Sam's Club Vs Costco Pumpkin Pie — Which Do Shoppers Rave About Most?

Picking a proper pumpkin pie is serious business. If your family is anything like mine, it's the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving dessert spread. Why shouldn't it be? After all, pumpkin pie is perhaps even more American than apple pie. While homemade pie trumps all for some diners, sometimes that isn't possible, or can't accommodate a larger party. In these cases, a trip to your local wholesale club is a must, with the two main contenders for pumpkin pie sourcing being Costco and Sam's Club. 

Both retailers sell large pumpkin pies (12 inches in diameter) for a relatively low price (about $6 for both pies). So, in terms of price and size, both are comparable. But which pie is better? Both retailers' pies have their fans and detractors. This being said, there's a clear consensus on quality from online reviewers, and it might not be what you expect: Sam's Club's pumpkin pie takes the cake over Costco's beloved, budget-friendly autumnal dessert.

Sam's Club's superiority primarily comes down to the texture and taste of the pumpkin filling. According to some reviewers, Costco's pumpkin pie filling was too loose and runny, whereas Sam's Club's filling was more set. Additionally, the taste of Costco's pie filling had too much pumpkin flavor and not enough spice, with many reviewers noting that the pie tasted more like puree than a fully formed dessert. This isn't to say there were no plus sides to Costco's entry. We just have to dig beneath the crust to get to them.

It may surprise the many, many Costco pumpkin pie fans out there to hear that their preferred confection comes in second to Sam's Club's entry. This doesn't mean that Costco's pumpkin pie isn't without merits, it just doesn't seem to be as crowd-pleasing. So, what are the best parts of the Costco pumpkin pie?

For starters, Costco's pumpkin pie stands apart from the rest thanks to its unique ingredients list, starting with the pumpkins. Costco doesn't use regular old carving pumpkins. Instead, it uses canned Dickinson pumpkins, which are sold to Costco in pureed form. These pumpkins aren't your usual orange gourd, and you don't find them on store shelves. Instead, they're tan squashes with sweet flesh that are perfect for pumpkin pie. The Costco pumpkin pie crust also stands apart from the Sam's Club's entry. Many reviewers gave Costco's pie credit for its superior, buttery, flaky crust, which doesn't actually contain butter. If the crust of a pumpkin pie is your top priority, go for Costco's pie.

There's one aspect of this pie that's particularly divisive: its shiny top. According to online rumor and word of mouth, Costco's pies are topped with an apricot glaze that gives the filling a shine. For some, this is off-putting, and others even wipe it off before eating. While it may not contribute a lot to the pie's flavor, it's a turnoff for those with issues with food texture.

Now on to our winner: the Sam's Club pumpkin pie. This take on the classic dessert has a better consistency in its filling, with many noting that the pie has a better, more solid base than the Costco pie. It's lighter in color, which may be off-putting for those who like a true, pumpkin orange-colored pie. However, its flavor more than makes up for it. Many reviewers noticed that the Sam's Club pie is well spiced, and isn't too plainly pumpkin puree flavored, which seemed to be the case for Costco's entry. The crust of this pie is less well loved than Costco's pie, so keep this in mind if you're a flaky crust lover. 

If you're still torn on which pie to choose for your family dinner, try them for yourself and see which wins you over. If you already picked yourself a pumpkin pie, but want to give it just a nudge more flavor, you can enhance it with a side or topping. For example, adding a toasted meringue topping to pie gives visual appeal and a good bit of fluffiness that's much needed in this custard-like dessert. You can also top your pie with toasted marshmallows for a sweet potato casserole-inspired pie. There any many ways to make either choice a truly outstanding Thanksgiving dessert, no matter which one you pick.