Girl Scout Cookie Program®
Find quick answers to your questions about Girl Scout Cookies®.
Buying Girl Scout Cookies 
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.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program provides opportunities for Girl Scouts to practice and develop their entrepreneurial skills, giving them an edge compared to their non-member peers, according to a study by the Girl Scout Research Institute.
Plus, Girl Scout Cookie proceeds stay local! From trekking through the deep woods to traveling the world, you're helping fuel new experiences and adventures for local Girl Scouts all year long.
Girl Scouts build a better future for themselves and the world. And the Girl Scout Cookie Program makes it all possible, thanks to your support.
Can Girl Scout Cookies be shipped?
Girl Scout Cookies purchased via a Girl Scout or troop virtual cookie booth link can be shipped within the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and military or diplomatic locations with an APO/FPO/DPO address. If you know a Girl Scout, tell them you’d like to purchase cookies from them online, and they’ll help you. 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, the cookie program being one of them. Because only registered Girl Scouts can sell Girl Scout Cookies, their market availability is generally between January and April, when Girl Scouts participate in the program through their local council.
Product Information
How can I be sure my Girl Scout Cookies were baked for the current season?
Every Girl Scout Cookie package is stamped with a seasonal “use or freeze by” date. Girl Scout Cookies with a 2023 date would be baked for the 2022–23 season.
What if I'm not satisfied with my Girl Scout Cookies?
If, for any reason, you aren’t satisfied with a package of Girl Scout Cookies, contact the baker. The baker contact information is listed on the side of each package, or you may contact Little Brownie Bakers directly.
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. This information is featured on every package. You can learn more about the cookies on the Meet the Cookies page of our website.
What are the best-selling Girl Scout Cookies?
The best-selling Girl Scout Cookies are:
- Thin Mints®
- Caramel deLites®/Samoas®
- Peanut Butter Patties®/Tagalongs®
- Adventurefuls™
- Do-si-dos®/Peanut Butter Sandwich
Product Ingredients
How do I find out the ingredients, nutritional value, and allergen information for Girl Scout Cookies?
This information is clearly listed on the cookie package and the cookie order form. You can also find the information on the Meet the Cookies page of our website or on the Cookie Finder app.
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-contact of ingredients. Consumers with additional questions can find out more by visiting the baker's website: Little Brownie Bakers. Ingredients may differ slightly by baker, so refer to the printed packaging for this information.
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’ website: Little Brownie Bakers.
Are Girl Scout Cookies kosher?
Yes. For more information about cookie ingredients, check out Meet the Cookies or visit our bakers’ website: Little Brownie Bakers.
Is high-fructose corn syrup used in Girl Scout Cookies?
No, Girl Scout Cookies do not contain high-fructose corn syrup.
What is Red 40?
Red 40 is an artificial additive used to add color to food, drugs, and cosmetics. It is one of nine color additives approved by the Food and Drug Administration for human consumption.
Do you offer cookies made with vegan ingredients?
Yes. 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 make sure 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 not only to consumers but also to 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 is also working with its bakers to improve the environmental footprint of its cookie packaging, as we recognize the need to reduce emissions and the number of 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 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.
Currently, Girl Scout Cookies contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Girl Scouts recognizes that many people have concerns about 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 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. It is also important to note that in the future, GMO ingredients may offer new, cost-effective alternatives to feeding the world’s growing population.
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 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.
We continue to work with our bakers to evaluate ways to maximize the recyclability of the package, while maintaining quality, freshness, and shelf life.
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 new, unique, and amazing experiences for Girl Scouts that broaden their worlds, teach them essential life skills, and prepare them for a lifetime of leadership.
The net proceeds from Girl Scout Cookie sales stay local with the originating council and troop to fund activities for girls year-round as well as impactful girl-led community projects. 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 to deliver essential programming to troops and is often what makes it possible to reach girls in underserved areas and maintain camps and properties.
Girl Scouts pool their money as a troop and use it to fuel their Girl Scout adventures throughout the year, including in STEM, outdoor experiences, travel, and community projects. 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. All troop proceeds and group rewards earned through participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program must be used to enhance all girls in 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 to use Girl Scout trademarks based on gross annual sales. 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 Gift of Caring or Cookie Share program.
Does any part of Girl Scout Cookie Program revenue support organizations other than the local Girl Scout council?
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 girls 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 to a community event or museum. Girl Scout troops may also choose to use proceeds to purchase materials for a project to benefit the community.
Cookie Sellers & Volunteers
Who can sell Girl Scout Cookies?
All registered Girl Scouts – and all girls are invited to join in! Although parents and Girl Scout adults may assist girls, it is the girl who makes the sale, sets learning and sales goals, and learns the entrepreneurial skills that are part of the program.
Non-registered members cannot sell cookies or benefit from proceeds. This is a safety and liability issue and is of the utmost importance in guaranteeing Council can support and safeguard cookie sellers.
When do Girl Scout Cookies go on sale?
The 2024 cookie season for Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) is Jan. 15 - Feb. 25.
GSACPC is one of two councils in Arizona. The cookie season for Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona (GSoSAZ) is Jan. 20 - March 10.
When is cookie delivery to troops?
- Extended Area: Jan. 5-12
- Metro Phoenix: Jan. 13-14
Where does cookie money go?
If you are approached by someone who may not know how Girl Scout Cookie proceeds benefit all girls in Arizona, be prepared with this handout to display at booths – this will not only inform the customer, but it may also help customers feel more generous!
What cookie flavors does GSACPC offer?
We offer a crowd-pleasing lineup of six delicious and widely popular cookie flavors: Thin Mints, Samoas, Trefoils, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Lemon-Ups, and Adventurefuls.
We also continue to offer our specialty cookies: Girl Scout S'mores and limited quantities of Gluten-free Toffee-tastics. Meet all the cookies.
What bakery does GSACPC use?
Our Council’s cookies are produced by Little Brownie Bakers (LBB). Visit their website for great tips and resources regarding Girl Scout Cookies for girls and volunteers!
Fun fact: The cookie lineup varies from Girl Scout Council to Council because there are two licensed bakers for Girl Scout Cookies nationwide. ABC Bakers is the second bakery used by other councils. That’s why similar cookie flavors have different names depending on where you buy them! For example, LBB’s Samoas are called Caramel deLites by ABC, Tagalongs are called Peanut Butter Patties, and Do-si-dos are called Peanut Butter Sandwiches!
If a customer asks for a cookie flavor that you haven’t heard of, it’s likely from ABC Bakers. Simply inform the customer of the two bakeries and recommend a similar flavor/cookie type offered by our Council.
Where can I find cookies?
Visit the Cookie Finder webpage (girlscoutsaz.org/cookiefinder) to find a booth or troop digital order card (DOC) nearby. It’s simple – enter a zip code and choose from a list of locations.
If a Girl Scout receives her cookies before Jan. 15, can she start selling?
No, please wait until the season officially begins. Girl Scouts cannot sell cookies before Jan. 15. However, they may announce that cookie season is coming and when to expect order requests.
What should I do if I encounter someone selling cookies early?
Girl Scouts, both girls, and adults, are governed by the Girl Scout Promise and Law. We hope you'll remain faithful to these throughout the cookie program and remind fellow Girl Scouts to be honest and fair, considerate and caring, and respect the cookie program guidelines put in place to ensure a fun experience for every girl.
We know that conflicts can arise occasionally. We ask adults to remember they are role models for girls. Please do not argue. If you witness people behaving in a ‘not-so-Girl Scout’ manner and wish to inform the Council about it, our staff members will facilitate an open conversation with both parties.
Can a Troop Leader ask parents to pre-pay for cookies their daughter wants to sell?
No. Troop Leaders are not supposed to ask parents to pre-pay for cookies. Troops should monitor the number of cookies each girl takes. Troops should only give girls additional cookies after cookie money has been turned in.
Can a Troop Leader tell girls they must sell a specific number of cookies?
No. Troops cannot assign girls a specific number of cookies to sell. Girls should collaborate within the troop on individual and shared cookie goals. Girls and parents should only take the number of cookies they believe they can sell.
When should my troop pick up more cookies from a Cookie Cupboard?
Before going to the cupboard for more products, Troops should check every girl’s inventory of unsold cookies and also see if another troop may need to transfer unsold cookies. Only pick up more cookies from a cupboard when these alternatives are unavailable. Please check the cookie exchange in eBudde before going to a cupboard.
Can parents sell cookies for their daughter?
No. Girls should always sell Girl Scout Cookies (not parents or non-registered siblings). Please remember this is a girl program and learning opportunity, and ensure girls get the full experience. If a family member would like to sell cookies at work, their Girl Scout should make a live or recorded presentation to the staff, write a letter or design a poster outlining her goals and aspirations, and then follow up with delivery, thank you notes, and call or email for additional orders.
Can girls use electronic bulletin boards, like Craigslist, to sell cookies?
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a girl-led program, and online marketing and sales efforts should always be led by a girl while also being supervised by her parents or guardians. Girls may use the internet to share their Cookie Program sales links, stories, and learnings on PRIVATE social media accounts to help them meet their goals. Please follow these guidelines when marketing cookies online:
- Girls should only use the internet to market the Girl Scout Cookie Program to friends and family. For clarity, "friends and family" are people whom the girl or her family personally knows.
- Girls who are 13 or older may use Facebook or other social networking sites to let friends and family know that it is Cookie Time again!
- With parent consent and supervision, girls may also market on community groups they are active in, including private Facebook community groups and their neighborhood online community like Nextdoor.
- Sale links should never be posted to online resale sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Facebook Swap, Offer Up, Craigslist, etc. All sales must take place via Digital Cookie.
- Be aware posts on Facebook containing the use of a dollar sign ($) may automatically move the post to Facebook Marketplace. To prevent this from occurring, you must disable to automated function.
- Social media ads should not be purchased or donated to promote sales links.
What should I do if my troop shows up at our booth and there is another troop there?
Always bring a copy of your eBudde Troop booth sign-up list. Booths scheduled in eBudde take priority. If two troops show up at the same location, the troop scheduled in eBudde has the booth, and the other troop must graciously depart.
What should I do if I have a conflict with a Troop Leader at a booth?
Adults should remember to behave respectfully and properly and refrain from fighting over booths. Girl Scouts, both girls, and adults, are governed by our Promise and Law. All Girl Scouts are expected to remain faithful to these principles throughout the cookie program.
If I have a conflict with a Troop Leader at a booth and can’t get a hold of Council, should I speak with the store manager?
No. Store managers should NEVER be asked to mediate a dispute between troops. We are guests at their storefronts, and fighting among ourselves damages our reputation and relationship with the store.
If you can’t reach the Council Product Program staff, contact your Service Unit (SU) Product Program Manager or your Council Staff MSE. You should leave the store and contact the Council at a later time to resolve the issue. If you witness people behaving in a ‘not-so-Girl Scout’ manner and you wish to inform the council about it, please submit what you witnessed, and we would be more than happy to have an open conversation with both parties. If a presented issue is anonymous, the Council will not pursue the complaint.
What should I do if a store manager asks me to move our booth away from the front entrance?
Please follow all instructions from the store manager, even if you disagree with their rules and regulations. Remember, we are guests at their stores, and failure to abide by their requests could damage our reputation, our relationship with the store, and future booth opportunities.
When at a booth, can the girls approach customers as they enter the store?
No. Stores have asked that their customers only be approached when leaving the store. Remember, we are guests at their stores, and failure to abide by their rules and regulations could damage our reputation and relationship with the store.
What if six girls show up at a booth shift at one time?
Please have two girls leave the booth and rotate them in during a later shift. Booths should have only two to four girls and two adults at a time. Stores request that no more than six people are outside their store at one time. We need to abide by this request.
Can my girls sing and dance at booths to entice customers to make a purchase?
Although it can be fun to make up songs and dances to encourage customers to make a purchase, read your audience, and ensure you are professional in whatever you do. What you deem rowdy may differ from a customer's or store manager's point of view. The stores have asked that girls approach customers graciously. Remember, we are guests at their stores, and failure to abide by their rules and regulations could damage our reputation, our relationship with the store, and future booth opportunities.
Can I bring a Trader Joe’s or Fry’s bag to carry jackets (or other supplies) to our booth at Safeway?
No. Please be aware of the small details that make a difference to the stores that support us. Troops should never bring a competitor’s merchandise to the store at which they are boothing.
Can I booth at a liquor store or marijuana dispensary?
Girl Scouts cannot booth at any location that may negatively impact the cookie program experience for girls and volunteers and/or negatively impact our brand. Therefore, girls cannot sell in or in front of establishments that they themselves cannot legally patronize, including marijuana dispensaries. Please email productprogram@girlscoutsaz.org if you are unsure whether a location is girl-appropriate. Remember, all self-scheduled booths must be entered into eBudde for Council approval.
Can I booth with my daughter?
Juniors (grades 4-5) and above are allowed to booth at a 1:1 ratio. This includes boothing with a parent or guardian who is a registered, background-checked Girl Scout. These booths should be self-scheduled at lower volume stores and entered into eBudde for Council approval by the Troop Product Manager or SU IGM Coordinator. Council-sponsored booths should not have a 1:1 ratio, no matter the grade level, and should be staffed with at least two girls and two adults.
Is your Girl Scout Cookie booth ready?
Want more information to prepare for boothing? Check out our Cookie Season Readiness Guide – you’ll be ready in no time!
Looking for supplies to deck out your troop’s cookie booths? Look no further! The Council Shop has all the essentials for a great cookie season, including table covers, cookie carts, yard signs, and more! Check out Cookie Booth Kits here!
What to do if a customer asks me about Girl Scout issues that I’m unaware of?
Take the time to learn about common rumors and prepare to effectively communicate in uncomfortable situations that may arise during cookie season. There is also a handy flier for volunteers and parents/caregivers to review and keep on hand.
When asked about issues you are unaware of, keep in mind the following key steps:
- Please refer the inquiring party to girlscoutsaz.org/fortherecord or Council Communications staff.
- Remind them our priority is to let the girls learn and have fun. Ask adults to keep adult conversations to themselves. Approaching girls with salacious materials at a cookie sale is not acceptable, it should be reported to Council and will be investigated.
- Safety is important. We don’t want members putting themselves in an untenable situation. This is especially true if a person becomes agitated in conversation – please remove yourself and the girls from the setting.
Cookie Booth Essentials: How to Handle “What If?” Situations:
If you are still unsure how to answer certain questions, prepare yourself with this Cookie Booth Essentials Sheet. Take it with you when you’re boothing so that everyone has something to refer to if a situation arises.
How do I get featured in GS Connections or social media?
We’re always looking to tell the community about what GSACPC Girl Scouts are doing! Whether it’s a successful cookie sale, a special service project, or a new leadership experience – we want to know about all the things your girls are learning in Girl Scouts!
Please email stories@girlscoutsaz.org with details, as many clear photos as possible, first names, and troop numbers if applicable. To share directly from social media, tag us – @GSACPC or use the hashtag #GSACPC.
Digital Cookie
How does the Digital Cookie app work?
It’s a lot like buying your cookies at a traditional cookie booth but with an online twist:
- In true Girl Scout style, the girls initiate the cookie sale, whether online, via email, or in person at the cookie booth with their Digital Cookie mobile app.
- A Girl Scout you know may invite you to visit her personalized cookie website where you can place your order, pay using Visa Checkout or credit cards, have your order shipped or delivered by a Girl Scout*, or even donate cookies to charity.
- Some Girl Scouts may take in-person orders using a mobile app that also allows them to accept payments using credit cards securely.
- Select your cookies, place your order, and complete your transaction. Boom, just like that, you’ve got delicious Girl Scout Cookies coming your way!
With Digital Cookie, what happens to funds that used to go to the local council?
As with the traditional Cookie Program, with Digital Cookie, 100 percent of the revenue earned from cookie sales will remain in Arizona Cactus-Pine Council. Girls decide how to spend their troop cookie money and reinvest it in their neighborhoods through service projects and learning experiences, including travel.
Are you taking door-to-door sales away?
Far from replacing this aspect of the traditional Cookie Program, Digital Cookie expands and enhances girls' experience by giving them a fun new way to learn 21st-century skills while providing another channel through which to sell cookies. So this cookie season, a Girl Scout could approach you through a door-to-door sale or booth sale with a digital device or send an email invitation to visit her Digital Cookie website or to stop by her local cookie booth.
What new skills do girls learn with Digital Cookie?
This enhancement adds a fun, digital layer that expands and strengthens the ways girls learn the essential 5 Skills of goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Digital Cookie will expand girls' knowledge of and hands-on experience with online marketing, app use, website customization, and e-commerce.
How does Digital Cookie enhance your Girl Scout Cookie buying experience?
First and foremost, you are supporting girls' use of technology, which is vital for success in today's world. In addition, girls can take your order digitally, facilitate direct shipping to your location of choice, and you can pay with a credit card.
Is participating in Digital Cookie safe for girls?
Digital Cookie emphasizes the safety of both girls and customers. Girls and their parents/caregivers take an Internet safety pledge before using the web-based platform, and parents/caregivers must approve all updates and changes girls make when customizing their Digital Cookie site. Girls using the mobile platform will adhere to the same safety standards as those participating in traditional Girl Scout Cookie sales.
Are consumers able to find girls' Digital Cookie sites online?
Digital Cookie was designed with each girl's safety in mind, and therefore she must initiate contact with people she knows to sell cookies. Girls in Arizona Cactus-Pine Council will market their online cookie business by inviting customers via email to visit their personalized cookie websites. There, consumers can order cookies from the comfort of their living room.
Will my personal information be shared with third parties?
Your personal information will not be shared outside of the Girl Scout organization. We will use your contact information primarily for transactional communications pertaining to your cookie purchase and occasional Girl Scout related updates.
Is it safe to enter my credit card information on girls' Digital Cookie platforms? Is there a guarantee that there will be no data breaches?
Both Digital Cookie systems are fully Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant, and consumers can feel absolutely confident that their financial information is not stored. Both the online and mobile platforms of Digital Cookie transmit financial data to the respective credit card processors and "scrub" credit card and other identifiable information from the systems
Can girls still participate in Cookie Club?
No. Cookie Club is no longer available at GSACPC.
Where are the cookies shipped to?
Girl Scout Cookies purchased via the Digital Cookie platform can be shipped within the United States, including Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico, and to military bases with an APO/FPO address. However, there is a $5.00 surcharge.
All About Girl Scout Cookies
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