Through until April, Girl Scouts will peddle roughly 200 million boxes of pure deliciousness to friends, relatives, neighbors and co-workers. Each season, the organization pulls in more than $800 million from cookie sales.
"Behind every box is a girl learning important skills to power her leadership journey and unlock a world of opportunities," the Scouts' chief revenue officer, Wendy Lou, said in a statement.
The Girl Scouts have added and discontinued dozens of flavors since it started selling cookies in 1917. WithRaspberry Rallyjoining the lineup in 2023, there are now 13 flavors currently available.
They're made by two different bakeries, so some have different ingredients -- and even different names -- depending on what region you're in.
"A cookie may be called Trefoils when baked by one baker and Shortbread when baked by the other," according to the Girl Scouts. "The two cookies look and taste similar, but the name of the cookie and the recipe may be different."
But which one tops them all?
Read more: What Does the New Girl Scout Cookie Flavor Taste Like?
Which Girl Scout cookie is the best?
These rankings are based solely on my opinion -- CNET's Katie Teague. I'm not an experienced food critic. I just like cookies (and riling up people who don't agree with me).
I tried to keep an open mind, though I admit I don't like really crunchy or hard cookies.
Girl Scouts
13. Toffee-Tastic
This is the only one I couldn't swallow. After biting into the hard, gluten-free cookie and letting it dissolve a bit, it felt like I had just eaten a spoonful of sand. And it didn't get any better from there: The toffee bits tasted more like a mediocre caramel and the cookie smelled like actual dirt.
Toffee-Tastic is a very hard cookie, similar to biscotti. It might taste better if dipped into tea or coffee. The cookie was so hard that I conducted a "drop test" over a concrete sidewalk to see what it would take to break it. After four attempts and a toss, it finally broke clean in half.
Needless to say, I don't recommend this cookie.
Girl Scouts
12. Adventurefuls
When I first saw the Adventurefuls cookies, I thought they'd become a new favorite. A brownie with caramel filling seemed like it would be delightful, but this cookie was anything but what I expected. For starters, I only like the center of freshly baked brownies, and I won't eat the edge pieces. Unfortunately, this cookie reminds me of overdone brownies.
I first tried to break it in half, but it was super hard -- even the caramel wasn't as soft as I thought it would be -- so I bit into the center using my molars. The flavor of the brownie part was meh and the caramel-flavored center tasted artificial.
Girl Scouts
11. Caramel Chocolate Chip
This is another gluten-free option the Girl Scouts offer and while it's way better than Toffee-Tastic, it's still bland. The texture is pleasant, soft and has large chocolate chunks. However, it's not much different from a regular chocolate chip cookie. It's extremely sweet since it has caramel flavoring but it's also a bit salty, which I didn't like.
Girl Scouts
10. Lemonades
Lemonades taste like the custard of lemon meringue pie, but it's the icing that's doing all the work. The cookie itself leaves little to be desired, and maybe it's because the icing is so overpowering. It's one of the larger cookies the Girl Scouts sell, but thin enough to eat in a few bites. If you're going for a lemon-flavored cookie, I suggest trying the Lemon-Ups instead (see below).
Girl Scouts
9. Raspberry Rally
The new Raspberry Rally cookies are interesting. On the outside, they have the same appearance as Thin Mints. On the inside, the texture reminds me of a soft shortbread cookie that melts in your mouth. The center is a dark pink and the raspberry flavor isn't too overpowering. If you try these next year, make sure you get the box from Little Brownie Bakers, if possible -- they taste so much better.
Girl Scouts
8. Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties
I've only ever had the Tagalongs, but for this taste test I received Peanut Butter Patties. It's been years since I've actually indulged in Tagalongs, but the taste between the two is somewhat different (they're made by different bakeries).
The upper layer is a soft peanut butter while the lower layer is a crunchy crust, and the entire cookie is covered in a soft chocolate coating. Peanut Butter Patties are a bit too rich in flavor for me but have an overall good taste.
Girl Scouts
7. Lemon-Ups
I thought Lemon-Ups and Lemonades would taste the same, but they don't at all. Lemon-Ups taste fruitier than the Lemonades and smell like fresh-squeezed lemons. There's a lemon glaze on the cookie's bottom that really drives the flavor home, and also a sort of tanginess that you don't typically get with the average cookie.
I could definitely enjoy these cookies in the spring with a glass of unsweetened iced tea.
Girl Scouts
6. Girl Scout S'mores
S'mores Pop-Tarts heated in a toaster were always my favorite as a kid, and the Girl Scout S'mores cookies taste similar. They're very soft with a buttery graham cracker sandwich filled with creamy chocolate and marshmallow-flavored filling.
But since s'mores aren't meant to be cold, I decided to heat these cookies up in my microwave. Fantastic decision. The chocolate melted as it should and the marshmallow filling became much softer. If you buy these, I recommend heating them up (I used increments of 7 seconds to be on the safe side).
No, they still don't taste like the s'mores you make by a campfire, but they're pretty good.
Girl Scouts
5. Trefoils/Shortbread
Trefoils may look like plain cookies, but the taste is far from plain. They have a buttery taste perfectly balanced with a sweetness that isn't overpowering. These cookies pair great with coffee if you're a cookies-in-the-morning kind of person.
This simple shortbread cookie is baked in the shape of the Girl Scouts logo and has a soft texture that melts in your mouth like cotton candy. Now I understand why these cookies came in fifth place in our survey above.
Girl Scouts
4. Do-si-dos
Do-si-dos 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 -- I could eat these as is without the peanut butter.
The peanut butter tastes different in the Do-si-dos than in the Tagalongs because it's not so overwhelmingly sweet. To me, it tastes more like authentic peanut butter without artificial flavors and has the same texture.
Girl Scouts
3. Thin Mints
Thin Mints are a popular choice for a reason. They melt in your mouth with the first bite and have a minty-chocolate flavor similar to an Andes chocolate mint. They're thin and have just the right amount of crunch.
Pro tip: Eat one right after a garlicky meal to cleanse your palate. It's a close second to brushing your teeth, right?
On a professional note, if you ever decide to do a Girl Scout cookie taste test, save the Thin Mints for last because the minty flavor sticks around for a while after eating and could compromise the flavor of the next cookie you try.
Girl Scouts
2. Toast-Yay
These cookies knocked Thin Mints into my personal third place, and I'm not sorry about it. Have you ever tried Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal? That's what the Toast-Yay cookies remind me of. They have a gingerbread and cinnamon graham cracker taste with a delicious layer of icing. The crust melts in your mouth almost instantly.
The large bread-shaped cookies are nearly the size of my palm. They're only available in certain regions, however, so they may be hard to come by. But if you can get your hands on some, I highly recommend them.
Girl Scouts
1. Samoas/Caramel deLites
If you know, you know: The Samoas cookies are the best. If there was ever a perfect cookie, it's this one. It deftly balances coconut, chocolate and caramel with a soft cookie crust. Samoas are really the only Girl Scout cookies with a classically chewy texture, and they're also a bit sticky if you break them in half. The texture reminds me of a no-bake cookie.
The Samoas Girl Scout cookie is easily the most divisive, as one of the main ingredients is coconut, a consistently polarizing food. It seems that most people I've spoken with who don't enjoy the donut-shaped chocolate and caramel goodness of this cookie are usually not a fan of coconut. Go figure.
How my colleagues voted
I also wanted to see which Girl Scout cookie was the favorite among the CNET staff. To my surprise, nearly 55% voted for Samoas, with Thin Mints coming in second place with just over 27%.
- Samoas/Caramel deLites:54.5% (30 votes)
- Thin Mints:27.3% (15 votes)
- Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties:10.9% (6 votes)
- Do-si-dos/Peanut Butter Sandwich:1.8% (1 vote)
- Trefoils/Shortbread:3.6% (2 votes)
- Lemonades:1.8% (1 vote)
Read On:DoorDash Will Deliver Your Girl Scout Cookies. Here's How
What is the best-selling Girl Scout cookie?
The Girl Scouts sell about 200 million boxes of cookies a year. According to the GSUSA website, these are the best-sellers.
- Thin Mints.
- Samoas (Caramel deLites).
- Tagalongs (Peanut Butter Patties).
- Do-si-dos (Peanut Butter Sandwich).
- Lemon-Ups (Lemonades).
FAQs
What is the best Girl Scout cookie in the world? ›
Thin Mints
I'll start with everyone's favorite. Thin Mints are by far the most popular flavor of Girl Scout cookies, outselling every other variety by the millions.
The best-selling Girl Scout Cookies are: Thin Mints®
What are the top five Girl Scout cookies? ›- Thin Mints.
- Caramel deLites/Samoas.
- Peanut Butter Patties/Tagalongs.
- Do-si-dos/Peanut Butter Sandwich.
- Lemonades/Lemon-Ups.
In fact, according to Google Trends, in the U.S. overall, Thin Mints are the most searched Girl Scout cookie of all time. We Americans love our Thin Mints!
What is the #1 cookie in the US? ›1 Chocolate Chip Cookie (No Further Description Necessary)
America's favorite cookie and the one dubbed “the American cookie” is the Chocolate chip cookie. Chocolate chip cookie is simply tantalizing both in flavor and in texture.
Chocolate Chip Cookies. Is it really any surprise that the most iconic cookie in the US is #1? In fact, when all US states were polled about their most popular cookie, nearly 75% had some variation of the classic chocolate chip.
What's the least popular Girl Scout cookie? ›One in 10 Americans says their favorite Girl Scout cookie is Peanut Butter Patties (which you might also know as Tagalongs), while fewer chose Shortbread/Trefoils (7%), Caramel Chocolate Chip (6%), or Do-si-dos (5%).
What cookie did Girl Scouts get rid of? ›Juliettes were decadent fudge cookies named for Juliette Low, who founded the Girl Scouts. They were a fitting tribute with pecans and caramel on top. Juliettes appeared in 1984 and were discontinued a year later.
What is the oldest Girl Scout cookie? ›In July 1922, Girl Scout national headquarters published an edition of The American Girl magazine for all Girl Scouts. The issue contained a recipe for a sugar cookie that could be baked and sold to raise funds for local councils. Thus, the simple sugar cookie was arguably the first true Girl Scout Cookie.
What is the second best selling Girl Scout cookie? ›Samoas/Caramel deLites are the second most popular Girl Scout Cookies. About 38 million boxes of Samoas were sold in 2013. Samoas contain about 15 cookies per box.
What are the best cookies ranked? ›
- Sugar.
- Shortbread. ...
- Lemon. ...
- Slice and bake. ...
- Snickerdoodle. ...
- Lofthouse. Either you absolutely love Lofthouse cookies or you find them an affront to confectionery. ...
- Crinkle. Crinkle cookies are easy to make and taste delicious as well. ...
- Black and white. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for NYCWFF. ...
According to the Girl Scouts website, Raspberry Rally cookies come with a thin and crispy exterior “infused with raspberry flavor,” all dipped in a delicious chocolate coating. “They may look like Thin Mints' sister, but these cookies have a delicious taste that's all their own,” the site added.
What is Nabisco's best selling cookie? ›Oreo, $674.2m
NABISCO | The bestselling cookie brand in the U.S. was introduced on March 6, 1912, by the National Biscuit Company on Ninth Avenue in New York City. Do you remember the Oreo copycat cookies called “Hydrox”?
A new survey shows that 82% of people say they enjoy baking their own cookies. And what's more, 35% say the classic chocolate chip cookie is their favorite. Other cookie flavors cited by respondents included peanut butter, brownie/double chocolate, and oatmeal raisin. Shortbread rounded out the top five.
What is the oldest cookie? ›Pizzelles are the oldest known cookie and originated in the mid-section of Italy. They were made many years ago for the “Festival of the Snakes” also known as the “Feast Day of San Domenico” in the village of Colcullo in the Italian region of Abruzzo.
What is milk's favorite cookie? ›Advertised as "Milk's Favorite Cookie," Oreo boasts that it's been the number one–selling cookie in the United States since it launched in 1912.
What is Joe Biden's favorite cookie? ›Senator Biden's Favorite Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.
What is Taylor Swift's favorite cookie? ›New album or not, those chai sugar cookies are super popular every October because they're inspired (and baked ) by Taylor herself.
What is Snoop Dogg's favorite cookie? ›His original cookie features creamy peanut butter and semisweet chocolate morsels, making it the perfect indulgence this holiday season. Check out the recipe below and step-by-step guide!
What is the most wanted cookie in cookie run? ›1) Hollyberry Cookie
Her Oath on the Shield ability deals good single-target damage but, more importantly, absorbs a portion of the damage dealt to allies.
What is the least favorite Christmas cookie? ›
On the naughty list of cookies, Americans gave the lowest win records to anise cookies, which only won 29% of its matchups. Other low performers included chai sugar cookies (30%), pfeffernusse (31%), spritz cookies (32%), and meringue cookies (34%).
What happens to unsold Girl Scout cookies? ›The bakers can't sell directly to grocers because that might diminish the importance of the annual cookie sales. But they may sell to institutional buyers like prisons. Parisi said bakers and councils have occasionally dealt with excess inventory before because of weather events like ice storms or tornadoes.
What are the 2 new flavors of Girl Scout cookies? ›The new flavor will be available in early 2023
The berry-blasted snack is considered a "sister cookie" to the beloved Thin Mints, according to a release. Rather than mint, the new treat consists of raspberry flavor and is dipped in the same chocolatey coating as the minty fan favorite. Girl Scouts of the USA.
The 2023 Girl Scout cookie season starts Feb. 1. and with it comes the new Raspberry Rally cookie. The Raspberry Rally cookie is described as a sister cookie to Thin Mints.
How do Girl Scouts say goodbye? ›When the originator receives the "squeeze" she says, "God Bless the Girl Scouts and Girl Guides everywhere. Goodbye". The girls drop their hands and leave in silence. Note: This could be preceded by singing "Taps".
What is the name of the new Girl Scout Cookie for 2022? ›The New 2022 Girl Scouts Cookie Is Raspberry Rally | FN Dish - Behind-the-Scenes, Food Trends, and Best Recipes : Food Network | Food Network.
How much were Girl Scout cookies in 1970? ›Throughout the decade, Girl Scouts in different parts of the country continued to bake their own simple sugar cookies with their mothers and with help from the community. These cookies were packaged in wax paper bags, sealed with a sticker, and sold door-to-door for 25 to 35 cents per dozen.
What was the price of Girl Scout cookies in 1975? ›They hit a half-million boxes sold in a year by 1967. In 1975, the average cost of a box of Girl Scout cookies in Houston was $1.25 a box.
Who makes the most money from Girl Scout cookies? ›All cookie proceeds stay local! In fact, 76% of the cost of each box is reinvested in local Girl Scouts! That's right, all the money that a council and its troops raise through the Girl Scout Cookie Program—every penny after paying the baker—stays with that council and its troops.
Which Girl Scout cookies are better frozen? ›In my opinion, any other Girl Scout cookie that has a chocolate coating, including Samoas, Tagalongs, Thanks-A-Lot and Girl Scout S'mores, deserves space in your freezer.
What is the most popular Girl Scout cookie in California? ›
Thin Mints appear to be especially popular on the West Coast, as California, Arizona, Oregon, and Nevada all picked them as number one.
What is the unhealthiest cookie? ›Oreo Mega Stuf
This cookie is made up of a dangerous trifecta: It's high in calories, fat, and sugar. Plus, it's packed with processed ingredients ranging from palm oil to artificial flavors. If this is your go-to cookie, we suggest breaking up with it ASAP. Or, at least, limit yourself to just one.
- Chocolate Chip Cookies.
- Snickerdoodle.
- Sugar Cookies.
- Peanut Butter Cookies.
- White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies.
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.
- Gingerbread Cookies.
- Black & White Cookies.
Eclair Cookie is a Support who actually does more damage than he does support. After bursting enemies and giving them a “weakness” debuff, he'll shield your allies every time a weakened enemy dies, making him a must-have. Eclair Cookie is currently one of the strongest Epic Cookies in the game.
What are the old Girl Scout Cookie names? ›- Trefoils® 1974-Present. Short, tender, delicate tasting shortbread that melts in your mouth. ...
- Samoas® 1974-Present. ...
- Thin Mints® 1974-Present. ...
- DO-SI-DOS® 1974-Present. ...
- TAGALONGS® 1976-Present. ...
- Van'Chos™ 1974-1983. ...
- GRANOLA 1977-1978. ...
- FORGET-ME-NOTS™ 1979-1981.
2022 Girl Scout Cookies Lineup
There are 12 flavors currently listed on the Girl Scouts website, including plenty of fan-favorites like Thin Mints, Caramel deLites/Samoas, Shortbread/Trefoils, Do-si-dos/Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Peanut Butter Patties/Tagalongs, for starters.
10 Things You Didn't Know About Girl Scout Cookies (Gallery)
Today, Girl Scout cookies are produced by two bakeries: ABC Bakers (a subsidiary of Interbake Foods, which is owned by George Weston Limited) and Little Brownie Bakers (a subsidiary of Keebler, which is owned by Kellogg's).
Hollyberry Cookie, an Ancient Cookie of Defense class, is one of the hardest to find cookies in the game.
Who is the best common cookie? ›GingerBrave is by far the best Common Cookie, given the fact that he is part of team combinations at much higher ranks.
What is John Legend's favorite cookie? ›John Legend's Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
What does Oreo stand for? ›
The most common version asserts that Oreo derives from or, French for "gold" and supposedly the color of the original packaging. Others say it stands for "orexigenic," a medical term for substances that stimulate the appetite (including cannabis).
Are Golden Oreos discontinued? ›We're sorry to say that our Golden Oreo Cookies and Cream has been discontinued.
What are Oprah's favorite cookies? ›The Cravory: Freshly Baked Cookies — Best Seller's Mix
“This 18-cookie pack comes with a mix of its bestsellers, which are baked to order and so soft, ensuring that the lucky recipient gets the freshest possible treats.” And Oprah isn't the only one who loves The Cravery. Amazon reviewers do, too!
- S'mores.
- Cheesecake.
- Ice Cream.
- Apple Pie.
- Fudge.
- Brownies.
- Cupcakes.
- Chocolate Chip Cookies.
So which of the delicious Girl Scout cookies are favored by Californians? According to the survey, it's Thin Mints! Californians aren't the only ones who can't get enough of the cookies. In fact, Thin Mints received the highest number of votes and was the top choice in most states!
What is the number one cookie in the world? ›What is the best-selling cookie in the world? Oreo cookies. Since the brand's inception in 1912, more than 450 billion Oreo cookies have been sold around the world, and are now available in more than 100 countries.
What is Taylor Swift's Favourite cookie? ›New album or not, those chai sugar cookies are super popular every October because they're inspired (and baked ) by Taylor herself.
Why Samoas are the best? ›Samoas/Caramel deLites
If there was ever a perfect cookie, it's this one. It deftly balances coconut, chocolate and caramel with a soft cookie crust. Samoas are really the only Girl Scout cookies with a classically chewy texture, and they're also a bit sticky if you break them in half.
Based on this data from General Mills, Peanut Butter Blossoms are the most popular Christmas cookie in the country; it's the most-visited cookie recipe in seven states, which means it's the most common favorite cookie in the U.S. That's a pretty high honor!
Who is the most loved cookie in cookie run? ›Even after buffs for Vampire Cookie and Sea Fairy were released, two other exceptional damage dealers, Sorbet Shark remains the most popular choice in Cookie Run: Kingdom.
Did Girl Scouts get rid of Samoas? ›
Samoas are now “Caramel deLites.” Do-si-dos are “Peanut Butter Sandwiches.” Tagalongs are “Peanut Butter Cookies” and Trefoils are “Shortbreads.”
Why are they no longer called Samoas? ›You, curious reader, have probably already Googled and now know that no such name change occurred, because there are two Girl Scout Cookie companies. Little Brownie Bakers make Samoas, Tagalongs, and Thin Mints. ABC Bakers make Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, and Thin Mints.
Which is better Samoas or Caramel deLites? ›Samoas are the more flavorful of the two, using a dark chocolate coating and a heavy caramel layer along with more toasted coconut. While Samoas put most of the emphasis on the toppings, Caramel deLites use them as a complement for the cookie.