My Grandma Passed This Costco Dessert off as Homemade for Years—and We Had No Clue

Thanksgiving at our house isn’t complete without my mom’s cranberry apple stuffing, sweet potato casserole, Gulliver’s Corn, and, of course, all the pie. My grandmother was in charge of the baked goods for all family events, from crème brûlée French toast on Easter morning to her Seven Layer Bars and shortbread on Christmas Eve. Her Thanksgiving signatures were always pumpkin and pecan pie (Because why choose?), and my childhood memories of the holiday are laced with images of her beautiful ceramic pie pans boasting golden crusts packed with rich, decadent fillings.

My grandmother was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2021, and miraculously made it to two more Thanksgivings before she passed. I remember her coming into our kitchen on her last holiday carrying (since my grandmother wouldn’t dare show up empty-handed no matter how ill she was) two Costco Kirkland Signature Bakery pies: pumpkin and pecan.

When I grabbed the store-bought pies from her, my grandmother made a crack about how she didn’t have the energy to bake that day. I assured her that Costco desserts are amazing, but then she revealed that, while she did make her own pumpkin pie every year, my grandmother had been passing Costco’s pecan pie off as her own for over a decade—and we had no idea.

Costco’s Kirkland Signature Pecan Pie

You know the phrase, “My whole life is a lie?” Yeah, that’s what it felt like. When I had a slice of warm pie straight from that Costco tin, it was so dang good—and shockingly familiar. Looking back, my grandmother always came prepared with a three-pack of whipped cream from Costco, which should have been my first clue that she was totally stocking up at the warehouse before Turkey Day.

Costco’s Kirkland Signature Pecan Pie is topped with an ample amount of large pecan halves (rather than chopped up pieces), which means the nutty flavor really shines through. Plus, the nuts are clearly high quality. There’s no bitterness or stale taste here. And they’re lightly coated in a syrup for a candy quality that’s not overly sweet. The presentation alone makes this pie look homemade. Given that you eat with your eyes, Costco delivers with generous layers of pecans atop a rich, thick filling.

Beyond my family (and my own nostalgic bias), the general consensus is that Costco’s pecan pie is pretty delicious. In fact, one warehouse shopper described it as the “greatest dessert ever made” on Reddit. And so many fans agree.

“This is the single best thing that Costco sells,” said one passionate Redditor. “If you like pecan pie, it’s phenomenal.”

“We served ours cold out of the fridge and I thought it was great,” shared another Redditor, who added that the pie is a “great way to top off the Thanksgiving feast!”

In addition to incredible flavor, Kirkland Signature Pecan Pie also delivers when it comes to value. The 12-inch pie weighs a whopping four pounds (some are even close to five pounds), making it an ideal dessert for large family gatherings. 

“As a pecan pie connoisseur, theirs is excellent for the price,” said another Costco fan on Reddit. And the bang for your buck checks out. Costco’s pecan pie retails for around $16.99, which is a steal compared to $40 for a nine-inch pie from Honey Baked Ham, or the Wegmans Large Pecan Pie, which is also about $16, but only half the size of Costco’s.

While I still can’t believe that my grandmother managed to sneak this past us for the majority of my life, I’m grateful that I can still get a taste of her signature Thanksgiving dessert now that she’s gone. It may not be a family recipe, but I can assure you that Costco’s pecan pie is a delicious, comforting addition to your holiday spread.