Walmart’s pumpkin pie is one of the most popular store-bought desserts in America simply because it’s impossible to miss. It’s huge, it’s everywhere, and it’s shockingly affordable. For budget-minded holiday shoppers, that giant pie feels like an easy win.
But this year, food testers, reviewers, and holiday shoppers are all landing on the same conclusion: Walmart’s pumpkin pie is the one Thanksgiving dessert you should avoid. Not because it’s dangerous or mislabeled, but because—put simply—it’s just not good. From its flavor to its texture to the overall eating experience, this supermarket staple keeps disappointing even the least picky pumpkin-pie lovers.
It’s Oversweetened and Underspiced
Multiple taste tests—across food blogs, TikTok reviews, and formal rankings—agree on one thing: Walmart’s pumpkin pie is far too sweet.
Instead of a balanced pumpkin flavor lifted with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove, you get a one-note sugary filling with barely any pumpkin personality. Some reviewers even compared it to “pumpkin-flavored baby food” or “syrupy mush.” Pumpkin pie is supposed to be cozy and warmly spiced—not a dessert that tastes like straight sugar with orange coloring.
The Texture Throws People Off
Pumpkin pie lives and dies by its texture. Smooth, custardy, silky—those are the goals. Walmart’s version? Reviewers repeatedly describe it as grainy, watery, or oddly gelatinous. And the crust doesn’t help: many testers reported it was either soggy straight out of the box or dry and crumbly to the point of tasting stale. If the filling is too loose and the crust misses the mark, the whole pie collapses—literally and figuratively.
Shoppers Say It Tastes Mass-Produced (Because It Is)
All grocery-store pumpkin pies are produced at scale, but Walmart’s takes that “factory flavor” to another level. According to multiple reviewers, it tastes “manufactured,” “flat,” and “generic”—like the pumpkin pie equivalent of a frozen TV dinner. There’s no depth, no spice variation, no creaminess—just a uniform sweetness that leaves no lasting impression except disappointment. One reviewer even said, “It tastes like pumpkin pie if someone described pumpkin pie to AI.” And honestly… fair.
Freshness Is Inconsistent
Because Walmart sells pies in massive volume, many arrive at stores with long shelf lives—but that doesn’t guarantee freshness. Some shoppers report pies that taste days old the moment they’re opened. Others say the crust arrives soggy, the filling already separating, or the pie smelling “off.” It’s the luck of the draw—just not the kind you want on Thanksgiving.
You’re Not Saving That Much Money
Walmart’s pie is undeniably cheap, but here’s the twist: most reviewers say Costco, Sam’s Club, Aldi, and even Target offer better pies for roughly the same price—or just slightly more. Taste testers consistently rank Costco’s famous pumpkin pie far above Walmart’s, praising its custardy texture, pumpkin-forward flavor, and balanced spice blend. Even Target’s Good & Gather pie gets better marks for spice and creaminess. In short: you’re not saving enough to justify the downgrade in quality.
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