Every Girl Scout Cookie, Ranked From Worst to Best

Caramel Chocolate Chip

The Girl Scout website describes this gluten-free option as “chewy cookies with rich caramel, semisweet chocolate chips, and a hint of sea salt.” Dry and crumbly (in a bad way), these were the only Girl Scout cookies that several staffers couldn’t finish. While I can forgive the texture of a gluten-free cookie, they were also weirdly bland, with our associate director of digital production Elsa Säätelä noting that even the chocolate chips tasted flavorless.

Girl Scout S’mores

These are described as “crunchy graham sandwich cookies with chocolate and marshmallow filling.” Senior update commerce writer Jason Horn compared them to Keebler cookies, and he isn’t wrong. They’re a fine stand-in for generic cream-filled sandwich cookies, but they lack the chocolatey and toasty flavor of a true s’more. It seems that others agree: They will be discontinued in 2026.

Toffee-tastic

Filled with butter toffee bits, these shortbread-esque cookies are genuinely a nice gluten-free option. They taste rich and toffee-forward with a subtle savory edge that keeps the sweetness in check. But, while the first bite was pleasant, the finish was slightly gritty and sandy. Moving on.

Lemon-Ups

Full disclosure: We were not able to find Lemon-Ups, “crispy lemon cookies” inscribed with motivational messages like “I’m a Leader,” to try in the office. But senior food editor Cheryl Slocum, a former “cookie mom,” told me that they’re the closest thing to Savannah Smiles, which were her daughter’s favorite before being discontinued. As a Savannah Smiles stan, I can confidently place this cookie near the middle of the pack.

Adventurefuls

Described as “indulgent brownie-inspired cookies,” this new-ish option, which debuted in 2022, is a little misleading: Adventurefuls are not fudgy and chewy like you might expect but rather hard and thick. They’re perfectly tasty, but when you look at each positive attribute, another cookie in the lineup does it better. The crisp chocolate base is reminiscent of Thin Mints, the chocolate coating of Tagalongs, and the “caramel creme” filling of Samoas. But somehow they’re not nearly as delicious as any of those cookies.

Trefoils

This is a case where my taste memories failed me. I remembered the original Girl Scout cookie as a buttery and sophisticated shortbread, but to my adult palate, it truly tasted like a plain vanilla wafer. (Nothing against vanilla wafers, but they are best used as a banana pudding ingredient). Executive features editor Kat Kinsman noted that she respects Trefoils but docks points for their interchangeability. “You can easily find a Trefoil equivalent, but you can’t find a good bootleg Thin Mint,” she explained.

Lemonades

Described as “savory, refreshing shortbread cookies topped with a tangy lemon-flavored icing,” these cookies seem surely marketed toward adults. (What kid wants a savory cookie?) These are indeed not too sweet, and are also nicely crumbly and buttery, like a true shortbread — news and trending editor Merlyn Miller noted that they’re much shorter than Trefoils. But, we wished the flavor was more lemony.

Toast-Yay!

Shaped like French toast and dipped in icing, these relative newcomers (they launched in 2021) taste distinctly of pancakes and maple syrup, one of the best flavor combinations of all time. The cinnamon-sugar flavor also recalls another breakfast favorite, Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Sadly, these are one of two cookies that will be discontinued in 2026, so grab a box while you can. Toast-Yay, we hardly knew ye.

Do-Si-Dos / Peanut Butter Sandwich

These peanut butter-filled oatmeal sandwich cookies are basically a less sweet version of Nutterbutters, and are a favorite for many of our staffers. An across-the-board observation is that the Girl Scouts get peanut butter right — it tastes like the real thing rather than a manufactured facsimile. That makes this box one of the best candidates of the lineup for a breakfast cookie. The slightly dry and crumbly texture is begging to be served with a glass of milk or cup of coffee.

Tagalongs / Peanut Butter Patties

For most fans of Girl Scout cookies, this is where the real list begins: the cookies that were by far our staff’s top picks. “Tagalongs are the perfect cookie,” associate editor Amelia Schwartz noted. “It’s like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and a Twix had a baby. What could be better?” Even if these aren’t your top choice, you’re probably stumped by this question.

Thin Mints

Wonderfully crispy and chocolatey, with a strong mint flavor that doesn’t veer into toothpaste territory, Thin Mints are iconic for a reason. “The mint cuts down on the perception of sweetness, which means they don’t end up as sticky and cloying as the other cookies that are all loaded up with caramel or peanut butter or some such,” said editorial director Dylan Garret. 

A consensus among staff fans: Thin Mints MUST be frozen. “Room temp Thin Mints are mid on their own, but frozen Thin Mints are king. They are excellent as an ice cream topping,” said Schwartz.

Samoas / Caramel deLites

Let me be clear: This was a NARROW defeat, with our staff almost equally divided on Thin Mints and Samoas. What separates these two camps? My personal hypothesis is that Thin Mints are a “little treat” while Samoas are simply a treat: gooey, crispy, and deliciously coconutty, with all the appeal of both a cookie and a candy bar. Sure, there are never enough in the box and the small serving size is upsetting, but there is a reason this cookie has become almost synonymous with the blissful union of chocolate, coconut, and caramel. 

With that said, it’s possible that senior commerce editor Phoebe Sklansky had the last word. “Frozen Thin Mints > Samoas > Thin Mints.”