This limited-time Costco bakery is a fan favorite

This is the most wonderful time of year for Costco shoppers who know exactly when new products will be released. While others are loading up on containers of peppermint bark or giant truffles, I’m making a beeline for seasonal sleepers. One of the bakery’s ultimate gems is the Kirkland Signature Cranberry Walnut Loaf. They hit the shelves around Thanksgiving and disappear quickly after the New Year.

The bread itself is simple but special, a lightly tangy and soft sandwich bread dotted with dried cranberries and walnuts. It’s an everyday-adjacent item that instantly feels a little more festive without straying into dessert territory. I stock up every time it hits the shelves, but for some reason I can’t freeze it long enough to satisfy my mid-January cravings. It is truly an obsession-level item in every sense of the word.

What I like about Kirkland Signature Cranberry Walnut Loaf

I enjoy the holiday season and peppermint-flavored treats, but even the most avid sweets lover comes across a time when they need a break from the never-ending parade of candy. That’s when I reach for Kirkland Signature Cranberry Walnut Loaf.

This bread strikes the perfect balance. It has a light, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor, and is strong enough to make toast or sandwiches. It feels a little more special than the everyday white or whole wheat bread I usually toast with peanut butter, but it still gives my taste buds a much-needed reset from all the sugar. And let’s be honest: cranberries and walnuts are also classic, if underrated, holiday flavors that are appropriate for this time of year.

How to enjoy Kirkland Signature Cranberry Walnut Loaf

There’s no wrong way to enjoy this bread, whether you toast it and slather it with butter and jam for breakfast, or turn it into what I think is one of the best hot turkey sandwiches ever. Except for the mold growing.

Here are some more inventive holiday-ready ways to make use of every last crumb.

Stuff the dry ends. Dice and toast the extra stale pieces and use them in place of dry French bread for an easy upgrade that adds a bit of dried cranberry sweetness. Make pain perdu (French toast): The cranberries and walnuts caramelize in the bread, making your kitchen smell like a bakery. Make holiday bread pudding: Stir a handful of fresh or frozen cranberries into the custard to add a tart pop of flavor and enhance the bread’s cranberry-walnut vibe. Sprinkle a simple walnut crumble (butter, brown sugar, and chopped walnuts) on top before baking, and it bakes into a crunchy, holiday-perfect topping that feels much more special than standard bread pudding. Upgrade your grilled cheese: A simple sammy like grilled cheese can live or die by just a few ingredient choices. In this case, the cranberry walnut bread punches above its weight, adding texture, a hint of sweetness, and a bit of crunch without needing anything extra. Go classic with sharp cheddar cheese, or dress it up with brie, fontina, or leftover turkey slices for a festive touch.

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