Costco Pumpkin Streusel Muffins Review
Author’s note: I have nooo affiliation with Costco, and this is not a sponsored review. Enjoy my derpy opinions! Or don’t. That’s fine, too.
You can’t stop the pumpkin spice. Don’t even try.
Costco’s new Pumpkin Streusel Muffins remind me of coffee cake. They’ve got a soft, smooth texture that is more like sliced “pumpkin bread” than typical muffin crumb. I liked how moist they are — and very, very tender. Unfortunately, the ingredients were a bit disappointing. More about that later.
While these are not “small” muffins, they aren’t the gargantuan lumps most wholesale warehouses sell. Closer to a normal muffin size. But generous and satisfying. You won’t have to split one with your spouse just to squeeze into your pants the next day.
The flavor is fantastic. These are true “pumpkin” muffins, instead of just “pumpkin spice.” You know? It’s got that fudgy-rich pumpkin-puree density, like Costco’s Pumpkin Spice Loaf Cake.
But the real star of this muffin-show is the intoxicating “pumpkin spice” flavor. While the ingredients list cinnamon, clove, and ginger, that’s not enough to account for it. It’s like cinnamon, but from another galaxy. The otherworldly flavor lingered in my mouth and made me feel alive. I could almost feel it oozing out of my pores. I was sad (but not surprised) to see artificial flavors on the label.
My tastebuds have been bamboozled. But they love it. Traitors! Hmmph.
I enjoyed the light sweetness. It’s like cake without icing. In my world, that is the perfect amount of sugar. I ate it as a dessert. But, you do you.
(Have you tried Costco’s Pumpkin Pie? Here’s my silly review.)
The chunky streusel on top is slightly more sugary, with a soft consistency. I’m personally a fan of crunchy streusel. And this isn’t crunchy. But I still enjoyed it. It has a deeply spiced flavor, similar to the muffin body. Nary a bland bit.
(And it’s very well-behaved streusel. It stayed neatly stuck to the muffin tops without shedding flour dust everywhere.)
I appreciate the brown tulip-shaped folded paper wrappers. As I wrote in my review of Costco’s Lemon Raspberry Muffins, this paper style looks far more “boutique bakery” than “discount warehouse.” They’re still easy to peel off, and keep the muffins tidy. But the thick, durable paper feels fancy and special.
Ok, I’m weird, and I like these kinds of details. Leave me alone.
Serving the muffins
These are pretty enough to bring to a brunch gathering. They’d be great for an effortless Thanksgiving morning family nosh. Whereas some muffins need butter or jam to reach their full potential, these guys are perfect without a single additional thing. Just stuff them in your greedy gullet. You’re welcome.
Ingredients in Costco Pumpkin Streusel Muffins
Here are the ingredients from the label:
- Bleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Pumpkin
- Butter (Cream, and/or Milk, Salt)
- Soybean and/or Canola Oil
- Water
- Contains 2% or less of the following: Sour Cream (Grade A Cultured Cream), Modified Corn Starch, Pumpkin Spice (Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves), Palm Oil, Whey, Emulsifiers (Propylene Glycol Esters of Fatty Acids, Mono- and Diglycerides, Distilled Monoglycerides, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid), Wheat Gluten, Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Nonfat Dry Milk, Sodium Caseinate, Egg Whites, Salt, Gums (Xanthan, Locust Bean, Guar), Vanilla Extract, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Soy Flour.
I mean. This list started out so admirably. But then all that sneaky junk at the end! Alas.
Price and Servings
The 31 ounce package cost $6.99 at my local warehouse. (I weighed it on my kitchen scale at 2 pounds, 4 ounces. Bonus!) Since there are 8 servings per box, each muffin costs just 88 cents.
This is a “Kirkland Signature” (Costco store-brand) item, and the product # is: 1991807.
This a seasonal item at my local Costco, thus not available year-round.
Shelf Life
The “sell by” date on my package allowed approximately 3 days to consume. Mine will stick around more than a week, however. Costco bakery goods often last me 10 days.
I stored mine in the refrigerator. They taste best at room temperature (softer), so I let mine sit out on a plate for about an hour before eating. Unlike other bakery goods, this one doesn’t need reheating to taste fresh and delicious.
Dramatic Conclusion
If you love pumpkin spice, you need these muffins in your life. They’re richly flavored, with a light sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm the spices. While they’re shaped like a breakfast item, the cake-like texture makes them suitable for dessert. Or an afternoon tea. Or afternoon whatever. Get in my belly.
Even taking into account the disagreeable ingredients, the Awesome-o-Meter still rates these muffins a solid “Yaaas.”
The End.
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