Mason Delacroix
The Girl Scouts of America is a girl-led entrepreneurial program that has been selling cookies since 1917. The program helps girls fund their projects, build essential life skills, and make the world a better place. While the cookies are well-loved by many, with Thin Mints being the most popular, there is no indication that the Girl Scouts have ever sold alcoholic cookies. However, there was an incident in 2018 where a Girl Scout exhibited shrewd business acumen by selling cookies outside a marijuana dispensary, sparking a debate about where Girl Scouts should be allowed to conduct their sales.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First sale | 1917 |
| First commercial sale | 1933 |
| First official cookie sale | 1934 |
| Number of cookie varieties available nationwide by 1956 | Six |
| Number of bakeries providing cookies by 1978 | Four |
| Year of instituting cookie sale awards | 1998 |
| Year of eliminating trans fat from cookies | 2005 |
| Year of introducing online cookie sales | 2015 |
| Average selling season | January to April |
| Number of girls selling cookies in an average season | More than one million |
| Number of cookie packages sold in an average season | Over 200 million |
| Amount raised in an average season | Over $800 million |
| Number of cookie varieties | Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Do-si-dos |
| Number of bakeries providing cookies | Two (ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers) |
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What You'll Learn
History of Girl Scout Cookies
The Girl Scouts of America have been selling cookies for over a century, with the first known sale of cookies taking place in 1917 by the Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The cookies were baked and sold by the Girl Scouts in their high school cafeteria as a service project. In 1922, the Girl Scout magazine, The American Girl, suggested cookie sales as a fundraiser and provided a simple sugar cookie recipe from a regional director for the Girl Scouts of Chicago. This recipe was then distributed to 2,000 Girl Scouts across the USA and published in the magazine.
In the 1920s, door-to-door cookie sales began, with Girl Scouts selling cookies from wax paper bags with a sticker label for 25 to 35 cents a dozen. In 1928, the Girl Scout manual suggested sales of cookies to make a troop self-supporting. The first commercial sale took place in 1933 when Girl Scouts in Philadelphia sold homemade cookies at the windows of the Philadelphia Gas and Electric Company (PGE). In 1934, the first official cookie sale by the Girl Scout Council took place in Philadelphia, contracting with a commercial bakery. From 1933 to 1935, organized cookie sales rose, with troops in Philadelphia and New York City using the cookie-selling model to develop the marketing and sales skills of their local troops.
During World War II, Girl Scout Cookie sales temporarily halted due to flour, butter, and sugar shortages, and Girl Scouts sold calendars instead. In 1943, there were 48 cookies per box, and Girl Scouts also collected fat in cans to aid the war effort and sold war bonds at no profit. After the war, cookie sales increased, and by 1948, a total of 29 bakers were licensed to bake Girl Scout Cookies. In 1951, there were three types of cookies: shortbread, sandwich, and chocolate mint, now known as Thin Mints. In the 1950s, three more cookie recipes were added: "Shortbreads"/"Scot-Teas", "Savannahs" (now called "Peanut Butter Sandwich" in the west of the US or "Do-si-dos" in the east), and more "Thin Mints". By 1956, six types of cookies were being sold nationwide.
In the 1960s, the Baby Boomer generation entered the Girl Scouts, leading to greater cookie sales. "Samoas" were introduced in the 1970s, and in 1978, the National Council reduced the number of bakeries providing cookies to four and standardized the packaging and pricing. In the 1990s, the National Council further limited the bakeries providing cookies to just two: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers. In 1998, cookie sale awards were instituted. In 2005, the Girl Scouts eliminated trans fat from its cookies and started providing nutritional information on the cookie box.
In January 2015, Girl Scouts began offering customers the ability to purchase cookies through the "Digital Cookie" mobile app. The program is intended to both raise money and improve the financial literacy of girls, teaching them valuable skills such as goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. During an average selling season, more than one million girls sell over 200 million packages of cookies and raise over $800 million.
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Health and safety concerns
The sale of Girl Scout Cookies has faced health and safety concerns over the years. In 2025, the Girl Scouts of America (GSUSA) faced a lawsuit over the presence of dangerous heavy metals and glyphosate in their cookies. The GSUSA refuted the claims, stating that these substances are found "nearly everywhere in the food chain".
In 2005, the Girl Scouts took steps to eliminate trans fats from their cookies and began providing nutritional information on the packaging. However, palm oil, which is necessary for achieving the unique volume and texture of the cookies, remains an ingredient in Girl Scout Cookies. While the GSUSA has acknowledged the importance of exploring alternatives, the organization has also highlighted the challenges of finding viable and readily available substitutes.
The entrepreneurial spirit of the Girl Scouts has sometimes led to health and safety concerns regarding the locations of their cookie booths. In 2018, a Californian Girl Scout drew attention by selling cookies outside a marijuana dispensary, sparking a debate about appropriate selling locations. While 67% of Americans polled supported the Girl Scout's right to sell cookies outside any legal establishment, the organization itself has expressed uncertainty about how to navigate this situation.
To ensure the safety and well-being of the Girl Scouts, the organization provides guidelines for cookie sales, including recommendations to sell cookies online or through authorized channels like cookie booths, door-to-door sales, and school or town fundraisers. The GSUSA advises against purchasing cookies from unauthorized sites, as they cannot guarantee the freshness or integrity of the product, and such purchases do not support the Girl Scout Cookie Program.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program aims to empower young girls with essential entrepreneurial skills while emphasizing health and safety considerations. The program encourages goal-setting, decision-making, money management, and the development of valuable people skills through customer interactions. By participating in the program, Girl Scouts learn business ethics and gain the confidence to become bold leaders who can make a positive impact on the world.
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Sales and distribution
The sales and distribution of Girl Scout Cookies have evolved over the years, with the first known sale of cookies by the Girl Scouts taking place in 1917 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, by the Mistletoe Troop. The cookies were homemade and sold at their local high school. The Girl Scout magazine, The American Girl, suggested cookie sales as a fundraiser in 1922, providing a simple sugar cookie recipe.
In the following years, cookie sales became more organized, with the 1928 Girl Scout manual recommending cookie sales to support troops financially. The first commercial sale occurred in 1933 in Philadelphia, with troops selling homemade cookies at the windows of the Philadelphia Gas and Electric Company (PGE). The Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) began licensing commercial bakers in 1936 to increase availability and reduce lead time, partnering first with Keebler-Weyl Bakery.
Today, the Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program globally, with over a million girls participating. The cookies are typically sold from January through April, with each regional council selecting one of two national bakeries to supply their cookies. The bakeries determine the cookie varieties, pricing, and when sales can begin in their area.
Cookies are sold through various channels, including door-to-door, online through the Digital Cookie® platform, school or town fundraisers, and at cookie booths set up at storefronts. The program teaches girls essential entrepreneurial skills, such as goal setting, decision-making, money management, and customer interaction.
While the majority of sales occur through traditional channels, there has been media coverage of a Girl Scout selling cookies outside a marijuana dispensary, sparking a debate about appropriate selling locations.
The Girl Scouts organization emphasizes that cookies should only be purchased from registered Girl Scouts or through the official online channels to ensure freshness and support the cookie program.
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Varieties and flavours
Girl Scout Cookies are cookies sold by Girl Scouts in the United States to raise funds for their local councils and troops. The program is intended to raise money and improve the financial literacy of girls, teaching them valuable entrepreneurial skills. During an average selling season, more than a million girls sell over 200 million packages of cookies and raise over $800 million.
The first known sale of cookies by Girl Scouts was in 1917 when the girls of Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma, sold homemade cookies. In 1933, Girl Scouts in Philadelphia organized the first commercial sale, selling homemade cookies at the windows of the Philadelphia Gas and Electric Company (PGE). In 1934, the first official cookie sale was made by the Girl Scout Council, contracting with a commercial bakery.
In 1936, the Girl Scouts of the USA began licensing commercial bakers to produce cookies, starting with Keebler-Weyl Bakery. In the 1950s, three new cookie recipes were introduced: "Shortbreads"/"Scot-Teas", "Savannahs" (now known as "Peanut Butter Sandwich" in the western US or "Do-si-dos" in the east), and "Thin Mints". By 1956, six types of cookies were being sold nationwide. In the 1960s, cookie sales increased due to the Baby Boomer generation joining the Girl Scouts. "Samoas" were introduced in the 1970s, and in 1978, the National Council standardized packaging and pricing and reduced the number of bakeries to four.
Today, there are a variety of Girl Scout Cookie flavours available, depending on the region and the bakery selected by the local council. The two national bakeries that supply cookies are ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers. Popular flavours include Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, and Do-si-dos.
While the cookies are well-loved, there has been some controversy surrounding their ingredients. In 2005, the Girl Scouts moved to eliminate trans fats from the cookies and began providing nutritional information on the boxes. In 2011, a new policy on palm oil was announced, with the organization pledging to support the sustainable production of palm oil. However, in 2025, the Girl Scouts faced a lawsuit over dangerous heavy metals and glyphosate found in the cookies.
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The Girl Scout Cookie Program
The cookies are typically sold from January through April, with some variations depending on the local council. They are sold through various methods, including door-to-door, online through the Digital Cookie platform, school or town fundraisers, or at cookie booths set up at storefronts. During an average selling season, more than one million girls sell over 200 million packages of cookies and raise over $800 million.
The types of cookies available have evolved over the years, with six types being sold nationwide by 1956. Today, popular varieties include Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, and Do-si-dos. The cookies are produced by licensed commercial bakers to increase availability and reduce lead time.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Girl Scouts of America has never sold alcoholic cookies.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. It helps Girl Scouts fund unique adventures, follow their passions, and change the world. The proceeds from each purchase stay local and fund their ambitions, like camping trips and sleepovers at museums.
Cookie season is usually between January and April, but it varies by region.
Girl Scout Cookies can be purchased from Girl Scouts participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program during your local council’s cookie season. You can also contact your local Girl Scout council to find a cookie booth near you or purchase them online through the Digital Cookie® platform.
The most popular Girl Scout Cookie flavour is Thin Mints, with 27% of Americans saying it's their favourite. Other popular flavours include Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, and Do-si-dos.
