Costco’s Churro Comeback Sparks Mixed Reactions
Costco has finally reintroduced its beloved churros, but the response from shoppers hasn’t been entirely positive. Instead of the classic full-sized churros familiar to many, the warehouse retailer is now offering a $2.99 caramel churro sundae, which comes with a small churro on top.
This sundae features your choice of vanilla, chocolate, or a swirl of soft-serve ice cream, all drizzled with salted caramel and topped with crunchy mini churros.
The original churros—fried dough coated in cinnamon sugar—have been food court staples since the 1990s, initially priced at just 99 cents. However, they were reformulated and discontinued in early 2024, drawing some disappointment from long-time fans.
Laura Jayne Lamb, who manages the Instagram account @costcohotfinds, mentioned in a recent post, “Costco’s food court has done it again!” but the online reactions tell a more complicated story.
Lamb’s Instagram update attracted close to 5,000 likes. Yet, comments like, “I don’t want the churro pieces. I want the whole churro back!” reflect a common sentiment. Another response in a Reddit Costco forum lamented, “Bring back the churros!”
Some users expressed dissatisfaction, with one remarking, “This is awful giving us ‘churro bites’ and not giving us churros.” A parent humorously recounted their child’s confusion: “One of my kids is 6 and every few months he yells, ‘Why did you lose the churros!’ It was like the first big betrayal in his life.” Another joked about ordering the sundae without the toppings, saying, “Can I have a caramel churro sundae? No caramel, no sundae. It’s an original recipe. …Thank you, that’s $1!”
Fans noted the new sundae’s price is significantly steeper than the previous churro and even more than the original version from years ago. Similarly, some shoppers recalled that the churros had previously been swapped out for $2.49 double chocolate chunk cookies, which caused their own stir.
Calories also became a topic of concern for some, with one commenter joking, “850 calories. Delicious, sure, but also self-inflicted.” Another added, “If the calories weren’t listed on the menu, I would always buy this.”
Despite some discontent, many shoppers expressed excitement about trying the new offering. “I can see the fire!” one Instagram user said, while another remarked, “Ok. I need to try it soon.”
Costco is known for rotating its food court items seasonally, and it’s uncertain how long the caramel churro sundae will remain available. This introduction follows the brief appearance of Costco’s Double Chocolate Mint Sundae earlier in the spring.
Variations in offerings at Costco’s food courts can occur by location, so availability may differ across stores.
This launch comes amid a competitive landscape between Costco and Sam’s Club, both of which recently introduced caramel-topped frozen desserts. In February, Sam’s Club Cafe launched a limited-time Caramel Palmier Sundae for $1.58, featuring vanilla frozen yogurt and caramel sauce.
