcohol in Costco Vanilla Extract is the minimum required to be considered pure by the United States FDA. The higher the amount, the stronger the flavor. It’s the same amount as the popular Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon version.
We aren’t sure why it’s so cheap, as Costco is very tight-lipped about suppliers. But it is good quality. When taste tested, the Nielsen Massey had a slight edge on flavor.
Costco Pure Vanilla Extract Price:
$9.99 for 16 ounces
Nielsen Massey Vanilla Extract Price at Costco:
$49.99 for two 8-ounce jars
Costco Flour
So many recipes, from cookies to cakes and pies, include flour, and home bakers go through packages quickly. Enter our favorite retailer that specializes in bulk. Costco sells several types of flour, including Ardent Mills All Purpose Flour, Organic Unbleached All Purpose Flour, and Kirkland Signature Almond Flour. As for King Arthur Flour, Costco sells 10-pound bags of King Arthur Bread Flour for $7.99.
Costco flour packages are anywhere from three to 25 pounds. Most last from three to eight months if properly stored. It’s worth noting that it’s not a deal if the product goes to waste.
No matter what you make, there’s a Costco flour for you. All-purpose flour, or plain or white flour, contains about 75 percent wheat grain and is commonly used in cake, pastry, and biscuit recipes. Organic all-purpose flour is the same but pesticide-free and less processed.
Kirkland Signature Almond Flour is an excellent option if you are avoiding grains. A ¼ cup serving contains 3 milligrams of Vitamin E, 70 milligrams of calcium, 177 milligrams of potassium, 3 grams of fiber, and 180 calories. All this from the only ingredient, blanched almonds. It’s a 1:1 ratio to substitute for all-purpose flour, but it may need an additional egg to help bind. Try it in Minimalist Baker’s One-Bowl Vanilla Cake or these Almond Flour Cookies from Well Plated By Erin.
Costco All Purpose Flour Price:
$9.99 for 25 pounds
Kirkland Signature Almond Flour Price:
$11.79 for three pounds
Costco Organic All-Purpose Flour Price:
$17.79 for two 10-pound bags
Costco Sugar
No list of baking essentials from Costco would be complete without sugar, and the warehouse has some excellent options for all types, including the standard white variety.
Costco sugar options include United Sugars Extra Fine Granulated Sugar and Imperial Sugar Pure Cane Sugar. The difference between the two is the size of the crystals. Extra fine sugar (superfine sugar) is heavily ground, creating smaller crystals that dissolve quickly. This sugar is excellent for meringues, egg foams, and simple syrups. Imperial Sugar’s Pure Cane is the granulated version in most homes and is ideal for general baking use.
If organic is essential, there’s Kirkland Signature Organic Cane Sugar. The crystals have a light brown hue and are less processed than other types. It’s also vegan, kosher, and Halal.
All of the ingredient lists for Costco sugar are simple: just one item.
Costco United Sugars Extra Fine Granulated Sugar Ingredients:
Sugar
Costco Imperial Sugar Pure Cane Sugar:
Cane Sugar
Kirkland Signature Organic Cane Sugar Ingredients:
Organic Cane Sugar
If adequately stored, sugar lasts for three years. These packages are large but have a long shelf life. Prices are excellent compared to grocery stores, too.
Costco United Sugars Extra Fine Granulated Sugar Price:
$7.79 for 10 pounds
Costco Imperial Sugar Pure Cane Price:
$18.99 for 25 pounds
Kirkland Signature Organic Cane Sugar Price:
$9.39 for 10 pounds
Costco Brown Sugar
One of the best baking supplies at the warehouse is Costco’s organic brown sugar. This darker-hued staple is similar to the white version but with an extra hint of flavor. The molasses helps baked goods retain moisture, and it’s excellent in marinades and baked goods.
Organic on the label means it’s from organic cane sugar and never refined.
Costco Brown Sugar Ingredients:
Organic Brown Sugar
Costco Brown Sugar Price:
$8.79 for 7.5 pounds
Costco Pecans
If you want a pecan pie to complement the Costco Pumpkin Pie on your Thanksgiving table, you need a lot of nuts! Enter Costco Pecans. Determining if Kirkland Signature Pecans are raw or cooked may be tricky, but most pecans you purchase in stores are roasted.
Costco Pecans Ingredients:
Pecans
As for their nutrition, a one-quarter cup serving provides 2 grams of fiber and 116mg of potassium. On the downside, they are high in fat, with that same serving size containing 20 grams.
Kirkland Signature Pecans Price:
$11.49 for two pounds
Costco Vegetable Oil and Canola Oil
If a moist cake is what you are seeking, you want a recipe that includes oil. Costco vegetable oil or canola oil is an excellent addition to your pantry. Both have high smoke points and a neutral taste, making them ideal for cooking and baking. The main difference is where the oil comes from. Vegetable oil is a blend, while canola oil is from one source.
Costco Vegetable Oil Ingredients:
Soybean Oil
Costco Canola Oil Ingredients:
Canola Oil
Both oils are the same price in the warehouse.
Costco Vegetable Oil Price:
$12.49 for two 3-quart containers
Costco Canola Oil Price:
$12.49 for two 3-quart containers
Costco Baking Soda
Baking soda helps baked goods rise. Check Costco if you seek one of the cheapest places to buy baking soda in bulk. The warehouse sells a famous American brand, Arm and Hammer.
Costco Baking Soda Ingredients:
100% Sodium Bicarbonate
Costco Baking Soda has a three-year shelf life. Since the product is shelf-stable for so long and has uses beyond baking, it’s an excellent deal.
Costco Baking Soda Price:
$8.59 for 13.5 pounds
Costco Butter
With rising dairy prices, Costco butter is an ideal place to buy butter, with endless endless options. We go into more detail in our Costco Butter Review, but here are the options:
Kirkland Salted Butter Ingredients:
Cream (Milk), Salt
Kirkland Unsalted Butter Ingredients:
Cream (Milk), Natural Flavorings
Kirkland Signature Grass-Fed Butter Ingredients:
Pasteurized Cream (Milk), Salt
Kirkland Signature Organic Butter Ingredients:
Pasteurized Organic Sweet Cream (Milk), Salt
Kerrygold Salted Butter Ingredients:
Pasteurized Cream, Salt
Kerrygold Unsalted Butter Ingredients:
Pasteurized Cream, Skimmed Milk, Cultures
Unsalted butter often has added ingredients since salt not only adds flavor but helps with preservation. No matter which version you pick, prices can’t be beat!
Kirkland Signature Unsalted Butter Price:
$12.49 for 4 pounds
Kirkland Signature Salted Butter Price:
$12.49 for 4 pounds
Kirkland Signature Organic Salted Butter Price:
$11.49 for 2 pounds
Kirkland Signature Grass Fed Butter Price:
$9.99 for 2 pounds
Kerry Gold Salted Butter Costco Price:
$14.49 for 2 pounds
Kerry Gold Unsalted Butter Costco Price:
$14.49 for 2 pounds
Costco Powdered Sugar
Powdered sugar, also known as confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar, is a finely ground sugar with a powdery texture. It is commonly used in baking and confectionery to sweeten and decorate various desserts, including cakes, cookies, and pastries. One of its main benefits is its ability to dissolve quickly, providing a smooth and uniform sweetness to various recipes while also serving as an ideal dusting for a polished finishing touch on baked goods. Costco Powdered Sugar was milled ten times to get a super fine texture.
Costco Powdered Sugar Ingredients:
Granulated Sugar, Cornstarch
US Sugar Powdered Sugar is made by grinding granulated sugar with cornstarch to a grain size between 6X and Fondant sugar. The cornstarch prevents caking and increases shelf life.
Costco Powdered Sugar Price:
$7.39 for 7 pounds
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