10 Store-Bought Pumpkin Pies Ranked From Worst to Best
Costco’s pumpkin pie earns the top spot in this countdown, with Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s rounding out the top three. But the competition includes everything from grocery-bakery pies to freezer-aisle staples, and published tastings reveal some surprisingly sharp differences in sweetness, spice, and crust quality. Picking up dessert may save time, but these reviews suggest the results are hardly interchangeable.
The three that fell short
Kroger Bakery Pumpkin Pie
Kroger lands last because its sampled pie struggled with both structure and flavor in Allrecipes’ seven-pie comparison. The reviewer found a moist, crumbly crust that failed to support a slice and a filling that tasted watered down. The texture was closer to pumpkin jelly than the creamy custard the reviewer wanted. That assessment applies to the pie tested, not every Kroger bakery batch, but it provides little reason to choose this version over the stronger contenders.
Aldi Bakery Pumpkin Pie
Aldi’s entry had a different problem: a pale crust that the Allrecipes reviewer said tasted like raw flour. The filling’s spices were overpowering to that tester, and its gel-like consistency did not help.It finished sixth among the seven bakery pies, just above Kroger. A bargain dessert still needs an enjoyable crust and filling, and this sample missed both marks, though the published review can’t say how an Aldi pie purchased today would perform.
Target’s Rubicon Bakery Pumpkin Pie
Target’s Rubicon Bakery pie looked promising and held its shape when sliced, but sweetness overwhelmed the Allrecipes reviewer. The crust reminded them of a sugar cookie, while the filling suggested solidified spiced maple syrup. Cane sugar, rather than pumpkin, was listed first among the ingredients on the sampled product. That does not automatically make a pie bad, but it helps explain why this one might appeal more to someone seeking a sugary dessert than a pumpkin-forward slice.
The middle needs a preference
Walmart Bakery Pumpkin Pie
Walmart finishes above the bottom three because its crust had more color than Aldi’s, though the Allrecipes reviewer still found the base soggy and difficult to cut. The filling offered a strong pumpkin-purée flavor followed by assertive cinnamon and nutmeg. Its pudding-like texture kept it from competing with the higher-ranked bakery pies. This is the point in the countdown where the flaws become less disastrous, but the sampled pie still fell short of a balanced, cleanly sliced dessert.
Sara Lee Pumpkin Pie
Sara Lee’s frozen pie produced conflicting impressions across publications, making personal taste especially important. Delish’s testers disliked its mushy texture and flavor, though they suggested it might suit someone who prefers sweeter pie. Sporked’s later review was considerably warmer, praising its sweetness, vanilla notes, and firm slices. That disagreement is why Sara Lee sits in the middle here: it has a clearer audience than the lower-ranked bakery samples, but the evidence does not support calling it an across-the-board favorite.
Marie Callender’s Pumpkin Pie
Marie Callender’sis another freezer-aisle contender whose reception changed dramatically between tastings. Delish placed it last among five frozen pies, with testers praising the consistency but criticizing its sweetness and artificial flavor. Sporked, however, described a pumpkin-forward pie that was not overly sweet, with pronounced spice and a salty, buttery crust. Its reviewer recommended refrigerating it after baking to help slices hold together. That combination earns it fifth here, while the contrasting reviews deserve more attention than any sweeping endorsement.
Mrs. Smith’s Pumpkin Pie
Mrs. Smith’s takes fourth for offering enough spice and familiar holiday character to stand out, even if texture divided Delish’s panel. One tester wrote, “10/10 I like the spice,” while another called it the “pie of my childhood.” Others found the filling watery, so nostalgia did not erase every concern. Its third-place finish in Delish’s frozen-pie test gives it a stronger showing than Sara Lee or Marie Callender’s, without pretending everyone agreed on the winning qualities.
Related: This Michigan Town Is Turning Pumpkin Season into a Weekend of Family Fun
The three strongest finishes
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie
Trader Joe’s earns third, matching its position in Allrecipes’ bakery comparison. The reviewer praised its golden-brown crust, appearance, and clean slicing, but was less enthusiastic about the spices and found it slightly too sweet. That makes this a qualified podium finish rather than a rave. Still, a pie that looks inviting and survives the trip from plate to fork has meaningful advantages over one that collapses before anyone can decide whether it needs whipped cream.
Whole Foods Pumpkin Pie
Whole Foods moves ahead with a filling the Allrecipes reviewer described as pumpkin-forward and firmly set, allowing neat slices. The spice was subtle, perhaps too subtle for that tester, and the crust looked lightly baked, but it held up. A cracked surface did not count against it because it recalled homemade pies from the reviewer’s childhood. Compared with several lower-ranked contenders, its appeal came from letting pumpkin lead rather than burying it beneath sweetness or an aggressive spice mix.
Costco Kirkland Signature Pumpkin Pie
Costco wins because its praise extends beyond a single tasting. Allrecipes’ reviewer admired the filling’s texture, balanced spice, and supportive crust, while Sporked awarded it 9.5 out of 10 and described a firm, pumpkin-forward pie that wasn’t overly sweet. Serious Eats also named it the winner of its seven-pie November 2025 comparison. That repeated recognition makes Costco the strongest choice in this synthesis, not merely the biggest personality on the dessert table.
Allrecipes’ reviewer summed up the enthusiasm with a wonderfully uncomplicated line: “If I don’t have the time to make my own … I’m buying one of these and going about my merry way.” The warehouse pie cannot promise that every guest will agree, especially anyone devoted to sweeter filling or heavier spice. But with multiple published tastings backing it, Costco offers the most convincing case for leaving the rolling pin in the drawer.
