Full disclosure, I’ve never met a Girl Scout cookie I didn’t like. One box is never enough. Thankfully, the Girl Scouts are always expanding their cookie roster, so there’s new ones to try! The newest cookie to debut? Raspberry Rally. It’s described as the “sister cookie” to the beloved Thin Mint, featuring a raspberry flavored cookie dipped in a chocolate coating. Yummy! Some of the best Girl Scout cookies, both old and new, never disappoint.
But first, a history lesson. The tradition of selling Girl Scout cookies began more than a century ago, with homemade offerings. Their popularity expands to cookie sales nationwide. Fast forward to 2014, when online sales take flight. Today, those cookie profits continue to help fund local Girl Scout troop activities across America. Not bad for a few boxes of cookies, right?
Plus, extra-curricular activities that give kids a sense of purpose and empowerment can have long-term benefits. Scientists at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign report adolescents who feel a greater sense of purpose may be happier and more satisfied with life in comparison to their peers who feel less purposeful. These findings come via a survey of over 200 teens.
By the way, did you know that March 12th is National Girl Scout Day? Why not celebrate with a box (or two) of your favorite Girl Scout cookies! Although, narrowing down the choices to order the most scrumptious treats is challenging. Luckily, StudyFinds compiled a list of the five best Girl Scout cookies, from ten expert websites, to find the most delicious varieties to snack on. As always, we’d like to see your own recommendations in the comments below!
The List: Best Girl Scout Cookies, According to Expert Reviews
1. Thin Mints
This extremely popular chocolaty, minty cookie has a pretty big fan base. “This quintessential cookie is light and crunchy and simply melts in your mouth. The mild minty-ness permeates every bite and the rich dark chocolate is the perfect capper to a snack or after-dinner treat. Again — it’s been around as long as it has for a reason,” according to Cleveland.com.
Business Insider adds, “with just a hint of minty flavor and a thin, crispy, crumbly cookie that’s light and easy to consume.”
While Restaurant Clicks points out Thin Mints, “account for 25% of all Girl Scout cookie sales and are one of the original flavors.” Pro tip, if you eat them frozen, chances are you won’t eat the entire box in one sitting!
2. Tagalongs
If peanut butter, plus chocolate is what you desire from a Girl Scout cookie, look no further than Tagalongs. “Think about what goes into a Tagalong: you’ve got a crispy cookie layer, a fluffy cookie layer, a peanut butter layer, and then all of that is covered in chocolate. It’s basically a Reese’s with better mouthfeel—and you get 15 of them in one pack,” according to Thrillist.
“Not only do you have the chocolate and peanut butter combination that is, to this point, undefeated. You have the crunch of the crispy cookie to finish it all off. A perfect bite, every time,” notes USA Today.
Here’s a hint from Restaurant Clicks: “They’re a lot heartier than the thin mints, in my opinion. You’ll definitely need a cold glass of milk to wash these down.”
3. Samoas
This Girl Scout cookie contender combines a multitude of flavors and textures into one delicious snack. “There’s the crunch of the cookie, which blends with the chewiness from the caramel, giving an almost nougat-like feel. Then there’s the toasty coconut flakes, followed by the chocolate-covered bottom and thin racing stripes across the top,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
“These cookies are an explosion of flavor in your mouth. They are small ring-shaped cookies, covered in a delectable combination of coconut, caramel, and chocolate,” adds Simply Recipes.
“Even as a child, I could appreciate the sophistication and complexity of this perfect cookie,” writes Restaurant Clicks. “The chewiness of the caramel softens the toasted coconut creating a sort of ganache-type texture, which then cedes into a soft buttery cookie.”
4. Do-si-dos
Maybe a chocolate-free, peanut butter oatmeal sandwich cookie is more your speed. If so, check out Do-si-dos. CNET notes they are, “soft, easy-to-break peanut butter sandwiches. Not only do they have peanut butter in the center, but the cracker also tastes like peanut butter. The entire cracker melts in your mouth and has a nice, subtle flavor.”
“This cookie is peanut-y through and through. The cookie, itself, is crisp, with a nice fresh-baked flavor. The cream filling is sweet with a slight peanut butter flavor and just a hint of saltiness,” adds Cleveland.com.
A Simply Recipes reviewer writes: “I think Do-si-dos are one of the ‘forgotten ones.’ They taste good enough—peanut butter between two crunchy oatmeal biscuits.”
5. Trefoils
Rounding out the top five is a shortbread favorite that’s been around since 1974. “Trefoils are a true classic. These are traditional shortbread cookies shaped to match the Girl Scout logo. These are crispy without being too dry, and they have a very buttery flavor,” according to Eat This, Not That.
Sporked points out Trefoils, “are well-made shortbread cookies. They’re the type of cookie your grandma eats with tea. They aren’t too sweet, are mild in flavor, and have a delicate crunch.”
“Our classic shortbread cookies have been here since the first batch of Girl Scout Cookies,” says Simply Recipes. “This cookie is a little bland, and is not the most requested in my experience. However, similar to the rest of the 1974 cookies, it has cemented itself in Girl Scout history, and there are no signs of it going away any time soon.”
Honorable Mention: Girl Scout S’mores
I couldn’t end this article without mentioning Girl Scout S’mores. This delightful sandwich cookie gets its flavors from the well-known campfire treat. “They’re very soft with a buttery graham cracker sandwich filled with creamy chocolate and marshmallow-flavored filling,” points out CNET.
“These cookies have a secret! They taste five times better after 15 seconds in the microwave. Almost like an actual s’mores—but a bit more cakey, and therefore certainly more delicious,” according to Simply Recipes.
You might also be interested in:
- Best Cookies of All-Time
- Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Best Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream
- Best Halloween Candy
Sources:
- Cleveland.com
- Business Insider
- Restaurant Clicks
- USA Today
- Thrillist
- Los Angeles Times
- Simply Recipes
- CNET
- Eat This, Not That
- Sporked
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.
Too bad your writer didn’t speak with Girl Scouts national headquarters about the annual cookie sale. Her information would be so much closer to fully fleshed out and completely correct.
First off, not every council across the country chooses the same cookie supplier.
The national leadership authorizes TWO bakeries each year to produce Girl Scout cookies.
In the past it has been ABC Bakery and Little Brownie Bakery. Also each company has a different name for each cookie and apparently a new feature of their contracts has allowed each bakery to offer at least one non-identical cookie. The chocolate covered raspberry cookie is NOT available in my council here in Texas.
Second: the shortbread trefoil shaped cookie has been around since the earliest cookie sales. When I was Brownie way back in 1959, we couldn’t sell cookies until we were a Junior Scout. In my first cookie sale in 1961 we offered the shortbread cookie and the Thin Mint. A year of so later a sandwich cookie duo – chocolate and vanilla cookies with cream filling. This was in MY home council, so I don’t know what other councils were doing and do not claim to.
I really wish people writing about their local Girl Scout cookie sale would realize the US is a big country and each council has it’s own sale and one size does not fit all.
My favorite is the thin mints and the tag alongs
The girls no matter where are never making enough money for troop.As a former leader for Brownies to Sr scouts these company’s are taking advantage of them and charging to much for lower numbers of cookies. I have heard there are some troops not selling them Good for you.N