Does Costco Put Pictures On Cakes? Custom Photo Cake Ordering Guide

Walk into any family gathering and drop off a cake with someone’s face plastered across the top—you’ll steal the show. You’ve probably seen those cakes that feature a hilarious baby photo from 1999 or a beloved pet’s close-up. Photo cakes are everywhere right now, from birthday bashes to graduation parties. But if you’re a fan of easy shopping and feeding a crowd on a budget, you might wonder: Will Costco put a picture on a cake for you?

What Costco Offers for Cake Customization

Costco’s bakery is a destination for anyone who needs a crowd-pleasing cake without breaking the bank. We’re talking about their iconic half-sheet cakes—fluffy, generously filled, and sized like they were designed for a small army. But when it comes to custom decorations, Costco keeps things surprisingly simple. The big question—can you bring in a photo and have it turned into edible art?

As of July 2025, most U.S. Costco bakeries don’t offer edible photo printing for cakes. That’s right—unlike some grocery chains with photo cake kiosks, Costco sticks to classic designs. Their order forms let you pick from a handful of themes: balloons, roses, sports, cartoonish rainbows, baby rattles, seasonal patterns. You can choose the color of the piping, add a custom message, even decide between white or chocolate cake with cheesecake mousse filling. But that adorable photo of your dog in a party hat? They won’t print it on a cake—at least, not in most locations now.

Now, there’s a twist: A few Costcos in Canada and the UK have experimented with photo cake equipment in the past. Some members in Vancouver and London, Ontario reported, especially around 2019–2021, that their bakery offered simple photo cakes for a short run—similar to their Sam’s Club competition. But these pilots didn’t take off widely, and by 2024, photo cake services had vanished from most store bakeries. So if you find a rare Costco still offering photo cakes, consider yourself lucky—and triple check before getting your hopes up.

But don’t walk away just yet! Some club members have hacked the system: order a simple Costco cake and use a third-party, at-home edible image printed online. You can order a sheet with your picture printed in edible ink, pick it up from a bakery supply store, and lay it gently over your Costco cake. This workaround has been keeping party moms and prank-loving uncles happy for years. It’s as easy as ordering the cake blank or with basic decorations, peeling the edible photo backing, and placing it carefully on the icing. No judgment here—Costco cake is still the main event, with your personal touch added on top.

How to Special Order Cakes At Costco

Ordering a cake at Costco feels refreshingly old-school. Forget mobile apps or online customization forms—Costco keeps it face-to-face. Here’s what you do: stroll up to the bakery counter at your warehouse club, grab a cake order form, fill out the details, and drop it in the box. Expect to wait a minimum of 24 to 48 hours for your cake to be ready. During major holidays or graduation season, allow even more. The in-house bakers whip up about 1,000 sheet cakes a week at busy locations—that’s a whole lot of birthdays and employee parties every single day.

So what can you actually personalize? Here’s a quick overview:

• Choose white cake (vanilla flavored with vanilla mousse), or chocolate cake (with chocolate mousse). Both are layered, moist, and big enough for about 48 generous servings.
• Select a standard decoration theme—balloons, flowers, seasonal patterns, or sports. Some bakeries offer baby shower and graduation motifs too.
• Pick up to two icing colors for the piped decorations (border and details).
• Add a message for any occasion. Costco will pipe your chosen text onto the cake, often in classic block or cursive script.
• No licensed characters, company logos, or edible photos at most clubs, due to copyright and technology limitations.

If you want to get creative, you can also ask for a blank cake. No piped roses, no birthday greeting, just a pristine white or chocolate surface for you to decorate at home. People use this trick all the time when they want to create an over-the-top look with toys, cake toppers, or even edible images ordered elsewhere.

Don’t forget: you must be a Costco member to order a custom cake. The process hasn’t changed much for decades—just another sign that Costco likes to keep things classic (and affordable). And yes, the price is unbeatable. As of this summer, a half-sheet cake runs about $24.99 in most U.S. stores. That’s less than 60 cents a serving, which is why these cakes are a staple at office birthdays coast to coast.

Why Isn’t Costco Doing Photo Cakes Like Other Stores?

Here’s the thing: Costco runs its bakery on speed and scale. Executing mass orders daily, their bakery staff cranks out about 150–200 half-sheet cakes a day at busy stores. Edible photo printing takes extra equipment, training, and time—plus, not every location can justify the cost for this niche add-on.

By contrast, grocery stores like Walmart and Safeway have invested in photo cake printers that let staff whip up personalized cakes for birthdays, graduations, and retirements. That means you can upload a photo, pick a theme, and get a treat with a sharp edible image. These stores work at a smaller scale in the bakery department and rely on more premium cake sales to justify the expense.

Costco bakes in bulk. Their high-volume bakery keeps costs down by limiting customization. Instead, they give you a stable menu of flavors and designs—no Mickey Mouse photos, no superhero knockoffs, no last-minute personal portraits. It’s the same business model that lets them offer a full sheet cake for what some bakeries charge for a few fancy cupcakes.

That said, members have been calling for photo cake options for years. A couple of rumors pop up annually about Costco “testing” new cake printers. But check with a real bakery manager next time you’re shopping. In rare cases, a single Costco might add edible printing for store events—think 100th employee celebration or a local cause. That’s not the norm, though.

Does that mean Costco isn’t interested in trends? Not at all. When unicorn cakes had a moment, they added multi-colored icing options and playful toppers. As of early 2025, most Costco bakeries in the U.S. revealed they were still not planning to roll out edible photo capabilities anytime soon.

Creative Hacks: How to Add a Picture to Your Costco Cake Anyway

Determined to have a selfie or a beloved pet’s face at the center of your Costco cake? The secret is using what professional decorators call an edible photo transfer, or frosting sheet. This trick is surprisingly popular for people who want the taste and price of a Costco cake, but crave a custom look. Here’s how you pull it off:

1. Order your edible image online from a specialty bakery supply, Etsy, or even some Walmart bakery counters. You’ll need a high-res photo (JPEGs work best), sized to your cake (Costco sheet cakes are about 12" x 16").
2. Pick up your plain or lightly decorated Costco cake. Make sure there’s enough flat, moist frosting space for the transfer. White frosting works best for a clean look.
3. Peel the edible image carefully from its backing. These sheets are delicate—think of them as giant stickers made out of a thin icing layer.
4. Place the edible sheet on top of the cake. Smooth gently with clean, dry hands to avoid wrinkles or bubbles. Chill for 20–30 minutes so the image melds into the icing.
5. Add border piping, sprinkles, or toys to finish the look. Snap that perfect party pic and wow your guests!

Edible photos are made from potato starch (think wafer paper) or sugar icing, printed with food-grade ink. They’re totally safe to eat, and the flavor is neutral enough not to mess with your dessert. They cost anywhere from $8 to $20, depending on size and complexity. But factor in the $25 Costco sheet cake, and you’re still feeding a crowd without shelling out for a high-end custom bakery.

Stores like Walmart, Publix, and Sam’s Club offer edible photo printing in-house, for people who want full-service convenience. But ask anyone who’s tried a custom photo cake—sometimes the flavor takes a back seat to the wow factor. With a Costco cake hack, you get the best of both worlds: classic taste, epic customization.

Costco Cakes: Pricing, Popularity, and the Numbers

Wondering if you’re the only one obsessed with Costco bakery? Let’s break down just how popular these cakes are. The humble half-sheet cake first landed in Costco’s bakery offerings in the 1990s. Since then, it’s become a rite of passage for everything from goodbye office parties to high school graduations. Here’s what the numbers look like:

Why are these cakes so beloved? Their flavor is simple and familiar—fluffy vanilla or chocolate cake, generously slathered in sweet American-style icing, with that signature cheesecake mousse filling. It’s nostalgic for a lot of people. But really, it comes down to value. Costco’s bakery keeps prices way below independent bakeries or grocery store competitors, making it the go-to for big gatherings where taste and savings both matter.

If you’re eyeing more fancy cake trends—like gluten-free, vegan, or specialty shapes—Costco’s standard options might not do the trick. But for the classic sheet cake, it’s hard to beat the deal. And while they may not offer a Costco cake with your face on it (yet), resourceful shoppers have proven you can pretty much get there on your own.