Ranking Every Girl Scout Cookie Ever Made
Girl Scout cookies
Everyone loves Girl Scout cookies. What’s not to love? You get to buy a sweet treat and do a great community service at the same time.
The first Girl Scout cookie sale took place in Oklahoma in 1917 when a troop sold homemade sugar cookies to fund their activities. In 1934, Philadelphia Girl Scouts hired a commercial baker to make cookies, and by 1936, Girl Scout cookies were sold nationwide. Today, more than 1 million Girl Scouts sell about 200 million boxes of cookies every year, bringing in more than $800 million in annual sales.
Over the past eight decades, there have been 63 varieties of Girl Scout cookies. It’s time to rank them all.
How the Girls Scouts Sell So Many Cookies
Path to the Stars
The Girl Scouts have 12 varieties of cookies for sale in 2024, and it’s no accident they sell millions of them. CEO Bonnie Barczykowski, who has been a decade-long veteran of the Girl Scouts, built a strategic vision that led a $50 million “Her Future Is Our Future” campaign to fund scholarships, programs and the organization’s endowment.
“Girl Scouts prepares girls to lead — in their communities, workplaces and homes. I witnessed firsthand our six-year-old Daisies become Seniors in high school. I watched them grow, develop skills and become the courageous and confident leaders they want and the world needs them to be,” Barczykowski says. “Working together, we will ensure Girl Scouts remains the force our founder always intended it to be.”
Thinking Outside the Cookie Box
Girl Scouts in the 1960s
The same business principles initiated by the founder in the 20th century still apply for Girl Scouts in the 21st century.
There are strict rules about sale dates (which vary by area) and territories, and drama ensues if anyone flouts those rules. This is because cookies are big business. The sales fund troop activities and provide a big chunk of operating expenses, including maintenance of camps and facilities.
Top-selling girls also can earn prizes based on their sales, such as free annual membership or camp fees.
Who Wants Cookies?
Girl Scout with cookie boxes
But it’s not all about the money. Selling cookies teaches girls of all ages important skills. Younger girls learn to handle money and make change. Older girls learn budgeting and marketing. All learn effective communication skills.
And everything starts with the cookies. From current flavors to 51 discontinued recipes, here is every type of Girl Scout cookie ever made, ranked from worst to most delicious.
63. Golden Yangles
Golden Yangles box
Bakery: Burry Biscuit Corporation
Year released: 1981
Year discontinued: 1992
Main ingredients: Flour, cheddar cheese
Bottom Line: Golden Yangles
Golden Yangles
These triangular cheese crackers were sold throughout the 1980s. It’s unclear why anyone thought this would be a good addition to the Girl Scout cookie lineup.
Thankfully, the organization has stayed clear of savory snacks since this was discontinued.
62. Cinna-Spins
Cinna-Spins
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2008
Year discontinued: 2009
Main ingredients: Flour, cinnamon
Bottom Line: Cinna-Spins
Cinna-Spins box
These cinnamon-flavored cookies shaped like miniature cinnamon rolls were packaged in 100-calorie packs.
They were perfect for dropping in lunches, though most kids tried to trade them for something better.
With a per-ounce price higher than the perennial favorites, many people gave them a try, but there were few repeat customers.
61. Daisy Go Rounds
Daisy Go Rounds
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2009
Year discontinued: 2010
Main ingredients: Flour, cinnamon
Bottom Line: Daisy Go Rounds
Daisy Go Rounds Girl Scout cookie
These daisy-shaped, cinnamon-flavored cookies replaced Cinna-Spins. Although the Go Rounds featured a new shape, they were only marginally more popular.
With a raised daisy stamped on each round cookie, they were pretty to look at, but as Girl Scouts have seen over the years, cinnamon cookies have a limited fan base.
60. Sugar-Free Little Brownies
Sugar-Free Little Brownies
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2008
Year discontinued: 2009
Main ingredients: Flour, chocolate, artificial sweetener
Bottom Line: Sugar-Free Little Brownies
Sugar-Free Little Brownies story
A smaller-than-usual package came with a warning: “Excess consumption may have a laxative effect.”
There was little concern about people over-imbibing. Sugar-free and brownies don’t go together. While excess cookies were often donated to U.S. service members overseas, no one wanted to include these in a care package.
They were discontinued after one season. Not too many people miss them.
59. Sugar-Free Chalet Cremes
Sugar-Free Chalet Cremes
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1997
Year discontinued: 1998
Main ingredients: Flour, lemon, aspartame
Bottom Line: Sugar-Free Chalet Cremes
Sugar-Free Chalet Cremes box
The first sugar-free Girl Scout cookie finally eliminated a common excuse for buying cookies: “I’m on a sugar-free diet.”
Unfortunately, the nostalgia factor of a Girl Scout classic couldn’t overcome the artificial flavor of the sugar-free replacement.
So it was back to the kitchen to find a better sugar-free option.
58. Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips
Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2007
Year discontinued: 2008
Main ingredients: Flour, chocolate chips with artificial sweetener
Bottom Line: Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips
Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips cookies box
This cookie combined two varieties Girl Scouts have been unable to make profitable: sugar-free and chocolate chip.
There was nothing special about this cookie. It was your basic crunchy chocolate chip cookie, with an artificial aftertaste.
It wasn’t a good seller, but it was better than the brownies that replaced it.
57. Lemon-Ups
Lemon-Ups
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2020
Main ingredients: Flour, lemon
Bottom Line: Lemon-Ups
Lemon-Ups box
The newest in a line of lemon-flavored cookies, this crispy lemon cookie with a layer of sweet glaze on one side features one of eight positive messages, such as “I am a go-getter” and “I am an innovator.”
But it missed the mark with many tasters. A Washington Post headline declared that the new cookie “delivers positivity, but not flavor.”
56. Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Bar
Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Bar
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 1994
Year discontinued: 1997
Main ingredients: Cinnamon, raisins, oatmeal, icing
Bottom Line: Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Bar
Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Bars on a plate
This was the first fat-free “cookie,” though it was more like an iced granola bar and sold in a box of 10.
For true cookie lovers, they were an addition to the line. They did not supplant any other flavor.
While there were skeptics, these bars had their fans as is evidenced by the fact they stuck around for a few years.
55. Rah-Rah Raisins
Rah-Rah Raisins
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2014
Year discontinued: 2016
Main ingredients: Oatmeal, raisins, Greek yogurt-flavored chunks
Bottom Line: Rah-Rah Raisins
Rah-Rah Raisins box
Thoughts on these cookies largely depend on whether you like raisins in your cookie, and if you are a fan of crumbly cookies.
If the answer to both is yes, you may have consumed many of these 14-cookie boxes, perhaps in crumb form as this fan did.
Otherwise, this was just another cookie to buy to support the scouts, and give to grandma.
54. Snaps
Snaps
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1993
Year discontinued: 1997
Main ingredients: Oatmeal, raisin, icing
Bottom Line: Snaps
Snaps Girl Scout cookies
This cookie was a basic low-fat oatmeal and raisin recipe and nothing special, aside from the light coating of icing.
These cookies were good to munch on with a cup of tea. Since it was unlikely you would stray from the suggested serving size, these cookies were unlikely to affect your waistline.
At four years, it had a good run before it was retired to make room for a new flavor.
53. Granola
Granola
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1977
Year discontinued: 1978
Main ingredients: Rolled oats, molasses, wheat germ, sesame seeds, brown sugar
Bottom Line: Granola
Granola Girl Scout c ookies
Little Brownie Bakers list this variety on its Girl Scout cookie timeline, but there seems to be little mention of these cookies anywhere else.
Since they were replaced after only a year, by a similar cookie lacking the wheat germ and sesame seeds, it may be that the public wasn’t ready for anything quite that healthy.
49. Cartwheels
Cartwheels
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2006
Year discontinued: 2007
Main ingredients: Oatmeal and cinnamon
Bottom Line: Cartwheels
Cartwheels Girl Scout cookies
A reduced-fat product, these cookies were similar to snickerdoodles. Like many other traditional but common cookie flavors, it wasn’t special enough to win many fans.
The organization’s mid-2000s attempt to make “healthier” cookies (including removing trans-fat from the entire line) seemed to ignore the fact that most people aren’t thinking healthy when choosing cookies as a snack.
51. Forget-Me-Not
Forget-Me-Not
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1979
Year discontinued: 1981
Main ingredients: Granola, oats, raisins
Bottom Line: Forget-Me-Not
Forget-Me-Not cookies
These cookies were an evolution of the granola cookie that debuted in 1977.
They didn’t stay around long, but they were appreciated enough to make The Delite’s “Best Girl Scout Cookies – Ranked” list.
They also were considered worthy of being included in copycat recipes.
50. Shout Outs!
Shout Outs!
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2010
Year discontinued: 2012
Main ingredients: Flour, brown sugar, vanilla
Bottom Line: Shout Outs!
Shout Outs! Girl Scouts cookie box
These Belgian-style crisp caramelized cookies were stamped with scouting goals: Lead, Believe, Create, Build, Learn, Act, Change or Inspire.
The cookie had simple ingredients and no trans-fat, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors or preservatives.
While it was an OK cookie, it also was promoted as being a good ingredient in dessert recipes, particularly smashed up to make a crust.
49. Trios
Trios
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2015
Year discontinued: 2017
Main ingredients: Peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chips
Bottom Line: Trios
Trios package
One of several attempts at a gluten-free cookie, this was met with mixed reviews.
Some people said the peanut butter overcame the cardboard taste often associated with gluten-free baked goods while others worried that the common allergen would hurt sales.
Overall, these were not as successful as other Girl Scout cookies, but they did have a small following.
48. Mango Cremes With NutriFusion
Mango Cremes with NutriFusion
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2013
Year discontinued: 2014
Main ingredients: Flour, vanilla, coconut, vitamins
Bottom Line: Mango Cremes with NutriFusion
Mango Cremes with NutriFusion box
These vanilla and coconut sandwich cookies were filled with a tangy mango-flavored creme but curiously included no mango.
Girls were faced with the obvious question: “What is NutriFusion?” The short answer: an infusion of nutrients from a number of vitamin-rich foods. Not the greatest selling point.
The artificially flavored filling was sweet and tart, with an obvious aftertaste. They also had a cloying aroma that discouraged some from even tasting them.
47. Apple Cinnamons
Apple Cinnamons box
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1997
Year discontinued: 2001
Main ingredients: Flour, cinnamon, sugar
Bottom Line: Apple Cinnamons
Apple Cinnamons cookies
These apple-shaped, reduced-fat sugar cookies topped with cinnamon sugar were more palatable than most of the organization’s attempts at a “healthy” cookie.
They were crisp with just the right hint of cinnamon, making them good “tea cookies.”
While they were tasty enough, sticking to the recommended serving size was not a challenge, so repeat customers did not come by often.
46. Cafe Cookies
Cafe Cookies
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2005
Year discontinued: 2007
Main ingredients: Shortbread, cinnamon
Bottom Line: Cafe Cookies
Cafe Cookies box
This was a crisp cookie with a caramelized brown sugar topping and a hint of cinnamon.
Like Apple Cinnamons, these cookies were great with a hot beverage.
They were not, however, a reasonable replacement for the outgoing flavor, the chocoholic’s favorite, Double Dutch.
45. Vanilla and Chocolate Sandwich Cremes
Van’chos box
Bakery: Burry Biscuit Corporation
Year released: 1949
Year discontinued: 1983
Main ingredients: Flour, vanilla, chocolate, vanilla crème
Alternative names: Sandwich Cremes, Van’chos (1974-83)
Bottom Line: Vanilla and Chocolate Sandwich Cremes
Vanilla and Chocolate Sandwich Cremes
Girl Scouts changed the name over the years, but the basic premise was the same: a creamy vanilla filling sandwiched between two crunchy cookies.
While these basic sandwich cookies had popular appeal, the year-round availability of the competing Oreo cookie likely led to decreased sales.
They also didn’t have the novelty of other flavors consumers were forced to wait a year to buy.
44. Friendship Circles
Friendship Circles
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2002
Year discontinued: 2003
Main ingredients: Flour, vanilla, chocolate
Bottom Line: Friendship Circles
Friendship Circles information
A new cookie to celebrate the 90th birthday of Girl Scouting, these chocolate-filled vanilla sandwich cookies were stamped with the word “friend” in one of 18 languages.
They were named for the beloved tradition (frequently used to close Girl Scout events) of gathering in a circle where girls stand in a circle with hands clasped.
While different enough from the other sandwich cookies, they really were just another sandwich cookie.
43. Oxford Cremes
Oxford Cremes
Bakery: Burry Biscuit Corporation
Year released: 1974
Year discontinued: 1976
Main ingredients: Flour, vanilla, chocolate, vanilla cream
Alternative names: Echo (Little Brownie Bakers 1987-89)
Bottom Line: Oxford Cremes
Oxford Cremes box
While chocolate sandwich cookies were available in grocery stores, this cookie could only be purchased from a Girl Scout.
This variety took the Vanilla and Chocolate Creme cookies of the past and combined them into one, with one of each flavor cookie flanking a cream center.
It seems the novelty wore off rather quickly as the organization reverted to selling the combo packs of sandwich cremes into the next decade.
42. Le Chips
Le Chips box
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1996
Year discontinued: 1999
Main ingredients: Flour, chocolate chips, hazelnuts, fudge
Bottom Line: Le Chips
Le Chips cookie illustration
A basic chocolate chip cookie with a twist: hazelnut bits and fudge-covered on one side. Like other attempts at a chocolate chip cookie, this variety was short-lived.
Consumers were not yet willing to pay a premium for gourmet cookies. Many couldn’t reconcile the Girl Scout cookies price with what appeared to be a commonplace cookie with a fancy name.
They did, however, set the stage for other gourmet attempts.
41. Caramel Chocolate Chip
Caramel Chocolate Chip cookies
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2018
Main ingredients: Oat flour, brown sugar, semisweet chocolate chips, caramel
Bottom Line: Caramel Chocolate Chip
Caramel Chocolate Chip
A gluten-free snack, this most recent attempt at a chocolate chip cookie has the expected texture issues found in most gluten-free options.
Some also find the caramel taste to be somewhat artificial. But for those who typically have to forego eating cookies because of gluten, they are an acceptable option.
40. Strawberries and Creme
Strawberries and Creme
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 1994
Year discontinued: 1997
Main ingredients: Flour, vanilla, sugar, strawberry
Bottom Line: Strawberries and Creme
Strawberries and Creme cookie
This sugar cookie sandwich was filled with vanilla creme and a dab of strawberry jam.
In 1995, the recipe was adjusted so that the cookie would qualify as a “low fat” option, alongside the Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Bar.
39. Iced Ginger Daisies
Iced Ginger Daisies
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 1997
Year discontinued: 2002
Main ingredients: Flour, ginger, sugar
Bottom Line: Iced Ginger Daisies
Iced Ginger Daisies box
Continuing the search for a “tasty yet healthy cookie,” ABC came up with this reduced-fat variety that, unlike most others, was popular enough to be sold for several seasons.
The name is a nod to the organization’s founder, Juliette Gordon Low, who went by the nickname “Daisy” as a child.
38. Chocolate Chunks
Chocolate Chunks
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1979
Year discontinued: 1981
Main ingredients: Flour, chocolate chunks
Bottom Line: Chocolate Chunks
Warm Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Unlike prior chocolate chip cookies, this one was an old-fashioned chocolate chip recipe that could be warmed in the microwave for “home-style softness.”
It was a decent cookie, but nothing that couldn’t be made at home.
Rather than being replaced by another flavor, it quietly dropped off the list.
37. Dulce de Leche
Dulce de Leche
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2008
Year discontinued: 2014
Main ingredients: Flour, milk caramel chips, palm oil
Bottom Line: Dulce de Leche
Dulce de Leche cookies box
This cookie debuted in 2008 as a full-sized cookie with milk caramel chips and was topped with caramel stripes. It was redesigned in 2009 as a box of bite-sized cookies with caramel chips.
In 2011, two Girl Scouts started a movement to eliminate palm oil to protect rainforests. While palm oil was not removed, the amount has been reduced across the entire line of cookies.
36. Scot-Teas
Scot-Teas
Bakery: Burry Biscuit Corporation
Year released: 1959
Year discontinued: 1980
Main ingredients: Shortbread, sugar
Bottom Line: Scot-Teas
Vintage Scot-Teas box
One of the “traditional” Girl Scout cookies, the mere mention of this shortbread cookie with sprinkled sugar on top brings a smile to prior generations of Girl Scouts and conjures up fond memories.
This may be the longest seller of any of the discontinued cookies and is one name that is immediately recognizable as a Girl Scout cookie.
35. Pixies
Pixies
Bakery: Burry Biscuit Corporation
Year released: 1968
Year discontinued: 1969
Main ingredients: Flour, butter, coconut
Bottom Line: Pixies
Pixies Girl Scout cookies
This was a butter cookie with coconut, a popular baking ingredient in the 1960s.
After successfully introducing them on a smaller scale the prior year, Burry Biscuit and Girl Scouts started a new tradition: giving customers recipes that used Girl Scout cookies as ingredients (in 1968, they used four flavors of cookies).
In recent years, Girl Scout cookies have made their way into desserts at home and in restaurants, expanding the consumer base to companies as well as individuals.
34. Cranberry Citrus Crisps
Cranberry Citrus Crisps
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2013
Year discontinued: 2016
Main ingredients: Whole grain flour, cranberry bits, citrus flavoring
Bottom Line: Cranberry Citrus Crisps
Cranberry Citrus Crisps cookies
Another attempt at a “healthy cookie,” these crispy cookies had the unexpected sweet/tart pop of flavor from the dried cranberries and a hint of orange.
While they were pretty good as far as “healthy” cookies go, the flavor combination was popular with only a limited base.
After a few years, it was removed from the lineup to make room for S’mores.
33. Upside-Downs
Upside-Downs boxes
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 1999
Year discontinued: 2000
Main ingredients: Oatmeal, sugar
Bottom Line: Upside-Downs
Upside-Downs cookie illustrations
An oatmeal cookie with a thick layer of frosting on one side, these cookies were said to compare favorably to Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies, but these were crunchy.
The crunch may have contributed to their downfall as many oatmeal cookie aficionados are looking for chewy.
32. Lemon Drops
Lemon Drops
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1998
Year discontinued: 1999
Main ingredients: Flour, lemon
Bottom Line: Lemon Drops
Lemon Drops cookies
This was the baker’s fourth attempt at a lemon-flavored cookie in the 1990s. It packed a double wallop of lemon, in both the cookie and the small lemony chips.
But after this cookie, Little Brownie Baker took a break from lemony cookies until 2003.
31. Toffee-tastic
Toffee-tastic cookies
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2014
Main ingredients: Flour, butter, toffee bits
Bottom Line: Toffee-tastic
Toffee-tastic
Meet the current gluten-free offering from ABC. Some people like these butter cookies filled with toffee bits, but a panel of pastry chefs put together by The Washington Post unanimously panned them.
Tasters cited the consistency of both the chunks (too hard) and the cookie (too gummy) as turn-offs.
To be fair, other cookies in the test were non-GF varieties. Those seeking gluten-free cookies may like this just fine.
27. Kookaburras
Kookaburras box
Bakery: Burry Biscuit Corporation
Year released: 1983
Year discontinued: 1986
Main ingredients: Flour, crispy rice, caramel, milk chocolate
Bottom Line: Kookaburras
Kookaburras cookie
A rectangular rice wafer cookie, more like a Kit Kat than a Rice Krispie treat, this cookie featured wafers layered with caramel and coated in milk chocolate.
These cookies are among those mentioned by fans longing for cookies of old. One fan was so desperate to taste her favorite treat that she created her own recipe that is said to come close.
29. Iced Berry Piñatas
Iced Berry Pinñatas box
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2003
Year discontinued: 2005
Main ingredients: Flour, sugar, strawberry jam, icing
Bottom Line: Iced Berry Piñatas
Iced Berry Piñatas cookies
These cookies were an unusual addition to the Girl Scout line.
They were similar to traditional thumbprint cookies, with a dab of strawberry jam in the center, and then drizzled with icing.
While the cookies had their fans (including some who created their own version to make at home), jam cookies seem to have a limited fan base, so they were only available a couple of seasons.
28. Olé Olés
Olé Olés boxes
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2001
Year discontinued: 2003
Main ingredients: Flour, powdered sugar, pecans and coconut
Bottom Line: Olé Olés
Olé Olés cookies
This cookie was meant to replicate a Mexican Wedding Cookie, but it also was remarkably similar to the small cookies made of chopped nuts common on holiday platters for many ethnicities.
The reduced-fat cookies were tasty, but not traditional in the right way to become a permanent part of the cookie lineup.
27. Pecan Shortees
Pecan Shortees
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1985
Year discontinued: 1987
Main ingredients: Shortbread, pecans
Bottom Line: Pecan Shortees
Pecan Shortees cookie
These crunchy pecan shortbread cookies were part of a series of pecan cookies that started with the praline portion of Medallions packages in 1983.
This was followed by the first version of the Juliette’s (with two flavors of cookies per package, each in their own sleeve), which were introduced in 1984.
The pecan craze continued into the next decade with Praline Royales.
26. Five World Cinnamon
Five World Cinnamon cookie
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 1996
Year discontinued: 2001
Main ingredients: Flour, cinnamon, sugar
Bottom Line: Five World Cinnamon
Five World Cinnamon
Cinnamon is another flavor that appears frequently in the Girl Scout cookie collection, but never seems to take hold for long.
These cinnamon sugar cookies featured Girl Scouting’s Five Worlds of Interest: The World of Well-Being, the World of People, The World of Today and Tomorrow, the World of Arts and the World of Outdoors.
25. Praline Royales
Praline Royales
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 1992
Year discontinued: 1993
Main ingredients: Flour vanilla, praline, pecans, coconut, chocolate
Bottom Line: Praline Royales
Praline Royales
The late 1980s and early 1990s saw multiple versions of pecan praline cookies. This was ABCs version: a soft vanilla cookie with a praline filling and drizzled with chocolate.
It replaced the Golden Yangle (not a cookie) and was short-lived. While it had its dedicated fans, in at least one council, it was the most returned variety of the year.
24. Medallions
Medallions cookies
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1983
Year discontinued: 1984
Main ingredients: Shortbread, cocoa, pecans, brown sugar
Bottom Line: Medallions
Medallions
A special edition to celebrate 50 years of Girl Scout Cookies, the classic shortbread cookie was used as a base.
“Colonial Shortbread Supremes” featured cocoa coating on one side and “Southern Pecan Praline” was a pecan shortbread coated with brown sugar.
This was a limited-edition collection, though it began a series of pecan-flavored cookies that went into the next decade.
23. Juliettes
Juliettes cookie
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1984
Year discontinued: 1985
Main ingredients: Shortbread , lemon pecan praline
Bottom Line: Juliettes
Juliettes illustration
A twist on the prior year’s Medallions, this iteration of Juliettes packaging contained two sleeves of coated shortbread cookies.
While the organization repeated the pecan praline coating in one sleeve, the cocoa coating was replaced with lemon icing.
Like its predecessor, this package was only around for one year.
22. Lemon Coolers
Lemon Coolers
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2003
Year discontinued: 2006
Main ingredients: Flour, vanilla, lemon chips, powdered sugar
Bottom Line: Lemon Coolers
Lemon Coolers box
These reduced-fat, bite-sized cookies were full of lemon flavor that provided a surprising pucker given the powdered sugar coating.
While they were fairly well-liked, they left the lineup in 2006 to be replaced in 2007 with the reintroduction of Lemon Cremes, this time as Lemon Chalet Cremes.
21. Savannah Smiles
Savannah Smiles
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2012
Year discontinued: 2019
Main ingredients: Lemon, powdered sugar
Bottom Line: Savannah Smiles
Savannah Smiles box
These lemony, bite-sized, wedge-shaped cookies are reminiscent of the Lemon Coolers from a decade prior.
Replacing Lemon Chalet Cremes, the organization decided to put some fat in Lemon Coolers and try again.
Fans of Lemon Coolers were happy to see the return of a favored flavor and today may be longing for their return since the newest lemon cookie, Lemon-Ups, doesn’t seem to be an adequate replacement.
20. Girl Scout S’mores (ABC Bakers)
Girl Scout S’mores
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2016
Main ingredients: Graham cookie, icing, chocolate
Bottom Line: Girl Scout S’mores (ABC Bakers)
Girl Scout S’mores (ABC Bakers) bpx
Though there are two bakeries making Girl Scout S’mores, the cookies are quite different. This one is a graham cookie, double dipped in creme icing and chocolate
As it has become more popular to make “gourmet” s’mores, it makes sense that consumers would be interested in using these as the cookie base.
Unfortunately, this variety’s marshmallow flavor comes via an icing, making these s’mores rather messy.
19. Girl Scout S’mores (Little Brownie Bakers)
Girl Scout S’mores
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2016
Main ingredients: Graham cookie, chocolate, marshmallow
Bottom Line: Girl Scout S’mores (Little Brownie Bakers)
Girl Scout S’mores (Little Brownie Bakers) cookies
This is the other variety of pre-made s’more to debut as an official Girl Scout cookie. It is a graham sandwich cookie with chocolate and marshmallow filling.
Comparing the two, tasters find this one has more of a marshmallow-y taste. Some have recommended popping these in the microwave for a closer-to-the-real-thing taste.
This version is preferred as the base for “gourmet” s’mores around a campfire, since it has a better consistency for that ultimate camping snack.
18. Golden Nut Clusters
Golden Nut Clusters box
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1991, 1993 (Version 2.0)
Year discontinued: 1993, 1996 (Version 2.0)
Main ingredients: Flour, caramel, pecan, chocolate fudge
Alternative names: Juliettes
Bottom Line: Golden Nut Clusters
Golden Nut Clusters
Like the earlier cookie called Juliettes, these treats were named after Juliette Gordon Low, the organization’s founder.
Unlike the former, these featured pecan and chewy caramel on a light cookie covered with a maple-flavored coating. They were a tasty treat.
A 2.0 version was released in 1993 with pecan, caramel, and covered in chocolate fudge. As cookies go, this one was decadent and reminiscent of turtle nut candies.
17. Chocolate Chip Shortbread
Chocolate Chip Shortbread
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2013
Year discontinued: 2014
Main ingredients: Gluten-free shortbread, chocolate chips
Bottom Line: Chocolate Chip Shortbread
Chocolate Chip Shortbread cookies
This cookie marked the Girl Scouts’ entry into the gluten-free market. Unlike many early GF options, this one was pretty good.
Sold in bags of bite-sized cookies, these were crumbly shortbread that melted in your mouth. But the cookies were small (as was the packaging), and the price was higher than other offerings.
So it had only modest success.
16. Lemon Cremes
Lemon Cremes
Bakery: Burry Biscuit Corporation
Year released: 1973
Year discontinued: See Cabana Cremes
Main ingredients: Shortbread, lemon creme
Alternative names: Lemon Pastry Cremes
Bottom Line: Lemon Cremes
Lemon Cremes box
Sandwich cookies have come and gone over the years.
One of the most popular lemon varieties of cookies, these sandwiches have come back, slightly altered, and sometimes in combination with other sandwich cookies.
Girl Scouts keeps trying new lemon-flavored cookies, but none seem to have the staying power of Lemon Cremes.
15. Cabaña Crèmes
Cabaña Cremes
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1989
Year discontinued: 1995
Main ingredients: Shortbread, lemon filling, vanilla filling
Alternative names: Lemon Chalet Cremes, Chalet Cremes (1989)
Bottom Line: Cabaña Crèmes
Cabaña Crèmes box
These lemon- or vanilla-filled shortbread cookies began as round sandwich cookies and were redesigned as rectangles when they became Chalet Cremes in 1990. (These also were embossed with a chalet picture on top.)
A box contained both lemon- and vanilla-filled varieties. The lemon-filled cookies returned in 2007 and were replaced by a circular version in 2010 before being discontinued again in 2011.
A reduced-fat version was sold from 1995 to 1997.
14. Thank You Berry Munch
Thank U Berry Munch
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2009
Year discontinued: 2014
Main ingredients: Flour, cranberries, rice crispies, white fudge chips
Bottom Line: Thank You Berry Munch
Thank You Berry Munch box
The popularity of cranberries prompted a number of new cookie flavors, including this oddly named one that prompted customers to ask “What is that?”
The crunchy cookie had the right balance of sweet and tart. Continuing an old tradition, the baker offered recipes (this time available on its website) for home bakers to use cookies as ingredients.
13. Raspberry Rally
Raspberry rally
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers, ABC Bakers
Year released: 2023
Main ingredients: Flour, chocolate, raspberry flavoring
Bottom Line: Raspberry Rally
Raspberry rally
Another berry-flavored cookie, the Raspberry Rally joined the cookie lineup for the 2023 selling season. It’s said to be the sister of the Thin Mint cookie, as it has the same thin, crispy cookie coated with a chocolaty layer. The main difference is that it’s flavored with raspberry instead of mint.
Only time will tell if it has the staying power of its ever-popular sibling.
12. Lemonades
Lemonades
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2008
Main ingredients: Shortbread, lemon icing
Bottom Line: Lemonades
Lemonades box
These vegan cookies are one of the most successful lemon varieties Girl Scouts have created.
Aside from Thanks-A-Lots, it is the only currently sold cookie outside of the five permanent varieties made by both bakers to last more than a decade.
11. Toast-Yay!
Toast-yay
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2021
Main ingredients: Flour, frosting
Bottom Line: Toast-Yay!
Toast-yay package
The Toast-Yay! cookie recipe is inspired by French toast and dipped in icing. Reviewers report not being able to eat just one.
Our biggest question is can we eat them for breakfast?
10. Striped Chocolate Chips and Pecan
Striped Chocolate Chips and Pecan boxes
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1997
Year discontinued: 1999
Main ingredients: Oatmeal, pecan, chocolate chips, fudge
Bottom Line: Striped Chocolate Chips and Pecan
Striped Chocolate Chips and Pecan cookies
Another specialty chocolate chip cookie, this one replaced Le Chip and was just different enough to not be commonplace.
The oatmeal and pecans gave it more substance and the fudge stripes provided just enough fun.
It paved the way for the next gourmet chip cookie — Aloha Chips.
9. Peanut Butter Sandwich
Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies
Bakery: Burry Biscuit Corporation, ABC Bakers
Year released: 1959
Main ingredients: Oatmeal, peanut butter
Alternative names: Do-si-dos (Little Brownie Bakers), Savannahs (Burry Biscuit Corp.)
Bottom Line: Peanut Butter Sandwich
Peanut Butter Sandwich box
While a basic cookie, this is one of the staples of the cookie sale. Peanut butter filling is sandwiched between two oatmeal cookies.
While some compare it to Nutter Butters, these cookies aren’t as crunchy and there is a subtle taste difference, one that makes spending the extra bucks worth it every year.
They are also terrific dunked in chocolate milk.
8. Double Dutch
Double Dutch
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2003
Year discontinued: 2005
Main ingredients: Flour, chocolate
Bottom Line: Double Dutch
Double Dutch cookie illustration
These cookies were a chocolate-lovers dream.
With both milk and dark chocolate chips sprinkled throughout a chocolate cookie, Double Dutch cookies had people coming back for more.
The only bad part about these cookies was that there weren’t enough in the package.
7. Aloha Chips
Aloha Chips box
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 2000
Year discontinued: 2004
Main ingredients: Flour, white chocolate chips, macadamia nuts
Bottom Line: Aloha Chips
Aloha Chips Girl Scouts cookie illustration
Finally, a gourmet chip cookie worth the premium price.
These packages had fewer cookies than the perennial favorites, but they were slightly larger and with the decadent addition of macadamia nuts, the price seemed like a bargain.
It likely also helped sales that this is one cookie you wouldn’t find in a grocery store.
6. Adventurefuls
Adventurefuls
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers, ABC Bakers
Year released: 2022
Main ingredients: Flour, chocolate, caramel flavoring, sea salt
Bottom Line: Adventurefuls
Adventurefuls
We’re not the only ones who love a brownie-cookie combo. This one also happens to be drizzled with a caramel-flavored creme and finished off with a hint of sea salt.
When this cookie hit the market, people bought them in droves, landing it in our top 10 list in no time.
5. Thanks-A-Lots
Thanks-A-Lots cookie
Bakery: ABC Bakers
Year released: 2006
Year discontinued: Little Brownie Baker discontinued All Abouts in 2008
Main ingredients: Flour, sugar, butter, chocolate
Alternative names: Animal Treasures (1999-2005), All Abouts (2001-08 Little Brownie Bakers)
Bottom Line: Thanks-A-Lots
Thanks-A-Lots package
Thanks-A-Lots replaced Animal Treasures, which were similar-tasting cookies, but with endangered animal images stamped on a rectangular cookie.
Each Thanks-A-Lot cookie features “thank you” in various languages (English, French, Mandarin Chinese [Latinized], Spanish, or Swahili). These cookies are still available today and popular.
All Abouts, the LBB version, featured a stamped value that Girl Scouts were “all about” such as respect, friendship, confidence and courage. The shape of All Abouts also changed to circles before being discontinued in 2008.
4. Shortbread
Shortbread
Bakery: Burry Biscuit Corporation, ABC Bakers
Year released: 1955
Main ingredients: Flour, sugar, butter
Alternative names: Trefoils (Little Brownie Bakers)
Bottom Line: Shortbread
Shortbread Girl Scout cookies box
This is the Girl Scouts’ signature cookie. It is basic shortbread and features the image of the Girl Scout trefoil.
Over the years, the cookie shape has changed, from a round cookie with a raised trefoil to one that is trefoil-shaped and stamped with the modern logo.
In 1981, United Airlines purchased 2 million of Burry’s trefoil cookies, packaged in twos for its passengers.
3. Tagalongs
Tagalongs cookies
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1976
Main ingredients: Flour, vanilla, peanut butter, chocolate
Alternative names: Peanut Butter Patties (ABC), Hoedowns (Burry)
Bottom Line: Tagalongs
Tagalongs box
Both bakers supposedly use the same recipe, but there is a subtle difference between Tagalongs and Peanut Butter Patties that is imperceptible to all but the most die-hard fans.
At one point, a reduced-fat peanut butter made Taglongs the clear favorite. Once the fat was returned, Patties became an acceptable substitute.
2. Samoas
Samoas Girl Scout cookies
Bakery: Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1974
Main ingredients: Flour, coconut, caramel, chocolate
Alternative names: Caramel Delites (ABC)
Bottom Line: Samoas
Samoas Girl Scout cookies box
Theoretically, Samoas and Caramel Delites are the same cookie. However, there is a notable difference between these two vanilla cookies topped with caramel, toasted coconut and chocolate.
Samoas have dark chocolate while Caramel Delites contain milk chocolate. The difference is jarring to fans that prefer one over the other.
This is one case where there can be no substitution.
1. Thin Mint
Thin Mints Girl Scout cookies
Bakery: Burry Biscuit Corporation, ABC Bakers, Little Brownie Bakers
Year released: 1949
Main ingredients: Flour, chocolate, mint
Alternative names: Chocolate Mint, Thin Mint-Teas, Mints
Bottom Line: Thin Mint
Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies box
Mints are universally accepted as the top seller, though there can be some debate over whether they taste better than Samoas. Here, they take the lead only because there’s more deliciousness in each box.
An early Burry box references a “crisp cookie wafer coated with delicious peppermint flavored chocolate,” but more recently, the cookie has been described as a chocolate-coated mint-flavored chocolate cookie.
While any Girl Scout cookie can be frozen, mints are especially good pulled out of the freezer in July.