Costco Expands Bakery Lineup With Fresh Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
Issaquah, Wednesday, 5 August 2026.
Costco introduced house-made Southern buttermilk biscuits for $6.99 a pack in August 2026, leveraging high-margin bakery items to boost foot traffic despite mixed customer reviews regarding their texture.
A Strategic Move for the Warehouse Giant
The newly introduced Kirkland Signature Southern-style buttermilk biscuits represent Costco Wholesale’s (NASDAQ: COST) first-ever house-made biscuit offering in its bakery department [1][2][3]. Officially launched on August 4, 2026, after generating buzz on social media starting August 2, 2026, the fresh-baked goods are priced at $6.99 for a package of 10 [1][2][3]. This pricing breaks down to approximately $0.699 per biscuit, offering budget-conscious members an affordable option to bring homemade flavor home without mixing dough [2]. Customers can track down the availability of the new item, categorized under item number 208379, through the official Costco mobile application [3].
Leveraging Freshness to Drive Foot Traffic
By using real buttermilk in the recipe, Costco’s in-house bakers aim to deliver a product with a natural lift, a tenderized dough structure, and a signature tangy flavor profile [1]. The warehouse retailer’s decision to produce these “absolutely giant” biscuits, which are comparable in size to traditional Southern “cathead” biscuits, highlights a broader trend among major big-box retailers to utilize fresh, high-frequency food offerings to sustain subscriber loyalty and draw consistent foot traffic to physical warehouses [1][GPT]. This strategy allows Costco to leverage high-margin freshly prepared foods to capture market share in consumer staples amid evolving grocery shopping patterns [GPT].
Social Media Divides Over Texture and Taste
Despite the initial excitement, the rollout has sparked a polarized debate across social media platforms. The item was first spotlighted on August 2, 2026, by a popular Costco influencer on Instagram and TikTok, who described the biscuits as “buttery, fluffy, and [tasting] just like homemade” [3][4]. Some early buyers echoed this sentiment, with one shopper confirming that they purchased the biscuits and found them to be exceptionally fresh [3]. However, other customers expressed immediate reservations, with some lamenting that the launch conflicted with their newly started diets [2][3].
Debating the Moisture Level
Conversely, a substantial portion of online feedback has been critical of the biscuits’ physical appearance. Multiple social media users criticized the product for appearing excessively dry, with one commenter noting they “looked dryer than the desert” and another joking that they appeared “dry enough to use as car tires” [4]. A particularly harsh review compared the texture to an abrasive foot scrubber [2][4]. Nevertheless, defenders of the classic Southern staple pointed out that true biscuits are not meant to be overly moist, stating that “if your biscuits are super moist, you ain’t eating a biscuit” [4].
Culinary Solutions and Versatility
To optimize the eating experience, Costco recommends heating the biscuits in an oven or an air fryer before serving [1]. Shoppers have quickly suggested various culinary workarounds to counteract the perceived dryness. Many enthusiasts pointed out that the biscuits serve as a perfect base for wet toppings, with multiple reviews suggesting they are ideal for pairing with warm sausage gravy [1][2] or chocolate gravy [4]. Other creative suggestions include sandwiching a chicken strip with hot honey inside the biscuit [2].
Repurposing the Southern Staple
Furthermore, the dense structure of the biscuits makes them highly suitable for recipes that require moisture absorption without becoming soggy. Food writers and customers have recommended utilizing the biscuits for strawberry shortcakes, breakfast casseroles, bread pudding, and cobblers [1][4]. While some shoppers half-jokingly called the lack of pre-packaged gravy sold alongside the biscuits an “egregious oversight” [3], the versatility of this new Kirkland Signature bakery item ensures it remains a highly discussed addition to Costco’s fresh food portfolio [3][4].