This Limited Time Costco Bakery Find Is So Good—I’m Stocking Up for Easter

As a relatively new Costco member, I missed the carrot bar cake last year, but have heard enough raves from others to be a little more on the ball this year. Even if you’re not a huge carrot cake person—which I’m not, though I do get an annual craving around Easter—apparently, this is the one that could convert you.

Well, I’m always game to test a theory when baked goods are involved! Plus, I’m a sucker for a non-round cake. There’s something about a cake with right angles that I find very satisfying. So, I was in.

Why I Love Costco’s Carrot Bar Cake

Made of three layers of cake and three layers of cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with crushed walnuts, the carrot bar cake officially made me a fan. While I feel a duty to report that it does have raisins (divisive!), they were very soft, and I thought they melded well with each bite.

Costco also incorporates pineapple into its recipe, which I honestly would have never known, but it’s definitely working! The bottom line is, if you’re a fair-weather carrot cake person (i.e. usually just at Easter), this one is worthy and would look great as part of an Easter spread. And at twelve servings, it’s large enough for a good-sized crew.

Two things make this cake a standout: the cream cheese frosting (PER-fection) and the fact that it’s just sweet enough. While I could have eaten the cream cheese frosting with a spoon, the three thin layers keep its overall sweetness in check. The cake itself is perfectly sweet.

How To Serve and Store Costco’s Carrot Bar Cake

To serve, run a sharp knife under hot water, dry it with a towel, then slice. To freeze the cake, place the whole thing (packaging at all) in the freezer until it’s frozen through, about four hours. Then remove the cake from its packaging, cover it in plastic wrap, and return it to the freezer.

If you want to take out smaller amounts of cake at a time, I recommend dividing it into sections or slices and wrapping them individually. Avoid taking the cake in and out of the freezer over and over—this creates condensation and can affect the cake’s quality and flavor. To thaw, simply put it in the fridge overnight, and it’ll be ready for you the next day!

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