The 9 Best Costco Treats to Grab Before Checking Out

We've all been there. You're heading toward the checkouts at Costco when something sweet and delicious-looking catches your eye from the candy aisle. All too many times I haven't had the willpower to simply check out, and have ended up trying most of the treats Costco stocks.

A few of these treats are actually pretty healthy. Most need to be eaten in moderation. But there's no denying the candy aisle (next to its neighbor stocking other goodies like beef jerky!) has some delicious options. Let's look at 9 of the best treats that are worth trying the next time you're at Costco.

• Price: $9.49
• Weight: 1.64 pounds (26.3 oz)

The Caramel S'Mores Clusters are without a doubt one of the best Kirkland Signature products. I'm not even a huge fan of s'mores, but they're delicious. The chocolate coating is sweet and extremely soft while the caramel steals the show.

The biggest downside to Kirkland Signature's Caramel S'Mores Clusters is it's hard to stop eating them. A single bag has nearly 5,000 calories, so you'll need to limit yourself. That being said, if you have a family, once a bag is open everyone is going to be snacking on these.

• Price: $9.99
• Weight: .975 pounds (15.6 oz)

Getting this out of the way, Jojo's Peanut Butter Bars are not as good a "deal" as the S'Mores Clusters. The package is slightly less than a pound and they cost more. The bars advertise themselves as guilt-free, which you can make your own decision on. Each bar has 180 calories and 13 grams of carbohydrates. The most important number is just 6 grams of added sugar. There's also an emphasis on "clean" ingredients that are more limited than you'll see from other chocolate bars.

Personally, I enjoy peanut butter snacks, so these are a no-brainer purchase for me. I eat them at times I want something sweet, but don't want to ingest a ton of sugar.

Just don't expect to bite into one and feel like you're eating a candy bar. With their lower sugar content, Jojo's bars are less sweet

• Price: $11.99
• Weight: 1.25 pounds (20 oz)

Like many Americans, I live in fear of the day my daughter brings home Girl Scout cookies. I know the house will soon be filled with Tagalongs, Samoas, and all the other treats that are almost impossible not to grab when each day.

So, it's doubly tempting for me now that Costco is selling bite-sized Thin Mints. The Thin Mints have 140 calories per nine pieces, and each serving comes with 15 grams of added sugar. To be sure, these are a treat you'll need to enjoy in moderation.

My one suggestion: like Thin Mint cookies, they taste better after being stored in the refrigerator.

• Price: $9.69
• Weight: .88 pounds (14 oz)

Could something from Costco's sweet treats aisle actually be healthy? The Chocolate Brownie Thin Mints from Simple Mills make a good argument. Each serving (12 things) is 140 calories, but there are only 6 grams of added sugars.

In addition, the ingredients are simple and clean. There's seed & nut flour blend, organic coconut sugar, tapioca starch, arrowroot, cocoa butter, Dutch cocoa powder, and cocoa extract. Simply put, there's nothing artificial in these cookies. They're a treat I like keeping around to give my kids.

• Price: $14.79
• Weight: 3 pounds (48 oz)

If you've been shopping at Costco for a long time you get to know the iconic Kirkland Signature products. Their selection of packaged nuts is a fan-favorite, and there's also nuts that have been covered in chocolate.

There's not a lot to say about Costco's Chocolate Almonds aside from the fact they're a tremendous value. A large 3-pound package costs just $14.79 at my local Costco. I don't buy this item a ton because a large jar of chocolate-covered almonds is a diet's worst nightmare, but they are an excellent item to buy before the holidays when family is over.

• Price: $11.89
• Weight: 1.31 pounds (21 oz)

Here's where I'll admit I bought Nature's Garden Strawberry Yoggies for my kids and they barely ever eat them. The reason for this is simple: I eat them. This is my most often consumed snack. The yogurt on the outside of the strawberries is delicious and melts right off in your mouth. Then the strawberry inside is real and lacks any of the artificial taste you find in many other strawberry treats.

Nature's Garden also plays up the number of probiotic cultures in their Yoggies. I don't know how much of that is marketing, but the simple fact is that these snacks are delicious and any health benefits are simply a bonus on top of their outstanding flavor.

• Price: $11.49
• Weight: 1.63 pounds (26 oz)

I'm not personally a fan of most Nature Valley bars. They're a bit dry. The benefit of their Crispy Creamy Wafer Bars is they have a layer of creamy peanut butter in between wafers. For me, this addition makes all the difference in turning these into a snack I enjoy.

It's worth noting that these bars only have 7 grams of added sugar per bar. If you have a kid without allergies, this could be a good snack to pack before or after sports or other activities.

• Price: $11.99
• Weight: 2 pounds (32 oz)

You've likely seen Brookside chocolates at checkout counters at other grocery stores. I think these chocolates are delicious, and enjoy some of the more "unconventional" flavors like acai.

Of course, the main benefit of buying these at Costco is the value. A 2-pound bag goes for just $11.99. Once again, this is a great treat for putting in a dish around the holidays if you have family in town.

• Price: $8.99
• Weight: 2 pounds (32 oz)

This is an item that might not be common across Costco locations, but my local Costco carries it and they're a fun treat. The individual mochis come in three flavors, Thai Tea, Milk Tea, and Match. My personal favorite is the Thai Tea, which has a little extra sweetness.

If you find this item at your local Costco and enjoy bubble tea, its worth picking up. They're kind of a fun treat from time to time for my kids.