These Fall Favorites Are Back at Costco. Grab Some Before They're Gone

At this point, many people are bemoaning the end of summer. Forget beach days, barbecues, and leisurely evenings at home. Kids are largely back to school, which means homework assignments, extracurricular activities, and a generally more rushed existence -- at least if you're a parent.

But while you may be sad to see summer go, the upside is that fall is right around the corner. And if you're a fan of crisp air, crunchy, colored leaves, and all things pumpkin, you only have to wait a few more weeks to embrace the season in all its glory.

Costco, however, is a bit ahead of the game. The warehouse club giant has already brought back two fall bakery favorites. And you may want to scoop them up while you can.

It's pumpkin season at Costco

The trend of bringing seasonal items back to stores way ahead of schedule seems to have hit Costco. At a time when you'd think the warehouse club chain would be focusing on milking the last weeks of summer, it's instead going all in on fall.

Roam the aisles, and you'll see fall decor and a variety of Halloween candy and costumes out on display. And if you head on over to the bakery section, you might spot two fan favorites that are back at Costco -- pumpkin pie and pumpkin streusel muffins.

Now, if you're not a pumpkin fan (or are simply tired of all the hype), then the temptation to scoop up these sweets won't be there. And that's a good way to save yourself some money. But if you love pumpkin, then you're apt to be motivated to grab these items while they're on the shelves.

If you've yet to experience the wonder of Costco's pumpkin streusel muffins, imagine a subtle but notable pumpkin base with cinnamon and vanilla tones. It's the ideal fall treat that pairs perfectly with a nice cup of coffee in the morning.

The pumpkin pie, meanwhile, tastes like classic pumpkin pie. It would be an exaggeration to say that Costco puts its own unique spin on it, because it's fairly basic. Rather, it's the affordable price point that makes it a great buy.

Should you go all in on Costco's pumpkin-baked goods?

A 12-pack of Costco muffins will generally cost you $9.99, though prices can vary by warehouse club location. That's a pretty good price seeing as how a smaller-sized pumpkin cream cheese muffin at Starbucks will cost you $3.65.

Plus, Costco lets you mix and match your muffins, so if you don't want 12 of the pumpkin streusel, you can limit yourself to a six-pack and choose a second six-pack of another staple flavor, like blueberry or chocolate. And since muffins tend to freeze pretty easily, if you have the space, you don't have to worry about consuming your haul so quickly.

Meanwhile, Costco's pumpkin pie costs $5.99 for a dessert that weighs more than 3.5 pounds (though again, prices can vary by location). Since you might easily spend half that much on just a single 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree, you'll be hard-pressed to beat that price even in the context of baking at home.

However, pumpkin pie may not freeze as well as muffins due to its texture. So if you're not looking to feed a crowd, then you might end up throwing your money away. The good news, though, is that Costco commonly keeps its pumpkin pie around through Thanksgiving, so you can always pick one up later on in the season.