The Best (and Worst) Store-Bought Desserts According to Pastry Chefs

Some store-bought desserts are magic in a box. Others taste like cardboard wrapped in sugar. To figure out which ones are actually worth the splurge, we asked pastry chefs to weigh in. These pros know what makes a dessert work—and what makes it flop. If you’re short on time but still want something that feels homemade, this list of the best and worst store-bought desserts is your cheat sheet.

Double Chocolate Croissants

Trader Joe’s took its beloved Chocolate Croissants and turned the decadence up a notch. These flaky pastries are filled with rich semi-sweet chocolate and made with cocoa-laminated dough, so every layer delivers double the indulgence. Warm one up, and you’ll get melty chocolate in every bite—perfect with a morning coffee or late-night craving.

Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches

Trader Joe’s nailed the name with these crowd-pleasing treats. Each sandwich features two chewy chocolate chip cookies hugging a thick slab of vanilla ice cream, then rolled in mini chocolate chips for extra crunch. They’re rich, nostalgic, and so satisfying you might just find yourself shouting “Sublime!” right along with Ken.

Pie

Pie ranks high for good reason — it’s endlessly adaptable and always welcome at the table. Whether you’re digging into a tart cherry lattice, a buttery pecan, or a fluffy coconut cream, there’s a pie for every craving and occasion. No matter the season, pie brings the flavor.

Doughnuts

Brought to New York by Dutch settlers and perfected by a sailor with a knack for even frying, doughnuts have a rich (and tasty) history. These ring-shaped treats come in endless varieties, from powdered and glazed to jam-filled and frosted. Whether you grab one with coffee or save it for dessert, doughnuts never go out of style.

Jell-O

Few desserts are as instantly recognizable — or jiggly — as Jell-O. Beloved for its bright colors, endless flavor options, and super-simple prep, it’s been a staple in American kitchens for generations. Whether you’re spooning up raspberry at a backyard BBQ or layering red, white, and blue molds for the Fourth, Jell-O always finds a way to join the party.

Cheesecake

Creamy, rich, and endlessly customizable, cheesecake holds a sweet spot in American hearts (and dessert plates). From dense New York-style slices to fruity no-bake bars, there’s a version for every mood. Though its roots go back to ancient Greece, cheesecake has fully settled into its status as a modern-day dessert legend.

Cakes

From backyard birthdays to black-tie weddings, cakes are a go-to for every kind of celebration in the U.S. With flavors ranging from classic vanilla and rich chocolate to red velvet and lemon, there’s truly something for everyone. Plus, thanks to expert bakers and creative decorators, cakes can now be shaped into just about anything — from lifelike animals to towering works of art.

Cupcakes

Cupcakes take everything people love about cake and shrink it into a personal-sized treat that’s perfect for parties, bake sales or just because. Available in countless flavors like chocolate, vanilla, red velvet and more, these handheld desserts are endlessly customizable. If you’re looking for another fun-sized option, cake pops offer the same sweetness with a playful twist on a stick.

Fortune Cookie

They might not win awards for flavor, but fortune cookies still manage to capture our attention—mostly for what’s inside. Despite their association with Chinese restaurants, these crunchy vanilla wafers were actually created in California, likely by Japanese-American bakers. Sure, they’re a little bland, but the real treat is the slip of paper predicting your lucky day (or your next vague life lesson).

Boxed Brownies

While boxed brownies are a pantry staple for their convenience, many dessert lovers agree they often fall short in flavor and texture. They tend to lack the rich, fudgy decadence of homemade versions and can lean toward dry or overly sweet. Still, with a few creative tweaks—like adding espresso powder or swapping in butter for oil—they can be dressed up into something far more impressive.

Black and White Cookies

Black and white cookies might hold a nostalgic place in many hearts, but their cake-like texture and overly sweet, plasticky frosting can be a letdown. Despite the promise of two flavors, the chocolate and vanilla icing often taste nearly identical. These NYC icons may look bold, but their flavor doesn’t always follow through.

Banana Split

A banana split is more like a full meal than a simple after-dinner treat, loaded with generous scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, cherries, and sometimes just about everything but the kitchen sink. The many ingredients can overwhelm the palate, making it hard to appreciate any one flavor. For those who prefer a more balanced dessert, something less crowded might hit the spot better.

Rice Krispies

Rice Krispies treats are definitely fun and nostalgic, but their charm fades quickly. They tend to be overwhelmingly sweet and lose their crisp texture by the next day. For convenience and freshness, grabbing the pre-packaged versions for lunchboxes might be the smarter move.

Pre-Packaged Muffins

Sure, they’re easy to grab on the go, but pre-packaged muffins often trade quality for shelf life. They tend to be overly sweet, oddly moist, or dry in all the wrong places. Homemade muffins not only taste fresher but also let you control everything from sugar levels to mix-ins.

Baked Alaska

Baked Alaska looks like a showstopper, but it’s more flash than fan favorite. With layers of cake, ice cream, and torched meringue, it’s a technical marvel—but rarely anyone’s go-to dessert. It’s fussy to make, pricey to order, and often more about the spectacle than the flavor.