Unbelievable Facts About Girl Scout Cookies

June 19, 2023

Each year, Americans look forward to one season above all others. No, it’s not basketball or football season. It’s not even the newest season of The Walking Dead. It’s Girl Scout Cookie season. The three-month cookie production season is the favorite fundraising activity of the Girl Scouts of the USA - and literally the only time anyone is ever excited about a fundraiser. Though most Americans might participate in enjoying these iconic cookies, many will be surprised by the facts on this list.

They Reign In Sales - For Three Months Of The Year

As most Americans know, Girl Scout Cookie season is limited to the months of January to March of every year. During that time, the much anticipated, much sought-after confectionary delights take the cookie market by storm, stomping other cookie company’s sales nationwide. During the other nine months of the year, Oreos enjoy the cookie monopoly. But even those beloved treats are largely ignored come Girl Scout Cookie season.

The Cookies Used To Be Home-Baked

When the organization first started baking cookies in 1917, scout leaders and members baked the original recipe cookies in their home ovens. At that time, only one flavor option was offered - sugar cookies. In fact, the Girl Scouts of America has made the original cookie recipe available online, so history buffs and cookie lovers alike can enjoy a home project and see what it was like for the first generation of Girl Scout bakers.

The Girl Scouts Choose Which Of Two Bakeries To Use

Surprisingly given the sheer volume of cookies being baked in such a short timeframe - 200 million boxes in only three months - only two bakeries are used to make all of the Girl Scouts’ signature cookies. Another surprising fact surrounding the cookie production is that each individual scout council chooses which bakery and which name to call the cookies. That’s why some years buyers may feel betrayed when their local troop doesn’t carry Tagalongs, but offers Peanut Butter Patties instead. Good news - they’re the same cookie!

Thin Mints Are Ridiculously Popular

Nearly every year, there are new flavors of Girl Scout Cookies for consumers to enjoy, but every year, the usual suspects come out on top in terms of popularity. Thin Mints account for almost a quarter of all Girl Scout Cookies sales every year - that means that bakers are cranking out 4.5 million Thin Mints per day during peak selling times. No, that is not a typo! The second and third most popular cookies are Samoas/Caramel deLites and Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties (see list item number eight regarding naming).

Three Cookies Are Mandatory

Each year, the national Girl Scout organization must approve all cookie selections for the upcoming cookie sales season. Over the years, there have been some really interesting choices (such as Golden Yangles, the ‘80s bizarre cheddar cheese cookie), but three flavors are absolutely non-negotiable from year to year: Trefoils/Shortbreads, Do-Si-Dos/Peanut Butter Sandwiches, and Thin Mints. That means the number two best-selling cookie, the Samoas/Caramel deLites, must be re-approved every year before going on sale.

Girl Scout Cookies Reflect National Eating Trends

Cookie peddlers they may be, but the Girl Scouts organization is sensitive to changing dietary trends in the United States. To that end, there are four delicious vegan options available for the animal byproduct avoidant cookie consumer: Thin Mints, Thanks-A-Lots, Lemonades, and Peanut Butter Patties. The two bakeries who produce the cookies - ABC Smart Cookies and Little Brownie Bakers - also proudly produce their cookies with zero trans fat, no partially hydrogenated oils, and no artificial colors or preservatives.

Girl Scout Cookie Sales Were Halted During WWII

According to their websites, during peak cookie production time, ABC Smart Cookies and Little Brownie Bakers can use up to 1,050,000 pounds of flour, 300,000 pounds of shortening, 50,000 pounds of cocoa, 500,000 pounds of chocolate coating, 650,000 pounds of sugar, 230,000 pounds of peanut butter and 75,000 pounds of toasted coconut. During the Second World War, shortages of flour, sugar, butter, and other staples meant that the Girl Scouts organization could not bake and sell their signature cookies. They sold calendars during the war years instead.

Technology Can Be Harnessed To Find Cookies

There are many drawbacks to the age of ubiquitous technology. Thanks to Girl Scout Cookie-finder apps, there is an undeniable ray of light. That’s right - with the download of a simple app, a phone’s GPS can be harnessed to find the closest cookie-selling locations in any American city, town, or village. That paired with a map app means that Girl Scout Cookies are only a short drive away, no matter where one lives.

There Have Been Many Failed Cookies Throughout The Years

Not every Girl Scout Cookie is created equal. As the organization has sought to stay up to date with current tastes and trends, they have rolled out some pretty bizarre one-offs that did not ultimately make the grade. Some such sweet losers include the jam-filled Iced Berry Pinatas, the not so appealingly named Golden Nut Clusters, and of course, the low fat, low fun Ole Oles and Apple Cinnamons. Some bygone cookies induce nostalgia; these, not so much.

Honey Boo Boo Is Banned From Selling Girl Scout Cookies

In a bizarre twist, Honey Boo Boo, whose image was briefly featured on some boxes of Girl Scout Cookies, was banned by the Girl Scouts of the USA from selling the confections. The reasoning behind the ban was primarily that she is not actually a Girl Scout. Additionally, she was caught selling signed boxes of cookies online, which is a big no-no. It is in the stated rules that no Girl Scout Cookies may be purchased or sold online, as that would undermine the fundraising goals of individual, local troops.

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