Discontinued Costco Items That Didn't Disappear For Long

Members of warehouse club Costco know there are plenty of bargains to be had at their nearest stores — which explains why "nearest" can mean a three-hour journey. Regular shoppers make beelines for their favorite items, whether that's an unmissable, classic dessert, bumper packs of fresh meat, or value-for-money dried goods.

Yet no matter how popular a product, there's always the fear among members that one day, it's not going to be there. While other supermarket chains stock high-selling items week in, week out, Costco has a reputation for yanking beloved products from its shelves, leaving shoppers disappointed at best and, at worst, utterly devastated.

However, the dreaded "Death Star" sticker, which indicates an item is about to be discontinued, doesn't always mean a permanent end. Depending on the reason why a product will no longer be stocked, whether it's because of supply chain issues or low sales, they can — sometimes — make a spectacular comeback. With that in mind, here are discontinued Costco items that didn't disappear for long.

Thousands of people across the country have celebrated their birthdays with slices of the mammoth, 7-pound All American Cake. This indulgent feast of chocolate cake, frosting, and shavings was adored by customers for its rich flavor and versatility, but dreaded by employees, according to this Reddit comment.

They were possibly the only ones who were pleased when the unthinkable happened in 2000, and Costco pulled it from shelves — to the horror of many chocolate cake devotees. Around a year later, a post surfaced on Reddit claiming the All American Cake was discontinued because it didn't make enough money. Intriguingly, in the summer of 2021, Costco unveiled six packs of mini All American cakes with fudge icing.

Although not everyone was pleased — a petition to bring back the monster version has racked up over 9,000 signatures to date — plenty of customers embraced the mini cakes. But, what Costco giveth, Costco continues to take away, too: The mini All American cakes are not available all year round. Their most recent appearance was in 2024.

In 2021, social media lit up with the launch of Costco's snickerdoodle mini cakes, though "mini" was a bit of an elastic term, considering each one weighed a hefty 7 ounces. Inspired by the classic cookie of the same name, the snickerdoodle mini cakes were described by one Redditor, who rated them 10/10, as "cinnamon loaf cake in muffin form," topped with a "cream cheese cinnamon sugar."

Snickerdoodle mini cakes were an instant hit with customers, who eagerly snapped them up during their short but very sweet limited run. Happily for Costco members, the sugary confection returned to stores in 2022 prompting more waves of love on social media.

Instagrammer costcohotfinds was among those singing the mini cake's praises, posting, "I love cinnamon and I love these cakes!" Luckily for anyone who was able to get their hands on them, one Reddit commenter realized snickerdoodle mini cakes could be cut up and frozen to prolong the pleasure.

Costco's bakery section is home to some of the store's most popular products, and first-time shoppers are always urged by regulars to go see for themselves. So you might think that the powers-that-be behind the warehouse club would tread particularly carefully when discontinuing items from this part of the store. Not a bit of it.

As if 2020 wasn't a tough enough year, it also saw Costco's pull-apart cinnamon rolls yanked from shelves. Fans took to social media to express their sadness, with one Reddit commenter describing it as a "terrible emotional roller coaster." But in 2023, the fabled cinnamon rolls made a comeback — though things weren't quite the same.

They initially appeared as a pack of 12 rolls, slathered in moreish cream cheese icing, for $6.99. For around a year, this seasonal treat delighted shoppers, until Costco made another change in December 2024. Twelve rolls became six, and the size of the buns wasn't the only thing that had increased: Their new price was $12.99.

There are several theories about why Costco discontinued its take and bake pizza in around 2020. Some suggested there had been a disagreement with the supplier, and others speculated it was a low-selling item because it wasn't actually that popular. Whatever the reason, there were some who were sad to see the pizza go. One Redditor said it was "the main reason why I got my membership originally."

Although the internet was divided about the quality of Kirkland Signature Take and Bake Pizza, which were delivered frozen to stores, compared to those at the Food Court, they made a return to stores in 2024. The new pizza combos were fancier than their predecessors, according to one Redditor.

Their Margherita had "pesto, fresh mozzarella, and roasted/marinated cherry tomatoes," and cost $16.99. Another Costco shopper picked up a four-meat take and bake at their local Washington State outlet in 2025, but the $15 price tag soon set tongues wagging, as several social media commenters said it was too high for a bake-at-home pizza.

Store-bought peanut butter might not be one of the healthiest foods, but that doesn't stop us from loving it. One of the brands fueling that insatiable appetite was Kirkland Signature Organic Peanut Butter, which comes in twin packs of 28-ounce jars. But it's not always been on Costco's shelves.

The brand is made with Valencia peanuts, and harvests were badly impacted by drought in 2011 and early 2021. The first time crops fell short of demand, shoppers simply had to go without their much-loved peanut butter. When supplies rose, the jars returned to Costco in 2013, to shoppers' relief.

After a similar issue arose in 2021, Costco replaced the Kirkland Signature brand with Naturally More. In a taste comparison, Cost Contessa said the two brands were nutritionally identical and dubbed the new jar an "acceptable replacement." However, shortly after Naturally More's appearance, Kirkland Signature organic creamy peanut butter was back in Costco stores and all was well with the world.

The United States is the land of the awesome snack. From every flavor of chips you have never thought of to chocolates and candies of every stripe: It's all good. For Costco shoppers looking to blend their sweet and savory cravings, the Kirkland Signature Honey Mustard Snack Mix hit the spot every time. Originally launched in 2019, it was a blend of chickpeas, split almonds, sesame and pretzel sticks, and almond poppers, all covered in a mouthwatering honey-mustard coating.

Fans described it as "unbelievably good" and "such a great snack" in this Reddit thread, while one commenter admitted that they tried to avoid buying them as "the bag mysteriously empties in a few days." Unfortunately, within months of its appearance, the Kirkland Signature Honey Mustard Snack Mix became a victim of its own success and vanished from Costco stores. It took until 2025  for the powers that be at the warehouse club to bring the much-loved product back, to the delight of many customers.

Almonds are a great source of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin E, and the cocoa in your pantry can boost our heart and brain health and do wonders for our blood sugar. Costco combined the two to create legendary, low-carb snack Kirkland Signature Cocoa Dusted Almonds. Members could not get enough of them: They were creamy and nutty with just enough of a sweet kick to satisfy their sugar cravings.

But by 2019, they had all-but vanished from Costco stores. Although no reason was given for their disappearance, devoted buyers were thrilled when the cocoa dusted almonds were spotted once again in 2020. On Instagram, costcobuys gained over 2,000 likes and hundreds of "joy" emojis after posting a picture of a jar.

By 2025, Kirkland Signature cocoa dusted almonds seem to have vanished again, but there's no official word about them being discontinued. If this Reddit thread is anything to go by, consumers seem to have — happily — moved on to Kirkland Signature Chocolate Covered Almonds.

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that's certainly true for Costco members mourning discontinued products from the retailer's food court. Sometimes, when an item is given the dreaded "Death Star" asterisk, there are plenty of alternatives. Take whole bean coffee, for example: Costco stocks a wide range, not least its quality Kirkland Signature brand.

Sadly, in 2021, it was no substitute for coffee-loving shoppers when the popular Lavazza Espresso Italiano whole bean coffee received the Death Star. People took to social media to swap replacement suggestions and gently console each other on their coffee bean loss. Thankfully, this was another instance where it was more a case of "see you again," rather than a final, definitive goodbye. Just months after disappearing from Costco shelves, costcofansmidwest posted on Instagram: "@lavazzausa Caffè Espresso whole bean coffee is back! Lattes here I come."

It may not have been Julia Child's Costco food court favorite, but for thousands of shoppers, the churros were definitely in their top five must-have menu items. The cinnamon-coated sugary sticks cost just $1, but despite their popularity — or possibly because of it — when the food court reopened after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, churros were no longer a regular menu fixture.

Luckily, Costco realized the error of its ways and revived churros in 2021 though not without a few changes. They were twisted, bigger than the OG, and cost $0.49 cents more, but that wasn't all.

The new versions just didn't hit the spot, as one Instagram commenter confirmed: "After trying the new updated churros, I have to say that the original churros where [sic] way better than the updated churros," before urging Costco to switch back to the old recipe. In 2024, it was withdrawn completely and replaced by a cookie costing $2.49.

Brands and retailers use lots of ways to keep us buying their product, including overhauling them. Sometimes these shake-ups work, and sometimes they don't. When Costco began withdrawing particular muffin flavors during the 2000s, the almond poppyseed variety was one of the casualties. In 2022, fans of the bakery staple were delighted when stacks of them started to appear in selected stores.

They were a bargain for muffin lovers: two packs of six cakes, comprising three flavors, cost just $8.99. Instagrammer costcohotfinds was among thousands of people celebrating their return, little realizing that more changes were just around the corner.

Fast-forward to 2024 and the much-loved almond poppyseed muffins were once again shown the door. Instead, fresh muffins would be sold in packs of eight for $6.99, with four flavors: triple chocolate, blueberries and cream, cinnamon chip, and lemon raspberry. So far, the switch has gone down badly with staff and customers, as this Reddit thread and this later one reveal.

Every day, hundreds of people order a custom cake from Costco to celebrate a major life event. It's not surprising considering the value for money they represent. For around $25, you can get a plain or decorated vanilla or chocolate cake that will put smiles on the faces of up to 50 people. It's understandable then, that card-carrying members were outraged when the half sheet cake was quietly discontinued in 2020.

In a Facebook post from May that year, the company replied to a question about the availability of half sheet cakes, writing: "At this time, we are not making sheet cakes for special order." The post also explained the decision it was to help "limit personal contact and create more space for social distancing."

Instead, Costco gently steered customers in the direction of its smaller, round cakes, hoping to tamp down people's frustrations. It seemed to work and, as the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions eased, by mid-2022, the half sheet made a slow return to Costco outlets, and by 2023, availability was back to normal.

The classic pairing of Parmigiano Reggiano and garlic works in almost every kind of food, but when Costco combined the real deal Italian cheese in bread, it was a perfect marriage. The retailer's garlic Parmesan bread was beloved by many shoppers, but that didn't prevent it from being discontinued. On social media, people urged their fellow Costco members to send in suggestion forms pleading for the bread's return.

It took until 2024 for their calls to be heeded. In January that year, news broke that loaves of garlic Parmesan bread were once again in Costco stores. However, some shoppers' initial delight was short-lived, as they realized it cost $7.99 per loaf.

Things changed again in 2025, when the large loaves were replaced by a pull-apart version. For the same, roughly $8 price, Costco offered 12 garlic and Parmesan butter dinner rolls, which have gone down a storm with buyers. On TikTok, thelavelleshow described them as "perfect," while costcohotfinds said in a video they were, "Insanely delicious."

There can be many reasons why Costco bosses decide to discontinue even a very popular product, but occasionally it's because of consumer safety. In 2022, a class action lawsuit was filed against Costco, alleging the company had "failed to notify its customers that its Kirkland Organic Roasted Seaweed snack could "contain cadmium, perchlorate or other toxins," following lab tests the previous year. The tasty snack appeared to have fallen foul of California's Prop 65 law, which requires businesses to inform customers about any possible risks to their health from their products.

In November 2022, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration released a report concluding that, although seaweed — which can naturally absorb potentially harmful elements and chemicals from the environment —  was not suitable for children aged six and younger, it posed no health risk for adults. Fans of the savory snack were thrilled to see it return to Costco stores after the lawsuit was dismissed, where it has remained ever since.

One of the most infuriating things about Costco discontinuing products can be the lack of concrete information, beyond seeing an asterisk on a label. Social media has become a lifeline for shoppers seeking answers. While it's not always 100% reliable, often staff members pop up to offer clarification, or regular shoppers provide insider info.

That was the case in 2024, when the retailer discontinued its Kirkland Signature Spiced Rum as it switched to a new distiller. This Reddit discussion suggested the new rum would be on shelves before the end of the year and, sure enough, bottles from Sazerac Co. started to appear by November.

While some were sad to see the old spiced rum go, opinions about the replacement have been divided ever since. Contributors to Rum Ratings have given it everything from 1, to 10 out of 10, and while Jon Justice dubbed it "fantastic" on X, others were put off by the sweetness of the vanilla flavor.

The change of soda at Costco's Food Court may have grabbed headlines in 2025, but it wasn't the only drink that made a welcome return that year. Back in 1984, PepsiCo unveiled Slice soda, a lemon-lime drink that aimed to rival Sprite and other brands such as Starry and Sierra Mist. Sadly, Slice faded into obscurity after 20 years or so. However, in 2025, the soda, which contained 10% real fruit juice, started to pop up in Costco stores again.

Images of packs containing eight, 12-ounce orange and lemon-lime flavored cans soon appeared on social media. Users picked up on the inclusion of pre, pro, and postbiotics, and compared the revamped Slice soda to rival "healthy" soda brands.

On Instagram, a commenter said: "This is such a great comeback! Slice was my childhood fave." While on Reddit, a poster noted: "There's a cute little message on the side of the cans about how they're still your favorite brand from the 1980s but healthier," adding they thought the grape variety was "pretty decent."

Anyone who visited Costco in the 1990s will have fond memories of the Food Court's soft pretzel. For some, it was the only reason they went to their local store, while one Redditor reminisced: "When my boys were toddlers, I would get them a big, soft pretzel to munch on while we shopped."

The favorites were available in several flavors, including the widely popular cinnamon sugar, and discontinued from the food court in the mid-2000s. Several years later, the much-loved but hard-to-find pretzel rolls were finally axed. But, in 2025, Costco soft pretzels made a welcome return — though perhaps not quite as many devotees wanted.

In April, the retailer began stocking Brauhaus soft pretzels in the frozen section, Bavarian-style snacks that came in boxes of two for $11.49. Instagrammer costcodeals posted a video about the heat-and-eat carb-heavy treat. Not all the commenters were impressed with the price, but other soft pretzel fans were won over after tasting them.