Costco Discontinues Half Sheet Cakes - Reasons Explained
Discover why Costco stopped selling half sheet cakes, the factors behind the decision, and where to find similar-sized cakes today. Get practical tips to keep celebrations affordable.
Costco Half Sheet Cake: Size, Servings, and Ordering Tips
If you're hunting for a Costco half sheet cake, you’ve landed in the right place. When working with Costco half sheet cake, a ready‑made 1/2‑sheet cake sold by Costco that feeds a crowd. Also known as Costco sheet cake, it offers a quick dessert solution for birthdays, graduations, or any gathering where you need to serve many people without a bakery headache. The sheet cake serving size, typically cut into 2‑inch squares, dictates how many guests you can feed and how many slices you’ll need for leftovers. Most bakers recommend 12‑inch squares for a balanced bite, which translates to roughly 72 servings from a standard half‑sheet. Knowing this math upfront helps you avoid over‑ or under‑ordering, a common mistake many first‑timers make.
Getting the cake in your hands is easier than you think. The Costco bakery the in‑store department that handles both ready‑made and custom cakes lets you walk in and pick up a pre‑decorated favorite, or place a custom order a few days ahead for a specific flavor or design. Walk‑in pickup works for the most popular flavors—chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet—while custom orders require a brief sign‑up at the bakery counter. Prices are transparent, usually ranging from £20 to £30 for the half sheet, and the per‑slice cost drops dramatically as the guest count rises. If you’re budgeting, treat the cake as a base and add frosting or fruit toppings yourself to stretch the dollar further.
Once the cake arrives, handling it right preserves taste and texture. Store the half sheet in the refrigerator if you won’t serve it within a few hours; keep it covered with a loose foil tent to prevent the frosting from drying out. When it’s showtime, let the cake sit at room temperature for 20‑30 minutes—this small step makes each bite softer and more flavorful. Cutting the cake cleanly is a skill worth mastering: use a long serrated knife, wipe it clean between cuts, and follow a grid pattern based on the serving size you chose earlier. Leftovers can be repurposed into cake pops, truffles, or a quick French toast—great ways to turn extra slices into new desserts without waste.
All of these tips tie into the bigger picture of party planning. By understanding the cost per person, the serving calculations, and the ordering timeline, you can fit a Costco half sheet cake into any budget while still impressing guests. Below you’ll find a curated list of articles that dive deeper into portion math, walk‑in pickup rules, storage tricks, and creative ways to upgrade a basic cake. Whether you’re a first‑timer or a seasoned host, the guides ahead will give you the confidence to pick, cut, and serve the perfect cake every time.
