The type of Girl Scout Cookies you get all depends on where you live. But don't worry—everything is equally delicious.
Why Are Girl Scout Cookies Called Different Names?
Updated on Mar. 26, 2024
For many cookie lovers, Girl Scout Cookie season is the best time of year. It’s totally acceptable to buy boxes of cookies by the armload (or order several boxes online). Not to mention, it’s definitely a time to indulge, whether you’re enjoying a whole sleeve of iconic Thin Mints (oops!), or eating one too many Tagalongs, aka Peanut Butter Patties. It’s hard to just stop at one!
Have you ever noticed that some Girl Scout Cookies go by different names? The variations don’t stop there, either. Some are even made with different ingredients or methods, producing slightly different flavors and looks. But why? Well, it all has to do with which bakery your box of cookies came from.
Were you looking for the perfect copycat Samoas? Girl Scout Cookie season only happens once yearly, but we found year-round dupes that stack up well against the originals.
Who Makes Girl Scout Cookies?
With how many cookies Girl Scout troops aim to sell each year, it’s not surprising that the baking has to be divvied up. There are two bakers that make Girl Scout Cookies: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers. ABC Bakers is located in Indiana, while Little Brownie Bakers is located in Kentucky. And what bakery you’ll get Girl Scout Cookies from depends on where you live.
Caramel deLites vs. Samoas
Love the combination of coconut, caramel and chocolate? Samoas are made by Little Brownie Bakers, while ABC Bakers produces Caramel deLites. Each cookie uses similar ingredients, but measurements vary. Those slight differences result in Caramel deLites having a higher cookie to caramel ratio.
Samoas also tend to have more coconut, along with chocolate coating resembling dark chocolate, rather than the milk chocolate drizzle found on Caramel deLites.
You can make your own Caramel deLites (or Samoas) at home!
Peanut Butter Patties vs. Tagalongs
Peanut butter lovers may already be able to tell the difference here! Peanut Butter Patties made by ABC Bakers don’t have quite as much peanut butter tucked into this favorite cookie as Tagalongs made by Little Brownie Bakers do. In fact, peanut butter is even the first ingredient listed on the Tagalongs nutrition facts, but Peanut Butter Patties list sugar first. They taste almost identical, with a crispy cookie, peanut butter center and chocolate coating, but the peanut butter flavor is definitely amplified in Tagalongs.
Want to make your own? Follow our copycat recipe for Peanut Butter Patties.
Peanut Butter Sandwich vs. Do-si-dos
Another one for the peanut butter lovers, these treats pair an oatmeal cookie with peanut butter filling for a tasty combination. Little Brownie Bakers produces Do-si-dos, featuring a buttery oatmeal cookie and a more robust peanut butter filling. Peanut Butter Sandwiches from ABC Bakers tend to be more subtle on the peanut butter flavor, with a crisper cookie.
Shortbread vs. Trefoils
If you’re a big fan of shortbread, these may your all-time favorites. ABC Bakers makes Shortbread cookies with more vanilla flavor than its Little Brownie Bakers sibling. Trefoils include a hint of brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk and buttermilk in the ingredients list, which Shortbread do not. This creates a stronger butter flavor for Trefoils, not to mention to the difference in appearance with holes poked in the dough for best baking results.
Thin Mints vs. Thin Mints
This is the most-ordered Girl Scout Cookie—and for good reason. Thin Mints have the same recognizable name whether they’re produced by ABC Bakers or Little Brownie Bakers. Each box features crisp chocolate cookies that are enrobed in a minty chocolate coating. But Thin Mints from ABC Bakers are flatter and crunchier with a stronger mint flavor. Thin Mints from Little Brownie Bakers are smoother and not quite as crispy. They also include peppermint oil for a more distinct taste.
You won’t be able to order Le Chips or Cinna-Spins from either bakery, though. Here’s a look at the most popular discontinued Girl Scout Cookies from years past.
Our Best Girl Scout Cookie Copycats
Inspired by: Caramel DeLites (aka Samoas)Coconut lovers, this one's for you. These copycat Girl Scout cookies are the ultimate indulgence. While they take some time to make, trust us—they're worth the wait.
Psst! If you want the real deal, here's how to order Girl Scout cookies.
Inspired by: Thin MintsWe all know it to be true: Thin Mints are the queen of all Girl Scout cookies. These crisp chocolate cookies are dipped in a to-die-for chocolate coating. Try them straight out of the fridge or freezer for a cool, minty treat.
Were you looking for the perfect copycat Samoas? Girl Scout Cookie season only happens once a year, but we found year-round dupes that stack up pretty well against the originals.
Inspired by: LemonadesThese lightly flavored shortbread cookies are topped with a citrusy glaze, just like their scouting counterparts.
Inspired by: Peanut Butter Patties (aka Tagalongs)A cookie as good as a Tagalong must be hard to replicate at home, right? Not quite! Using homemade cookies and a smooth chocolate coating, you can get close to the real thing when your cookie stash is low.
Dipped Peanut Butter Sandwich CookiesYou’ll love to give tins of these chocolate-coated cookies to your lucky friends. The shortcut holiday recipe is almost too simple to believe! Here's how to make peanut butter cookies without eggs. —Jackie Howell, Gordo, Alabama
Inspired by: Shortbread (aka Trefoils)While they're not shaped like the iconic Girl Scout logo, these shortbread snacks are super tasty. Try them with a cup of coffee for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Inspired by: Girl Scout S'moresGirl Scouts first published the recipe for the original s'more all the way back in the '20s. Today, they reinvented the campfire snack as an anytime cookie much like these. For an authentic s'mores experience,
swap the cookie butter for a chocolatey spread.
Inspired by: Lemon-UpsThe Girl Scouts have two lemony cookies in their roster. The Lemon-Ups are nice and crisp, and they come stamped with an inspiring message. This copycat cookie recipe tastes pretty close, but with the subtle addition of orange, too.
Inspired by: AdventurefulsOne of the newest Girl Scout cookies, Adventurefuls pack caramel creme into a brownie-flavored dough. For an authentic copycat recipe, skip the nuts on these chocolate caramel thumbprints and sub in a sprinkle of sea salt.
Bonus: Original Girl Scout CookiesTo commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first nationwide sale, the Girl Scouts shared the original sugar cookie recipe used when the troops made their own cookies.
