<figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/699dfd245b1472b7a25c363e?format=jpeg" height="2912" width="3883" alt="Four different cheesecakes on a table."><figcaption>After trying four different options, I found the best store-bought cheesecake.<p class="copyright">Ivy Carbone</p></figcaption></figure><ul class="summary-list"><li>I tried cheesecake from Whole Foods, Walmart, Costco, and Trader Joe's to see which was the best.</li><li>Although I'm typically a fan of <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trader-joes-former-employee-underrated-products-meals-snacks-2026-1" data-autoaffiliated="false">Trader Joe's products</a>, I thought its cheesecake was bland.</li><li>Costco's cheesecake was delicious — dense, creamy, and tangy — with a classic, buttery crust.</li></ul><p>I'm a big fan of <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/review-eat-at-nyc-juniors-restaurant-and-bakery-cheesecake-2020-3">New York-style cheesecake</a> — a classic dessert known for its dense, tangy cream-cheese filling, typically set atop a graham-cracker crust.</p><p>However, baking one at home can easily take hours, and a trip to a small bakery isn't always an option.</p><p>So, I picked up four grocery-store versions from Whole Foods, Walmart, Costco, and <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-trader-joes-items-for-meal-prep-from-former-employee">Trader Joe's</a> to find out which ones actually deliver that classic cheesecake taste. Here's how it went.</p><div id="slideshow"><div class="slide"><div class="slide-title">The Trader Joe's cheesecake came frozen.</div><div class="slide-image"><figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/699e005ddf1f09368aaaacb6?format=jpeg" height="2575" width="3434" charset="" alt="A whole cheesecake with a graham-cracker crust."><figcaption><p class="copyright">Ivy Carbone</p></figcaption></figure></div><div class="slide-content"><p>Trader Joe's 30-ounce New York-style cheesecake cost just under $8 and was the only one in the bunch that came frozen.</p><p>This was a bit of a bummer because I waited two hours for it to defrost before trying it. However, I was eager to see if this would affect the taste at all.</p></div></div><div class="slide"><div class="slide-title">Unfortunately, I didn't think this cheesecake had much flavor.</div><div class="slide-image"><figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/699e00c3df1f09368aaaacc9?format=jpeg" height="2049" width="2732" charset="" alt="A slice of cheesecake on a white plate."><figcaption><p class="copyright">Ivy Carbone</p></figcaption></figure></div><div class="slide-content"><p>When I took a bite, I thought the flavor was faint at best, with none of the tang or richness that makes New York-style cheesecake so iconic. I even had other family members try it with me, and they weren't impressed.</p><p>Plus, I thought the crust-to-filling ratio was off, and there wasn't enough of the actual filling for my liking.</p><p>Even though it was the cheapest option by ounce, I wouldn't buy it again.</p></div></div><div class="slide"><div class="slide-title">At first glance, the Whole Foods cheesecake looked the best.</div><div class="slide-image"><figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/699dfef9811194d314d8d2d5?format=jpeg" height="2809" width="3739" charset="" alt="A whole cheesecake topped with whipped cream and berries."><figcaption><p class="copyright">Ivy Carbone</p></figcaption></figure></div><div class="slide-content"><p>The 40-ounce <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-whole-foods-desserts-to-buy-professional-baker-review">Whole Foods cheesecake</a> cost $27, and had flecks of vanilla bean throughout. It was also beautifully topped with berries and cream.</p><p>The crust seemed thin, but the cake itself looked delicious, and I was excited to dig in.</p></div></div><div class="slide"><div class="slide-title">However, I was disappointed by the taste.</div><div class="slide-image"><figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/699dff6f811194d314d8d2ee?format=jpeg" height="2041" width="2722" charset="" alt="A slice of cheesecake on a white plate."><figcaption><p class="copyright">Ivy Carbone</p></figcaption></figure></div><div class="slide-content"><p>Once I took a bite, I thought the filling tasted more sweet than tangy, and it lacked the dense creaminess I expect from a New York-style cheesecake. Instead, it was light, mousse-like, and not at all that cheesy.</p><p>The crust wasn't bad, but it didn't have a strong graham-cracker taste, either.</p><p>Because this cake was the most expensive on a per-ounce basis, I expected more flavor. So, ultimately, this cheesecake was a miss for me.</p></div></div><div class="slide"><div class="slide-title">The Walmart cheesecake looked promising.</div><div class="slide-image"><figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/699e03d75b1472b7a25c375aformat=jpeg" height="2630" width="3506" charset="" alt="A whole cheesecake with a graham-cracker crust."><figcaption><p class="copyright">Ivy Carbone</p></figcaption></figure></div><div class="slide-content"><p>I enjoy most of <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-food-walmart-from-employee-working-there-2025-9">Walmart's food products</a>, so I was excited to try this presliced 40-ounce New York-style cheesecake, which cost $13.</p></div></div><div class="slide"><div class="slide-title">The filling was pretty good, but I didn't love the crust.</div><div class="slide-image"><figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/699e044f5b1472b7a25c3779?format=jpeg" height="2176" width="2900" charset="" alt="A slice of cheesecake on a white plate."><figcaption><p class="copyright">Ivy Carbone</p></figcaption></figure></div><div class="slide-content"><p>The texture of the cheesecake filling seemed heavier than the others I tried, and I thought it was a decent option for the price. The flavor was a bit mild, but overall, it was pretty good.</p><p>My biggest issue here was the crust. It was thin, floury, and left some visible grease at the bottom of the pan.</p></div></div><div class="slide"><div class="slide-title">Costco's cheesecake came with frosting on top.</div><div class="slide-image"><figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/699e02f2df1f09368aaaad1aformat=jpeg" height="2728" width="3638" charset="" alt="A full cheesecake topped with white, piped frosting."><figcaption><p class="copyright">Ivy Carbone</p></figcaption></figure></div><div class="slide-content"><p>The <a target="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-costcos-desserts-to-buy-review-all-bakery-items">Costco cheesecake</a> was the only option that came with frosting, complete with a ruffled, piped border. It also came pre-marked for perfect slicing, though it was tricky to get a clean cut.</p><p>At only $20 for a whopping 72 ounces of cheesecake, I thought the price for such a massive cake was hard to beat.</p></div></div><div class="slide"><div class="slide-title">I loved how dense, creamy, and tangy this cheesecake was.</div><div class="slide-image"><figure><img src="https://i.insider.com/699e037e5b1472b7a25c373c?format=jpeg" height="2248" width="2997" charset="" alt="A slice of cheesecake that's topped with white frosting."><figcaption><p class="copyright">Ivy Carbone</p></figcaption></figure></div><div class="slide-content"><p>The Costco cheesecake was also the only option not specifically marketed as New York-style, but I thought it tasted authentic. It was dense, creamy, and tangy.</p><p>The crust also nailed the classic, buttery, graham-cracker flavor. Although it was a little thin for my liking, it held the filling well, which impressed me.</p><p>The only drawback was the sugary frosting on top, which felt unnecessary and distracted from the actual cheesecake filling.</p><p>However, it was definitely my favorite option overall, and for the price, I thought it was a great value.</p><p><em>This story was originally published on February 26, 2026, and most recently updated on November 10, 2026.</em></p></div></div></div><div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cheesecake-to-buy-grocery-store-review-2026-11">Business Insider</a></div>
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