Costco’s seasonal food finds include pumpkin pie, appetizers and pantry staples

Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away, and shoppers are beginning to gather ingredients and easy-to-serve foods for the holiday. Costco has a mix of seasonal items and reported discounts, though prices and availability may differ by location.

New products can draw attention even without especially large markdowns, said marketing professor Andrew Edelblum. Costco’s pumpkin pie is one familiar example: the retailer’s bulk buying and in-house bakery help make it a seasonal favorite.

Here are seven food finds to look for. Some reported discounts are available through Nov. 15.

• Pumpkin pie: The pie measures 12 inches across and weighs nearly four pounds. It typically sells for $5.99, and shoppers report that it freezes well.

• Baking extract: A two-pack of 8-ounce bottles is being offered with $15 off. The online-only deal could be useful for holiday baking.

• Herb cheese: A three-pack includes two Garlic & Fine Herbs cheeses and one Shallot & Chive cheese, with $2.70 off. Serve it with crackers or stir it into mashed potatoes.

• Buttery crackers: An 18-stack box is discounted by $3.30. The crackers can go on a holiday snack tray or be crushed for casserole toppings.

• Cheese-filled croissant rolls: Costco’s $10.99 pack has buttery rolls filled with Brie sauce and Emmental cheese. They heat in about eight minutes, making them a quick option for an appetizer, breakfast or snack.

• Reduced-sodium broth: The six-pack of 32-ounce cartons is a useful pantry staple for soups, stews, casseroles and pasta dishes. Its lower sodium content also gives cooks more control over the salt in a recipe.

• Potstickers: A bag is on sale for just under $10, and the dumplings take about 10 minutes to prepare. Each serving has 12 grams of protein.