What It's Like to Order a Cake From Costco's 'Mysterious Box'

Last month, a tweet about Costco's cake-ordering process went viral, with the

Last month, a tweet about Costco's cake-ordering process went viral, with the big-box retailer's method baffling Twitter users (myself included). The tweet, from the user Lucy Huber, said that if you wanted to order a cake from Costco, you had to write down your order and place it into a box — you couldn't call or order online.

Some people were quick to call the "mysterious cake box" old-school or outdated, with Huber herself saying it felt like a system created in the 1800s. But what most surprised me wasn't the box itself — it was some other commenters' impassioned responses to Huber's tweet.

Twitter users assured her that the cake would be there, with one saying that they trusted Costco's paper-in-box method "more than the USPS."

This level of fervor from Costco fans persuaded me. With my cousin's bridal shower coming up, it was time to try the mysterious cake box for myself.

At the very back of the Costco warehouse is its bakery. As I walked up, I noticed a large cooler filled with premade cakes, which looked like a great option if you didn't want a customized cake or preferred to decorate it yourself.

At this Costco in Montana, round cakes cost $16, and half-sheet cakes cost $25.

A representative for Costco declined to comment on its cake-ordering methods.

Perhaps due to all the cake-box lore, I'd conjured up an idea of some decrepit wooden box, but this cake-ordering box was more comprehensive than I'd imagined.

It had a poster of cakes to choose from, with essentially every occasion accounted for. Cakes could be made circular or rectangular, chocolate or vanilla, and topped with frosting designs like flowers, rainbows, graduation caps, or balloons.

Knowing what I wanted, I grabbed a form and got to work.

For the most part, my request was simple. I requested one of the designs advertised on the box: a round, 10-inch vanilla cake topped with frosting roses.

As the cake was for my cousin's bridal shower, I also requested that they write her and her fiancé's names on the cake. To up the ante, I asked them to write their names in a light sage-green frosting — a challenge I thought would be a test of the box's power.

I dropped my form into the slot and hoped it would be ready two days later.

I wasn't sure where my cake would be when I went to pick it up. I felt nervous when I didn't immediately see the cake I had ordered in the large cooler where other premade cakes were.

But I found an employee who told me the bakery staff would bring out my cake. He asked for my name, then hurried behind the counter to retrieve my order. Moments later, he returned, carrying a 10-inch vanilla cake with sage-green writing — just as I had ordered.

Twitter was correct: the mysterious cake box was a quick and reliable way to obtain a cake.

With its cute design and lettering, the cake was a hit among guests — some of whom were longtime Costco cake aficionados. Its taste didn't disappoint, either: the vanilla frosting and cream-cheese-mousse filling were instant crowd-pleasers.

All told, the cake was simple to order and taught me to have faith in the Costco bakery. And for less than $20, it's safe to say I've found my go-to place to pick up event cakes.

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What It's Like to Order a Cake From Costco's 'Mysterious Box'