How to make your own Thin Mints at home
Don’t wait until Girl Scout season to make your own cookies with this easy recipe!
Melissa Rolek, Reviewed
It’s that time of year for Girl Scout cookie lovers. It’s almost time to stock up on sweet treats.
Girl Scouts is an organization that helps girls develop skills and confidence through annual community service and projects like the Girl Scout Cookie Program.
The organization says selling cookies allows Girl Scouts to “practice and develop their entrepreneurial skills.”
“From learning how to interact with customers to creating a budget and taking orders, the Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches Girl Scouts the valuable skills they need to succeed throughout their lives,” the organization’s website says.
Aside from the philanthropic aspect of the program, some cookie flavors, such as Thin Mints, are so popular that they’ve become cult favorites. We have summarized what you need to know for the upcoming season.
When is Girl Scout cookie season?
Girl Scout cookie season varies by local government, but the organization says most have a season between January and April.
Cookie sales began in late December in some areas across the country.
To find out when your local Girl Scout council’s cookie season is, enter your zip code on the Girl Scout website.
How to purchase Girl Scout Cookies
Girl Scout Cookies are available for purchase from Girl Scouts participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program during cookie season.
If you know a Girl Scout, you can order cookies online using a personalized link provided by Girl Scouts.
To find your local Girl Scout cookie booth, enter your zip code on the Girl Scout website. Girl Scouts often set up booths in grocery stores and other retail stores.
Girl Scout Cookie Flavors for the 2026 Season
Girl Scouts is offering 11 different cookie flavors this season, including a new one called “Exploremores.” Two flavors, S’mores and Toast-Yay!, were discontinued at the end of the 2025 season.
Here’s the complete list of this year’s flavors:
- Adventurous people: A luxurious brownie-style cookie topped with caramel-flavored cream with a touch of sea salt.
- Caramel chocolate chip: A chewy cookie with rich caramel, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and a touch of sea salt.
- Caramel delite/Samoa: Crispy cookies with caramel, coconut and chocolate stripes
- peanut butter sandwich/Doside: Crunchy oatmeal sandwich cookies with peanut butter
- See more details: Cookie sandwiched with chocolate, marshmallow, and almond-flavored cream.
- lemonade: Flavorful and refreshing shortbread cookies topped with tangy lemon-flavored icing
- Lemon up: Crispy lemon cookies baked with a touching message
- Peanut butter patty/tagalong: A crunchy cookie layered with peanut butter and covered with a chocolate coating.
- Thin mint: Crispy chocolate cookies dipped in a delicious mint chocolate coating
- Toffee flavor: A rich, buttery cookie with sweet, crunchy toffee bits.
- Mitsuba: Shortbread cookies inspired by original Girl Scout cookie recipes
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Contact her at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
