This Brilliant Dessert Starts with a Costco Bakery Favorite—I Had to Try It

There’s a lot to love about semi-homemade cooking. Coined by celebrity chef and cookbook author Sandra Lee, the term refers to meals that combine store-bought starters and homemade elements to turn your ingredients into a meal that tastes like you made it from scratch. For example, elevating jarred tomato sauce by adding fresh herbs and grated Parmesan or transforming boxed macaroni and cheese into a casserole with veggies and meat.

And this culinary shortcut isn’t just for savory dishes. There are plenty of semi-homemade sweet treats like Cheesecake Brownies and Cinnamon Roll Dump Cake too. Because after making dinner and washing dishes, there’s nothing like an effortless dessert.

Recently, one social media user shared the secret to her go-to potluck dish, and it starts with a surprising Costco bakery item.

The Internet Hack That Turns Costco Pie Into a Crumble

Content creator @itsmaggieperkins shared the secret to a beloved family recipe revealing the fruit-filled dish isn’t what it appears. “If you’ve ever enjoyed my Twice Baked Apple pie, it’s a scam,” she says in the caption. “My signature dish is actually just a Costco apple pie, smashed up and baked again with a crumble streusel topping.” The video shows a close-up of the pie’s filling and crust being broken down and mixed with a rice spoon. “It’s like twice-baked potatoes but with a Costco pie,” said Perkins as she smoothed it into a baking pan.

The recipe hack sparked a mix of intrigue and outrage in the comment section, with one user calling it “ingenious,” while another described it as “diabolical.” Numerous commenters criticized the idea of passing it off as homemade and others felt frustrated the video’s creator never shared the full method or final photo. “It is so easy to make an apple crumble from scratch and much cheaper. I don't get this. Either bring it the way you bought it or actually make it. This is just nonsense,” wrote one disapproving Instagrammer.

Many expressed interest in giving the “scam” a try. “This is great!!! Like a cobbler but easier. Love it!!” said one encouraging fan. Others even chimed in with their semi-homemade recipe secrets. “This is the best!! I do the exact same thing with Costco scalloped potatoes!! Everyone loves it and thinks that I made it from scratch!!” echoed another fan. “Love this hack. I went to a potluck one time and someone bought something like a braised chicken. It’s basically Costco roast chicken cut into pieces, and baked in gravy. It was actually really good,” shared another.

""This is great!!! Like a cobbler but easier. Love it!!”"

How to Make the Viral Costco Pie Crumble

Over the weekend, I tried out the viral crumble to see if it’s worth the hype. It was an incredibly easy dish, and overall, I was surprised at how well it turned out. If you’re new to baking or want a fun recipe to make with kids that won’t require a lot of measuring, I’d recommend giving this one a try.

Here’s how to make the Costco Pie Crumble in three easy steps:

• Break it: First, you’ll start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Transfer the pie to a large bowl and break it into bite-sized pieces with a spatula or wooden spoon. Spritz a baking pan with cooking spray and then scrape the broken-down pie into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer.

• Top it: Mix up the fresh crumble topping. I recommend not doing this before you prep the pie because the butter needs to stay as cold as possible if you want the traditional crunchy texture. Perkins didn’t list the specific topping she used so I went with our Crumb Topping for Pies Recipe. If you go with this one, I would recommend adding 1-2 additional tablespoons of cold butter to the recipe until you can get crumbs to form, plus a pinch of salt. Alternatively, you can use a brown sugar-based oat topping.

• Bake it: Sprinkle the topping over the crushed pie, being sure to leave an assortment of crumb sizes. Place the pan into the oven and bake for 17-23 minutes. When done, the topping will be golden brown and bubbling. Before you grab a bowl and dig in, be sure to let it cool for at least 10 minutes. Similar to granola, the topping crisps as it cools.

Tips for Making a Better Crumble

• Start with a good pie: The video uses a Costco apple pie but any pie from the bakery section will work. Feel free to try it with such as blueberry pie or cherry pie if apple isn’t your favorite.

• Use a crumb-topped pie: Perkins used a double-crust apple pie for this recipe, which is great for those who don’t mind a soft texture. However, if you don’t, opt for a single-crust pie or a crumb-topped version such as Dutch Apple Pie. I used a Caramel Apple Pie from Walmart which has a crumble topping, and it had soft bites but wasn’t overly soggy.

• To combat sweetness: Acid and salt counteract excessive sweetness, which can sometimes be present in store-bought pies. If you feel the pie is too sugary, mix in a few teaspoons of lemon juice and a pinch of salt. This will balance and brighten the flavor.

• Consider the pan: I used an 8x8-inch baking dish for an 8-inch pie. Consider the size of your pie, how thick you want your crumble to be, and choose a vessel accordingly.

• Get creative: Aside from the homemade crumble topping, you can make this dessert more appealing by adding a garnish. Serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel can take your Apple Betty-style treat up a notch. Alternatively, for berry-based crumbles, whipped cream or a light pour of crème anglaise can provide a rich finish.

So, don’t be afraid to volunteer to bring dessert to your next gathering. With a Costco apple pie and a few pantry staples, you can create an effortless crowd-worthy dish. And if homemade is a must, we’ve got you covered with our four-ingredient apple crumble made entirely from scratch. 

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