This Limited-Time Costco Bakery Find Is a Fan-Favorite

It's the most wonderful time of the year for Costco shoppers who know exactly when new products drop. While everyone else is loading up on peppermint bark and giant tubs of truffles, I’m making a beeline for a seasonal sleeper—one of the ultimate if-you-know-you-know gems of the bakery: the Kirkland Signature Cranberry Walnut Loaf. It slips onto shelves around Thanksgiving and vanishes right after the new year.

The loaf itself is simple but special—a lightly tangy, soft sandwich bread dotted with dried cranberries and walnuts. It’s the kind of everyday-adjacent item that instantly feels a little more festive without veering into dessert territory. I stock up every time it returns to shelves, but somehow never freeze enough to satisfy the mid-January craving. It's a true obsession-level item in every sense.

What I Love About Kirkland Signature Cranberry Walnut Loaf

As much as I relish the holiday season and all its peppermint-flavored treats, there comes a point when even the most devoted sweets lover needs a breather from the endless parade of candy. That’s when I reach for the Kirkland Signature Cranberry Walnut Loaf.

This bread strikes the perfect balance: lightly tangy, subtly sweet, and sturdy enough for toasting or sandwich-making. It feels a little more special than the everyday white or whole-wheat loaf I usually toast with peanut butter, and it still gives my taste buds that much-needed reset from all the sugar. And honestly, cranberries and walnuts are classic—if often underrated—holiday flavors that deserve their moment, too.

How I Enjoy Kirkland Signature Cranberry Walnut Loaf

Whether you toast and slather a slice with butter and jam for breakfast or turn it into what I’d consider one of the best hot turkey sandwiches ever, there’s really no wrong way to enjoy this loaf—besides letting it go moldy.

Here are even more inventive, holiday-ready ways to put every last crumb to use:

• Turn the dried ends into stuffing: Cube and toast any extra stale pieces, then use them instead of a dried French loaf for a simple upgrade that adds a little extra sweetness from the dried cranberries.
• Make pain perdu (French toast): The cranberries and walnuts caramelize in the pan, making your kitchen smell like a bakery.
• Make holiday bread pudding: Amp up the loaf’s cranberry-walnut vibe by folding a handful of fresh or frozen cranberries into the custard for extra tart pops of flavor. Before baking, sprinkle the top with a simple walnut crumble—butter, brown sugar, and chopped walnuts—so it bakes into a crunchy, holiday-ready topping that feels a lot more special than a standard bread pudding.
• Upgrade grilled cheese: Simple sammies like grilled cheese live or die by just a few choice ingredients. In this case, the cranberry walnut loaf pulls more than its weight—adding texture, a hint of sweetness, and a little crunch without needing anything extra. You can keep it classic with sharp cheddar or dress it up with brie, fontina, or even a slice of leftover turkey for a festive twist.

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