Full Breakdown
Costco Introduces Strawberry Shortcake Sundae to Food Courts
5/20/2026, 12:48:49 AM
New Strawberry Shortcake Sundae Debuts at Costco Food Courts
On May 19, 2026, Costco Wholesale Corp. began offering a Strawberry Shortcake Sundae at select U.S. food courts. The dessert is priced at $2.99 and is presented as a limited-time specialty item.
Background: Rotating Dessert Lineup
Costco’s food court routinely rotates specialty sundaes alongside its staple items such as the $1.50 hot-dog combo. Earlier 2026 releases included a Double Chocolate Mint Sundae in February and a Caramel Churro Sundae in April, each offered for a brief period before replacement.
Ingredients, Price, and Timeline
The Strawberry Shortcake Sundae combines strawberry-flavored soft-serve ice cream, a strawberry topping, and bite-size shortcake pieces. At $2.99, it is positioned as an affordable after-dinner treat. The product follows the February and April specialty sundaes, marking the third seasonal flavor introduced in 2026. The new sundae differs from Costco’s earlier strawberry offering, which paired vanilla ice cream with strawberry topping, by using strawberry-flavored soft-serve as the base.
Consumer Reception
Social-media users have posted enthusiastic reactions. A Costco fan page, @costcohotfinds, described the sundae as one of its “Top 3 of all time.” Other shoppers noted they were “putting my shoes on right now!!!!” and expressed willingness to renew memberships to try the treat.
Official Corporate Response
Costco has not issued a formal comment on the sundae’s launch or its anticipated duration. In a separate statement, the company’s CEO reaffirmed that the $1.50 hot-dog combo price will remain unchanged. The Takeout notes that the plan appears to be to continue expanding the sundae’s rollout nationwide, though no definitive schedule has been released.
Criticism Over Limited-Time Offerings
Some customers voiced frustration with the rotating dessert program, noting that specialty flavors disappear quickly and can replace long-standing menu items. The earlier Caramel Churro Sundae received mixed reviews, prompting concerns that the new flavor may also be short-lived. Critics also note that the limited number of dessert slots forces the removal of popular items whenever a new flavor arrives.
Conflicting Reports on Nationwide Availability
While several locations report the sundae’s presence, other members claim their local warehouses continue to serve earlier seasonal flavors. The lack of an official rollout map leaves the extent of nationwide availability uncertain. The company’s website does not list the sundae, and the retailer declined to comment further when contacted.
What’s Next for the Sundae
The Takeout observes that the flavor “definitely screams ‘summer,’” indicating the sundae may be offered only for a limited period. Costco has not announced whether the dessert will return in future years or be replaced after the summer months.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I just think that Costco has the best strawberry ice cream ever,” — Laura Lamb, @costcohotfinds
- “I’m putting my shoes on right now!!!!” — Instagram user
- “At this point… I’m just gonna move into Costco,” — Instagram user
- “Andddd just like that I’m going to renew my membership.” — Instagram user
