Can I use CalFresh EBT to pay for pre-ordered Costco bakery cakes?

I think you can! I got a bday cake from there last yr with my ebt, but i didnt pre order it just picked it up from the case they had. not sure if pre-ordering makes a diff??

You should be able to use your EBT card to pay for a cake from Costco's bakery, even if you pre-order it. The key factor is whether the item is considered a "food item" rather than a "prepared food" under SNAP guidelines. Bakery cakes, even custom ones, generally count as food items as long as they're cold/unheated when you purchase them and meant to be taken home. Pre-ordering doesn't change its classification. The rule is that EBT can't be used for hot foods or foods prepared for immediate consumption (like at the Costco food court). But bakery items like cakes, even decorated ones, are typically EBT-eligible.

I tried to use my EBT for a cake at safeway once and they said no!!! but then the manager came and said actually yes it was fine. i think some cashiers just dont know the rules sometimes

Definitely you can use EBT for Costco cakes! We do this every year for my kids' birthdays. Just to make sure though, when you pre-order, don't put any deposit down using another payment method because that can complicate things. Just place the order and then pay the full amount with your EBT when you pick it up. By the way, one time the Costco bakery was super busy and taking forever to make our cake, and I almost missed pickup because I couldn't get through to check if it was ready. I started using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to actual people at busy places. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Might be helpful if you need to call Costco or even the CalFresh office about anything! It saved me hours of waiting on hold.

Yes you can use EBT but MAKE SURE they don't add anything ineligible to the cake!!!! My sister ordered a cake with those plastic toy decorations on top and they wouldn't let her use EBT for the ENTIRE CAKE because of the toys!!!! She had to pay cash for the whole thing or have them remove all the decorations which would have ruined it. So if ur getting any non-food decorations ask about their policy FIRST!!!

To clarify some confusion in this thread: You CAN use CalFresh benefits to purchase cold bakery items including pre-ordered custom cakes. This falls under eligible food items according to SNAP regulations. The key factors are: 1. The cake must be cold/unheated when purchased 2. It must be intended for home consumption (not immediate eating) 3. Non-food decorations (toys, figurines) may need to be paid for separately The pre-ordering process doesn't affect eligibility. However, if they require a deposit, you'll need to use a different payment method for that since EBT can only be used at the time of actual purchase. When you pick up, you should be able to pay with your EBT card. If you encounter any resistance at checkout, politely ask to speak with a manager and reference that cold bakery items are SNAP-eligible foods under federal guidelines.

THE SYSTEM IS SO CONFUSING!!!! I've had THREE different Costco employees tell me THREE different things about using EBT for bakery items! One said yes for cakes but no for cookies, another said yes for everything except birthday cakes with messages, and the third said it depends on the cashier's mood that day!!!! The whole CalFresh system is designed to be complicated on purpose so people get frustrated and give up on benefits they DESERVE!!! Good luck with your cake but don't be surprised if they make it difficult for no reason!!!!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I'm going to go ahead and place the order for my daughter's cake. I'll make sure to specify any non-food decorations separately and be prepared to pay for those with cash. Seems like I should be able to use my EBT for the cake itself since it's cold and for home consumption. I'll update here after I pick it up in case anyone else has this question in the future!

Just wanted to add from my experience - I've successfully used EBT for pre-ordered custom cakes at Costco multiple times! The key thing that helped me was calling ahead and speaking to someone in the bakery department before placing my order. I explained I'd be paying with EBT and asked if there would be any issues. They actually appreciated the heads up and made a note on my order. When I went to pick up, the process was super smooth because they were already prepared for the EBT payment. Also, their custom cakes are such good quality for the price - your daughter is going to love it!

I work at a grocery store and deal with EBT transactions daily. Just wanted to confirm what others have said - pre-ordered bakery cakes are definitely EBT eligible! The main thing is that it's a cold food item for home consumption. I've processed tons of these transactions and never had an issue. The confusion usually comes from cashiers mixing up the rules for hot prepared foods (like rotisserie chicken or food court items) with cold bakery items. If you do run into any problems, just politely ask them to check with their manager or reference that cold bakery goods are SNAP eligible under federal guidelines. Hope your daughter has an amazing birthday!