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1. Girl Scout Cookies®
2. How to Buy Cookies
3. Cookies FAQ

Cookies FAQ

Girl Scout Cookie Program®

Find quick answers to your questions about Girl Scout Cookies®.

Buying Girl Scout Cookies

When do Girl Scout Cookies go on sale and how do I find them?

Girl Scout Cookies can be purchased from Girl Scouts participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program® during your local council’s cookie season. Learn when cookie season starts in your area and locate cookie booths by entering your zip code in the Find Cookies! search box.

You can also contact your local Girl Scout council to find a cookie booth near you. Councils generally conduct their cookie season between January and April.

How is the Girl Scout Cookie Program valuable to girls?

When you buy Girl Scout Cookies, you are creating opportunities for Girl Scouts to learn, grow, and thrive through the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. From learning how to interact with customers to creating budgets and taking orders, the Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches Girl Scouts invaluable skills they’ll need to succeed throughout their lives.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program provides opportunities to practice and develop entrepreneurial skills, making Girl Scouts more likely to have an entrepreneurial mindset and become entrepreneurs compared to their non-member peers, according to a study by the Girl Scouts. Plus, Girl Scout Cookie proceeds stay local! From horseback riding to traveling the world, you're helping fuel new experiences and adventures for local Girl Scouts all year long.

Thanks to your support, the Girl Scout Cookie Program helps Girl Scouts build a better future.

Can I buy Girl Scout Cookies online?

Yes! You can order cookies online through the Digital Cookie® platform using links from a Girl Scout or a troop participating in the online cookie program. The digital platform offers a convenient way for consumers to buy cookies online and support Girl Scouts.

If you know a Girl Scout, let them know you’d like to buy cookies online, and they’ll help you make your purchase. Girl Scouts will use their personalized cookie website or mobile app to facilitate a purchase.

If you don’t know a Girl Scout, you can purchase cookies online by visiting girlscoutcookies.org and clicking the Find Cookies! search box.

Only purchase Girl Scout Cookies from registered Girl Scouts. We advise against purchasing Girl Scout Cookies online through auction sites, community list sites, or websites like eBay and Amazon. Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), your local Girl Scout council, and our licensed cookie bakers cannot guarantee the freshness or integrity of cookies bought through unauthorized sites. In many instances, these cookies are expired, or the sellers are using Girl Scouts’ intellectual property without authorization. Purchasing cookies through unauthorized sites does not support Girl Scouts participating in the cookie program.

Can Girl Scout Cookies be shipped?

Girl Scout Cookies purchased from a Girl Scout or troop cookie link can be shipped within the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and military or diplomatic locations with an APO/FPO/DPO address. If you know a Girl Scout, tell them that you’d like to purchase cookies from them online and they’ll help you out. If you don’t know a Girl Scout, visit our How to Buy Cookies page.

Why are Girl Scout Cookies available only for a brief time? 

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, but it is just one part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Girl Scouts participate in various activities throughout the year and work on many projects, including the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Only registered Girl Scouts can sell Girl Scout Cookies, and their market availability is generally between January and April when Girl Scouts participate in the program through their local council. 

Product Information

Which Girl Scout Cookies are currently available?

There are many kinds of Girl Scout Cookies available! From iconic Thin Mints® to flavorful favorites like Trefoils® and Adventurefuls®, our product lineup is regularly updated. Some cookie flavors are rotated out, with the potential to come back, dependent on consumer demand and manufacturing capacity.

You can learn about available cookies on the Meet the Cookies page of our website. Availability varies depending on the area. Contact your local Girl Scout council to find out which varieties are available near you.  

What if I'm not satisfied with my Girl Scout Cookies?

If you aren't satisfied with a package of Girl Scout Cookies for any reason, contact the baker using the contact information listed on the side of the dissatisfactory package, or you may contact ABC Bakers or Little Brownie Bakers directly.

How can I be sure my Girl Scout Cookies are fresh?  

Every Girl Scout Cookie package is stamped with a “use or freeze by” date based on the manufacturing date.

How much is a package of Girl Scout Cookies? Why do prices vary in different regions?

Each of the 111 Girl Scout councils set their own prices. Prices reflect the current cost of cookies and the cost of providing high-quality Girl Scout programming and experiences in an ever-changing economic environment. Remember—the proceeds stay with the local council and troop to power amazing experiences year-round for Girl Scouts. Contact your local Girl Scout council  to learn more about your area's pricing. 

Use the Find Cookies! search box to find out when Girl Scouts are selling cookies in your area.

Who bakes Girl Scout Cookies?

Two commercial bakers are licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA to produce Girl Scout Cookies: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers.

How many cookies are in a package of Girl Scout Cookies, and how big are they?

The number and size of cookies vary by variety and by baker and can be found on the package. You can learn more about cookies on our website's Meet the Cookies page. 

Why do some cookies have different names?

Each Girl Scout council chooses a licensed baker, either ABC Bakers or Little Brownie Bakers, and there are cookie variations by baker. One baker may call a cookie Caramel deLites®, while another baker calls them Samoas®. The two cookies look and taste similar, but the name of the cookie and the recipe may differ. The exceptions are Thin Mints®, Exploremores™, Adventurefuls®, and Trefoils®, which are names used by both bakers. Even if Girl Scout Cookie names are the same, the recipes and ingredients may vary.

Who selects Girl Scout Cookie varieties?

GSUSA and Girl Scout council representatives partner with two licensed bakers to develop Girl Scout Cookies. Councils select the baker for their area, which dictates the local varieties offered.

To see a list of the current varieties of Girl Scout Cookies, along with pictures and descriptions, and ingredient list go to the Meet the Cookies page for the current varieties of Girl Scout Cookies, pictures, descriptions, and ingredient lists.

What are the best-selling Girl Scout Cookies?

The best-selling Girl Scout Cookies are: 

1. Thin Mints® 
2. Caramel deLites®/Samoas®
3. Peanut Butter Patties®/Tagalongs®
4. Peanut Butter Sandwich /Do-si-dos®
5. Lemonades/Lemon-Ups

Should people with diabetes buy or consume Girl Scout Cookies?

We encourage consumers concerned about sugar intake to discuss dietary options with a doctor or registered dietitian.

For consumer convenience, each of our licensed bakers lists dietary exchanges on the cookie information pages of their websites so people with diabetes and parents of children with diabetes can make informed choices. Each cookie package lists the sugar and carbohydrate contents.

Customers who are unable to personally consume Girl Scout Cookies but still wish to support their local Girl Scout may choose to purchase cookies for their local council’s cookie donation program.

Why are some Girl Scout Cookie varieties priced differently from other ones?

Like other specialty products, our gluten-free cookie varieties may be priced higher than other Girl Scout Cookies, reflecting the cost of production and/or specialty ingredients.

Product Ingredients

How do I find cookies' ingredients, nutritional value, and allergen information?

This information is listed on the cookie package and the cookie order form. It can also be found on our website's Meet the Cookies page.

With particular regard for allergen concerns, our bakers bake Girl Scout Cookies in state-of-the-art facilities, following the required safety protocol to prevent cross-contact of ingredients. Consumers with additional questions can find out more by visiting the baker websites ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers. Contact your Girl Scout council to find out which licensed baker supplies your local council with cookies. Ingredients may differ by baker, so always refer to the printed packaging or your local council's cookie baker's website for this information.

Why does the Girl Scout Cookie packaging allergen disclosure reference a shared facility? How is this different from the allergens contained?

All packaged goods in the U.S., including Girl Scout Cookies, are required to include a mandatory allergen disclosure identifying any of the top nine food allergens present as ingredients either in the ingredients list or through a "Contains" statement. All Girl Scout Cookie packaging labels include a precautionary allergen disclosure ("Made in shared facility with") to ensure transparency about any allergens that may be present in the bakeries that produce Girl Scout Cookies. If you have concerns as to whether a product is right for you, please check with your healthcare provider.

Are Girl Scout Cookies halal certified?

Yes. All Girl Scout Cookies are halal certified. For more information about cookie ingredients, check out Meet the Cookies or visit our bakers’ websites: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers.

Are Girl Scout Cookies kosher?

Yes. For more information about cookie ingredients, check out Meet the Cookies or visit our bakers’ websites: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers.

Is high-fructose corn syrup used in Girl Scout Cookies?

No, Girl Scout Cookies do not contain high-fructose corn syrup. For a list of specific cookie ingredients, see Meet the Cookies or visit our bakers’ websites: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers.

Why is palm oil used in Girl Scout Cookies?

Palm oil is an ingredient found in the majority of baked snacks sold in the United States and is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world. Per Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA)'s licensed bakers, it is necessary to use palm oil in our cookies because of its unique ability to provide volume and texture in baked goods, usually without adding trans fats. Additionally, growing palm oil requires less land use in comparison to other vegetable oils and supports the livelihoods of more than 4 million farmers globally. Although we continue to explore alternatives, currently, there are only so many viable and readily available alternatives for use in the production of Girl Scout Cookies.

The world's food supply is intricately tied to palm oil, so promoting sustainable manufacturing principles is the most responsible approach for Girl Scout Cookie development. At Girl Scouts, we have an opportunity to use our strong voice to bring about positive change on this important issue, and our bakers have made the following commitments:

• GSUSA and our licensed bakers are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a nonprofit organization of growers, buyers, manufacturers, conservationists, and other interested parties striving to develop and follow best practices to ensure an ethical supply chain. 
• Our licensed bakers are committed to using sustainable palm oil in Girl Scout Cookies. Girl Scout Cookies baked by ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers use Mass Balance RSPO certified palm oil and include the RSPO Mass Balance logo on their packaging (i.e., RSPO “Mixed” certification label).
• Both bakers aim to achieve 100% RSPO-segregated certified palm oil products for all Girl Scout Cookies they produce. They continue to work with their suppliers to explore strategies and timelines to achieve this goal.
• To read more about our bakers’ positions on palm oil, visit their websites: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers . 

Thanks to the encouragement of and partnership with Girl Scout members, GSUSA and our bakers have realized the power of the Girl Scout brand to make a positive difference in the move towards sustainably produced and ethically sourced palm oil.

Why don't you offer cookies that are whole wheat, sugar-free, casein-free, organic, low-carb, low-calorie, low-fat, non-fat, fat-free, and the like?

Girl Scout Cookies are produced once a year, making the production of specialty cookies difficult. It's not economically feasible to make specialty cookies due to low demand. We trust our licensed bakers, who are industry leaders, to produce the best-tasting and highest-quality cookies while simultaneously addressing industry trends, scientific trends, and consumer needs, including dietary restrictions and preferences. Don't forget to check the labels—you may find a variety that fits your dietary restrictions or goals. 

Customers who are unable to personally consume Girl Scout Cookies but still wish to support their local Girl Scout may choose to purchase cookies for their local council’s cookie donation program.

Do you offer cookies made with vegan ingredients?

Yes, some Girl Scout Cookies are made with vegan ingredients including our most popular cookie Thin Mints®. For more information, visit the Meet the Cookies page of our website.

Are there Girl Scout Cookies that are certified gluten-free?

Yes. Girl Scouts in select areas sell gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip or Toffee-tastic® Girl Scout Cookies. Please contact your local Girl Scout council about availability. For more information, visit the Meet the Cookies page of our website. 

How is Toffee-tastic® Gluten Free certified if it is made in a bakery with wheat?

Toffee-tastic® cookies baked by Little Brownie Bakers have been Certified Gluten-Free by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), a third-party organization that verifies through testing of the production line and the finished product that the cookies meet FDA guidelines for labeling them gluten-free. Toffee-tastic cookies are baked on a production line that is cleaned between production runs and tested to ensure the line is free of gluten. The NSF Gluten-Free Certification seal appears on the side of the Toffee-tastic package. For more information, visit the NSF website.

Social Responsibility

Are Girl Scout Cookies sustainable?

Sustainability refers to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors that an organization addresses to provide value to consumers and the world. GSUSA is also working with its bakers toward sustainable and ethical sourcing of Girl Scout Cookie ingredients, including sustainably sourced palm oil. GSUSA and our bakers are also working to improve the environmental footprint of its cookie packaging, as we recognize the need to reduce emissions and materials used as much as possible. Furthermore, Girl Scouts can choose to use their troop cookie earnings on environmental stewardship and conservation projects.  

Do Girl Scout Cookies contain GMOs?

GSUSA is committed to providing customers with the highest quality products available. We understand that customers have questions about the foods they choose to eat. GSUSA works alongside its trusted bakers to develop recipes using ingredients that will produce the best-tasting and highest-quality cookies.

Girl Scout Cookies currently contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Girl Scouts recognizes that many people have concerns about GMO ingredients, and we monitor members' and consumers' opinions on this matter while simultaneously addressing industry trends, scientific trends, and consumer preferences.

It is important to note that there is worldwide scientific support for the safety of currently commercialized ingredients derived from GMO agricultural crops. The World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the American Medical Association all share this assessment. In the future, GMO ingredients may offer new, cost-effective alternatives to feeding the world's growing population.

What is the significance of the RSPO “Mixed” certification label on the side of my Girl Scout Cookie package? RSPO stands for Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, a global association established in 2004 with the objective of promoting the growth and use of sustainable palm oil products through credible global standards and engagement of stakeholders. The RSPO “Mixed” certification label signifies that our bakers have “contributed to the production of certified sustainable palm oil.” In order to use the logo, our bakers were audited by the RSPO to ensure its compliance with the RSPO criteria. Visit https://www.rspo.org/ to learn more about RSPO. Is my Girl Scout Cookie package recyclable?

Recycling is community dependent. Girl Scout Cookie packages may or may not be accepted by your local recycling service depending on the types of materials it processes.

The box packaging for many of our cookies is made from paper and is recyclable. It contains 100% recycled content, so it may have been recycled numerous times already! 

Several Girl Scout Cookie varieties are produced in soft-pack packaging only, without a carton. The film overwrap is like the protective wrapping found inside the packages of all cookie varieties and is recyclable in certain markets. While the shift to film overwrap has eliminated thousands of pounds of paperboard from the waste stream and the reduction in packaging weight has saved thousands of gallons of diesel fuel, the overwrap material may not be accepted by some local recycling services.

Some Girl Scout Cookie varieties come with a plastic tray inside either the box or soft pack and is used to protect the cookies during transport. The material may not be accepted by some local recycling services. 

GSUSA is a member of the How2Recycle® label program (how2recycle.info).  The How2Recycle label is a U.S. and Canada-based standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. We’re leveraging How2Recycle’s standardized labeling system on our consumer-facing packaging to provide clear instructions on how to recycle.  How2Recycle is a project of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition® (sustainablepackaging.org), a membership-based group that brings together businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies to collectively broaden the understanding of packaging sustainability and develop meaningful improvements for packaging solutions. 

We continue to work with our bakers to evaluate ways to maximize the recyclability of the package, while maintaining quality, freshness, and shelf life.

Selling Girl Scout Cookies

Who can sell Girl Scout Cookies?

All registered Girl Scouts may participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Although parents/caregivers and adult Girl Scouts may assist, Girl Scouts are the entrepreneurs by making sales, setting goals, tracking inventory, and learning the five essential skills of the cookie program.  

Participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program is voluntary and requires written permission from a parent/caregiver. The experience helps Girl Scouts learn essential life skills while powering amazing adventures for Girl Scouts and troops year-round. 

Only registered Girl Scouts can sell Girl Scout Cookies. We caution against purchasing Girl Scout Cookies online through auction sites, community list sites, or websites like eBay and Amazon. Girl Scouts of the USA, your local Girl Scout council, and our licensed cookie bakers cannot guarantee the freshness or integrity of cookies bought through unauthorized sites. In many instances, these cookies are expired, or the sellers are using Girl Scouts' intellectual property without authorization. Purchasing cookies this way does not support Girl Scouts. 

Can Girl Scouts who aren’t in a troop participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program?

Yes! In order to sell cookies, registered Girl Scouts must abide by guidelines published by GSUSA and their local Girl Scout council and be under the supervision of a council-trained adult. For more information about how Girl Scouts in your area can participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, contact your local Girl Scout council.  

Why is the process of selling and buying cookies different from one community to the next?

Each Girl Scout council determines its precise format for Girl Scouts to sell cookies. Customers can generally purchase cookies via the following means or some combination thereof: 

• Preorder. Girl Scout councils provide participating Girl Scouts with an order card and, for some, access to a mobile app to collect orders from potential customers. Girl Scouts turn in their order cards, the council orders the cookies, and then Girl Scouts go back to the customer to deliver the cookies a few weeks later. 
• Direct sale.  Participating Girl Scouts sell packages of cookies directly to customers, bypassing the order-card process.
• Cookie Booths. Participating Girl Scouts sell cookies at booths authorized by councils and set up inside and outside various retail establishments. To find a cookie booth near you or learn when cookies go on sale, enter your zip code in the Find Cookies! search box.
• Online and mobile sales. Girl Scouts can sell online and through mobile devices using the Digital Cookie® platform to develop personalized cookie websites. Many Girl Scouts enjoy marketing their online sales by inviting customers to visit their personalized cookie websites via an email, social media link, or mobile app.

Girl Scouts participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program may only sell cookies according to their council’s policies and procedures and within the council’s published sale dates.

Do Girl Scouts earn badges by participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program?

Girl Scouts may earn official Cookie Business, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship badges at every level of Girl Scouting. They earn badges based on completing established program activities that allow them to build new skills year after year. Girl Scouts may also earn the Cookie Entrepreneur Family pin with support from their families.

In 2021, GSUSA released new Cookie Business badges that help Girl Scouts think like entrepreneurs as they run their own cookie businesses and incorporate online sales via the Digital Cookie® platform. The Cookie Business badges include:

• Goal-setting.
• Effective in-person and online sales pitches.
• Using market research.
• Creating business plans.
• Implementing digital marketing campaigns.

In 2022, GSUSA released new Financial Literacy badges that help Girl Scouts develop healthy money habits as they learn about budgeting, investing, financial planning, and using money to achieve goals and make the world a better place.

Additionally, Girl Scouts can earn rewards based on their sales activity, such as recognition items and program credits. Contact your local Girl Scout council to learn more about the rewards established for Girl Scouts in your community.

Can Girl Scouts donate cookies to military personnel or local charities?

Yes! Girl Scouts participate in a council-approved “Gift of Caring” or “Cookie Share” program that allows Girl Scouts to collect donations of cookies. Contact your local council for more details.

What happens to the leftover cookies at the end of the cookie season?

Girl Scouts only sell cookies produced for the current season to ensure freshness. Therefore, if a council or a troop has cookies left at the end of the season, GSUSA encourages them to work with local food pantries and other charitable organizations to distribute cookies as a special treat for people seeking food relief services. GSUSA works with our licensed bakers to ensure that they also have an annual plan for responsibly managing leftover cookie inventory.

Who is the top seller of Girl Scout Cookies?

The Girl Scout Cookie Program has never been about individual sales results but rather the program outcomes, through which Girl Scouts learn important entrepreneurial and life skills and invest their earnings in powering troop activities year-round. GSUSA does not currently track the top seller(s) of Girl Scout Cookies on a national level. There are many impressive cookie entrepreneurs throughout the United States, and the Girl Scout Movement will continue to recognize those individuals as high sellers. However, GSUSA does not currently identify a specific Girl Scout as the number one or “record-breaking” national cookie seller, because doing so does not highlight the essence of the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program strives to offer Girl Scouts meaningful experiences in entrepreneurship, leadership, business, and finance from an early age, as well as provide Girl Scouts and Girl Scout councils with the funding necessary for activities and programs throughout the troop year. Our 111 councils handle their own sales tracking and may showcase the skills Girl Scouts learn and the incredible ways in which Girl Scouts are investing their cookie earnings to create positive change in their communities.

Cookie Revenue

Where does the money from my purchase of Girl Scout Cookies go?

When you buy delicious Girl Scout Cookies, you’re helping power amazing experiences and life-changing programming for Girl Scouts which broadens their worlds, teaches them essential life skills, and prepares them for a lifetime of leadership.

The net proceeds from Girl Scout Cookie sales stay local with the originating council and troop to fund Girl Scout activities and impactful girl-led community projects year-round. Each council determines its own revenue structure depending on how much it costs the council to buy cookies, the local retail price to sell cookies, and the amount of revenue shared with participating troops.  

Cookie program revenue is a critical source of funding for Girl Scout councils, which deliver essential programming to troops. Proceeds help reach Girl Scouts in underserved areas and maintain camps and properties. Girl Scouts pool their money as a troop and use their proceeds to fuel adventures throughout the year–like STEM, outdoor experiences, travel, and community projects. Girl Scout councils offer a wide variety of recognition items, programs, store-related credits, and travel experiences that Girl Scouts are eligible to earn individually based on their sales. All troop proceeds and group rewards earned through participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program must be used to enhance the group’s Girl Scout experience.

Does any of the money from cookie sales go to GSUSA (the national Girl Scout organization)?

No. All Girl Scout Cookie sale proceeds stay local. GSUSA is paid a royalty by its licensed bakers for using Girl Scout trademarks. Girl Scout councils do not provide any portion of their cookie revenue to GSUSA, and no other revenue from cookie sales goes to GSUSA. 

Is my purchase of Girl Scout Cookies tax-deductible?

If you buy Girl Scout Cookies and take the cookies home (to consume them), you’ve purchased a product at a fair market value. For this reason, Girl Scout Cookies used in this way are not tax-deductible. 

Many Girl Scouts ask customers to pay for one or more packages of cookies for use in community projects or as part of a council-approved cookie donation program (often called Gift of Caring or Cookie Share). If you would like an acknowledgment of your tax-deductible donation, contact your local Girl Scout council.

Does any part of Girl Scout Cookie Program revenue support organizations other than the local Girl Scout council?

No. After paying the bakers, the net proceeds from Girl Scout Cookie sales are retained by the originating council and troop to power amazing experiences for Girl Scouts and impactful girl-led community projects. Girl Scout troops set goals for how to spend their proceeds on program-related activities, such as paying their own way toward a trip or outdoor adventure. Girl Scout troops may also choose to use proceeds to purchase materials for a project to benefit the community.

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