To find cookies, learn when cookie season starts in your community, and locate cookie sales booths, simply enter your zip code in the Find Cookies! You can also call your local Girl Scout council. You can find its phone number s , website, Facebook page, and Twitter account on the Council Finder page of our website.

Volunteers or staff there can help you find a cookie booth or a Girl Scout group near you. A council conducts only one cookie sale per year. Most of these activities take place between January and April, but some occur as early as September. You can search for cookie sales in your neighborhood, get details on your favorite Girl Scout Cookies, and use social media to learn more and tell your friends.

A bold step into the future of the Girl Scout Cookie Program, the Digital Cookie platform introduces vital twenty-first-century lessons about online marketing, app usage, and ecommerce to Girl Scouts who will be in the driver's seat of their own Digital Cookie businesses. Girl Scouts of the USA currently engages girls and consumers in online and mobile Girl Scout Cookie Program experiences. Select councils offer girls the ability to sell cookies online and via mobile handheld devices.

Girl Scouts of the USA realizes that many Girl Scouts and their loyal cookie customers enjoy having the option of selling and buying cookies online, and we hope to expand online and mobile offerings to more girls and consumers in future cookie seasons.

In many instances, these cookies are actually expired. Further, purchasing cookies in this way does not support Girl Scouts participating in the cookie program. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the premier entrepreneurship opportunity for girls, but it is just one part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Girl Scouts participate in many activities throughout the year and work on many projects. The cookie sale is just one of those activities. And because only girls may sell Girl Scout Cookies, their market availability is normally limited to the six- to eight-week period when they are engaged in the program in their local council. When you buy Girl Scout Cookies, you power amazing adventures and life-changing opportunities for girls—from trips to our nation's capital to community projects, from summer camp to charitable donations.

And it's about the skills a girl gains from interacting directly with you, the cookie customer! Contact the cookie baker if for any reason you aren't satisfied with a package of Girl Scout Cookies you purchased. The baker contact information is listed on each package. This date corresponds with the end of each cookie season. Accordingly, Girl Scout Cookies with a date would be baked for the — season.

Girl Scout Cookies are sold by weight, not by size or number. The number and size of cookies vary by variety and by baker. This information is featured on every package. You can also learn about the cookies in the Meet the Cookies section of the Girl Scout website.

Packages of Girl Scout Cookies sell for different prices in different areas of the country. Each of the Girl Scout councils sets its own price, based on its needs and its knowledge of the local market.

Today's prices reflect both the current cost of cookies and the realities of providing Girl Scout activities in an ever-changing economic environment. Up to 75 percent of the price of every package goes directly to Girl Scouts in your local area. To find out which local council serves your area, use the Find Cookies! Currently, two commercial bakers are licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA to produce Girl Scout Cookies: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers. Each Girl Scout council chooses a licensed baker, either ABC Bakers or Little Brownie Bakers.

Each baker uses different names for some cookies. The two cookies look and taste similar, but the name of the cookie and the recipe are dependent on the baker. Cookie ingredients, nutritional information, and allergen information are clearly listed on both the cookie package and the cookie order form.

This information can also be found in the Meet the Cookies section of the Girl Scout website. With special regard for allergen concerns, our bakers bake Girl Scout Cookies in state-of-the-art facilities, and consumers can be assured that every required safety protocol is adhered to in order to prevent cross-contamination of ingredients.

Consumers with additional questions can find out more by visiting the baker websites: Ingredients may differ slightly by baker. The licensed bakers may offer up to eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies.

The Cookie Titan of Tucson: A Girl Scout PowerHouse in Action

Only three types are mandatory: Girl Scouts of the USA reviews and approves the varieties proposed by the bakers. Any of the five optional cookies can be changed every year.

To see a listing of all current varieties of Girl Scout Cookies, along with pictures and descriptions, go to Meet the Cookies. All Girl Scout Cookies are kosher. You can find recipes on our Cookie Recipes page or on the websites of our two licensed bakers, ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers.

All of the girls pictured on the packages are registered Girl Scouts or Girl Scout alumnae. Every package shows Girl Scouts in action and participating in real Girl Scout program activities. Girl Scouts of the USA is proud that all Girl Scout Cookies have "zero grams trans fat per serving," with the same great taste that has made them one of America's favorite treats over the years.

All varieties contain less than 0. For a list of specific cookie ingredients, please see Meet the Cookies. We trust our licensed bakers, who are industry leaders, to develop recipes using ingredients that will produce the best-tasting and highest-quality cookies while simultaneously addressing industry trends, scientific trends, and, of course, consumer preference. One of our bakers, Little Brownie Bakers, has removed HFCS from its cookies. Palm oil is an ingredient found in the majority of baked snacks sold in the United States.

Per GSUSA's licensed bakers, it is necessary to use palm oil in our cookies because palm oil is unique in its ability to provide volume and texture in baked goods, usually without adding trans fats. Additionally, growing palm oil requires less land in comparison to other vegetable oils and supports the livelihoods of more than 4 million farmers globally.

One of the primary goals of our Girl Scout Cookie bakers is to create the best-tasting cookies possible using the best ingredients available. The world's food supply is intricately tied to the use of palm oil, so we believe promoting sustainable manufacturing principles is the most responsible approach for Girl Scouts and Girl Scout Cookie development.

At Girl Scouts, we have an opportunity to use our strong voice to bring about positive change on this very important issue, and our bakers have made the following commitments:. Thanks to the encouragement of and partnership with Girl Scout members, we and our bakers have realized the power of the Girl Scout brand to make a positive difference in the move toward sustainably produced palm oil.

The GreenPalm logo on Girl Scout Cookie packages baked by ABC Bakers signifies a commitment by our licensed baker to developing a worldwide supply of sustainable palm oil. Unfortunately, we have not been able to assure a fully sustainable supply in the quantities required by our bakers.

Girl Scout Cookies - Wikipedia

This mass balance certification supports farms who are growing palm oil using sustainable practices, respecting human rights, and preventing deforestation. This baker is working with the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil to not just improve the sustainability of palm oil for Girl Scouts products, but for the entire industry. Sustainability refers to social, environmental, and economic factors that an organization addresses to provide value not only to consumers, but to the world.

Girl Scouts is very proud of the initiatives its licensed bakers report on annually that speak to their corporate sustainability and social responsibility. Our licensed cookie bakers are actively working with their suppliers to ensure that the cocoa used in Girl Scout Cookies is responsibly sourced.

Our bakers are required to provide assurance that cocoa sourced for Girl Scout Cookies is child- and slave-labor free. In order to provide this assurance, our bakers require compliance from their cocoa suppliers through strict supplier codes of conduct.

Our bakers are working with cocoa suppliers, farmers, and industry partners to identify risks and support education and training that promotes sustainable and ethical practices.

GSUSA understands that, in spite of the best efforts of our manufacturers and the ongoing work by their suppliers, we also have a responsibility to provide leadership on the topic of slave labor and human trafficking. We are committed to using our powerful voice and brand wherever possible to effect change in this area. Girl Scouts of the USA is committed to providing cookie customers with the highest quality products available.

We understand that customers have questions about the foods they choose to eat and GSUSA works alongside its trusted bakers to develop recipes using ingredients that will produce the best-tasting and highest-quality cookies. At the current time, there are genetically modified agricultural crops GMOs in some Girl Scout Cookies based on a range of market-related factors and depending on specific cookie recipes. Girl Scouts recognizes that many people have concerns regarding GMO ingredients, and we monitor member and consumer opinion on this matter while simultaneously addressing industry trends, scientific trends, and, of course, consumer preference.

It is important to note that there is worldwide scientific support for the safety of currently commercialized ingredients derived from genetically modified agricultural crops. The World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the U. National Academy of Sciences, and the American Medical Association all share this assessment.

ABC Bakers, one of our licensed bakers, no longer includes partially hydrogenated oils PHOs in its Girl Scout Cookie varieties. This year Little Brownie Bakers offers five cookie varieties with no partially hydrogenated oils: Please check your cookie carton for ingredients. For a list of specific ingredients in our cookies, please see Meet the Cookies or visit the websites of our two licensed bakers: GSUSA will abide by the recently passed bipartisan legislation which created a nationwide mandatory disclosure standard for products made with GMOs.

We respect and understand that many customers want to know what is in their food and where it comes from. We fully support transparency with consumers. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, most people with diabetes can enjoy sugars in moderation as part of their meal plans, depending on blood glucose control and body weight.

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 website, so that people with diabetes and parents of children with diabetes can make informed choices. The amount of sugar and carbohydrates is also listed on the box. Dietary exchanges should always be consulted, even if a product is labeled "sugarless.

Girl Scout Cookies are sold for a short time every year and are considered a snack or special treat. As with all treats, they should be enjoyed in moderation. Starting with our youngest members, the Girl Scout organization promotes a healthy lifestyle for girls, which includes a well-balanced diet and plenty of exercise.

Our health and fitness programs encourage girls to adopt fitness and healthy eating habits early in life and to continue them into adulthood. Girls are also taught to consider ingredients and portion size when choosing snacks. Read more about this research review. Girl Scouts Cookies are produced only once a year for a limited time, making the production of specialty cookies, such as those described in the question, difficult. In addition, the demand has not been great enough to make it economically feasible.

Please check with your local council about availability. Girl Scout Cookie packages are intended to be recyclable, but may or may not be accepted by your local recycling service depending on the types of materials they process. ABC Bakers produces several Girl Scout Cookie varieties in soft-pack packaging only, without a carton.

The film overwrap is similar to the protective wrapping found inside the boxes of all cookie varieties, and is recyclable. Film overwrap packaging is currently the "greenest" packaging available for Girl Scout Cookies, eliminating thousands of pounds of paperboard from the waste stream. Girl Scout councils contract with one of two licensed bakers—Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Bakers.

Some people lightly roast their marshmallows, others burn them to a crisp. Some prefer double chocolate, while others might use Girl Scout Cookies as a substitute for graham crackers. Girl Scout councils contract with one of two licensed bakers, whose recipes and ingredients may differ. Contact your local Girl Scout council to find out which baker they partner with. All girl members may participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

Although parents and Girl Scout adults may assist, it is the girl who makes the sale, sets learning and sales goals, and learns the entrepreneurial skills that are part of the program. Girl Scout product sales offer girls a great way to finance their Girl Scout activities and special projects. Participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program is voluntary and requires written permission by a parent or guardian.

Annually, about 65 percent of registered Girl Scouts choose to participate in the program. To do so, registered Girl Scouts must abide by guidelines published by Girl Scouts of the USA and the local Girl Scout council, and be supervised by a council-trained adult. Each Girl Scout council determines its precise method of helping local Girl Scouts sell cookies to customers.

Cookies can generally be purchased via the following means, or some combination thereof:. The safety and security of our members is always our chief concern—and we have strict safety guidelines. Adults must be present at all times during cookie booth sales. Girls may earn the official Cookie Business badge and the Financial Literacy badge at every level of Girl Scouting.

Girls may also earn the annual Cookie Activity pin.

Girl Scout Cookie Frequently Asked Questions

Badges are earned based on completing established program activities. Separately, girls can also earn rewards based on their sales activity, such as recognition items and program credits. Any gifts in quantity to military personnel should be coordinated through the military or related personnel at both the place of origin and the place of receipt.

Large shipments should be coordinated by the local Girl Scout council to assure that the cookies arrive where intended. Gifts should not be sent to U. To ensure freshness, Girl Scouts only sell cookies produced for the current season. Therefore, if a council or troop has cookies left at the end of the sale, it is encouraged 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 too have an annual plan for responsibly managing leftover cookie inventory. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls learn five essential life skills: Each council determines its own revenue structure depending on its cookie cost, local retail price, and the amount that is shared with participating troops and groups. On average, Girl Scout council net revenue is approximately 65—75 percent of the local retail price; the amount shared with participating Girl Scout troops, referred to as troop proceeds, is approximately 10—20 percent of the local retail price.

Cookie program revenue is a critical source of funding for local Girl Scout councils and is often what makes it possible to reach girls in hard-to-serve areas and maintain camps and properties. Additionally, Girl Scout troops must pool their proceeds to pay for program supplies, activities, and group travel.

Girl Scouts may not earn proceeds as individuals. However, Girl Scout councils offer a wide variety of recognition items, program- and store-related credits, and travel experiences that girls are eligible to earn individually based on their sales. Girl Scouts of the USA is paid a royalty by its licensed bakers for use of Girl Scout trademarks based on gross annual sales. Girl Scout councils do not provide any portion of their cookie revenue to Girl Scouts of the USA and no other revenue from cookie sales goes to Girl Scouts of the USA.

Girl Scouts of the USA provides contractual services and approves all program, marketing, and sales materials developed by the bakers. GSUSA also provides coordination and training for national media activities, safety standards for girls and volunteers, a world-renowned girl leadership program, and full support during cookie season. No, if you keep the cookies. 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, no part of the price of a package of Girl Scout Cookies used in this way is tax-deductible. Yes, if you leave the cookies with Girl Scouts as a donation. Many Girl Scouts ask customers to pay for one or more packages of cookies for use in their Take Action or service projects or "Gift of Caring" programs. Customers not receiving Girl Scout Cookies don't benefit directly from paying for them, so those individuals may treat the purchase price of the donated cookies as a charitable contribution.

Additionally, customers may wish to donate cookies they have purchased from a Girl Scout to another organization, which may qualify as a donation to the organization receiving the cookies and may therefore be tax-deductible. Girl Scout troops set goals on how to spend their proceeds on program-related activities, such as paying their own way to a community event or museum, or funding other program outings.

Girl Scout troops may also choose to use proceeds to purchase materials for a Take Action or service project to benefit the community. A restaurant or small business may use Girl Scout Cookies in its desserts, provided it buys the Girl Scout Cookies from a Girl Scout, but it cannot use the Girl Scout name or trademarks to brand and market the products.

Girl Scouts of the USA has contractual relationships with select companies to include Girl Scout Cookies in their products and to use the Girl Scout name and trademarks in conjunction with those products.

These rights are granted under national licensing agreements, and Girl Scouts of the USA is the only entity that may enter into such an agreement. For more on rules and regulations pertaining to the Girl Scout brand or to inquire about becoming a licensee, please contact us via email. A c 3 Organization. About Girl Scouts About Girl Scouts Our Program Our Program Shop Shop Cookies Cookies For Adults For Adults For Girls For Girls.

Follow Girl Scout Cookies. All About Cookies Where the Money Goes How to Buy Digital Cookie Meet the Cookies Cookie Recipes Years of Cookie History FAQs Just for Cookie Sellers! Cookies All About Cookies FAQs. When do Girl Scout Cookies go on sale and how do I find them?

What if I'm not satisfied with my Girl Scout Cookies? The top sellers are: At Girl Scouts, we have an opportunity to use our strong voice to bring about positive change on this very 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 , an organization of growers, buyers, manufacturers, conservationists, and other interested parties striving to develop and follow best practices to ensure sustainability.

Our licensed bakers are committed to using as little palm oil as possible in Girl Scout Cookies and have committed to continuing to research viable alternatives. Who can sell Girl Scout Cookies? Cookies can generally be purchased via the following means, or some combination thereof: Girl Scout councils provide participating girls with an order card and, for some, access to a mobile app, to collect orders from potential customers.

Girls turn in their order cards, the council orders the cookies, and then girls go back to the customer to deliver them a few weeks later. Councils avoid the order-card process and provide girls with cookies to sell directly to customers.

Councils allow girls to sell cookies at booths set up inside and outside various retail establishments. To find the location of a cookie booth near you or learn when cookies go on sale, simply enter your zip code in the Find Cookies! Online and mobile sales. Most councils, now or in the near future, will participate in the Digital Cookie platform, offering girls the ability to sell cookies online and from mobile handheld devices—though these enhanced sales channels are only available to select girls and troops within the jurisdictions of participating councils.

Some girls market their online cookie businesses by inviting customers to visit their personalized cookie websites via an emailed link. Other girls take in-person orders using a mobile app designed specifically for Girl Scouts. How can I be sure that Girl Scout Cookie Program revenue supports the local Girl Scouts in my community?

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