On March 12, 103 years ago, a group of 18 girls registered in Savannah, Ga., as the Girl Scouts.
Now, March 12 is recognized as the Girl Scouts’ birthday, celebrating sisterhood, service and friendship, according to the Girl Scouts website. It wasn’t until 1917 that Girl Scout cookies made their way into families’ homes, made by the girl scouts and their mothers.
Simply plug in your zip code on the Girl Scouts website to find cookie sales near you
Cookies were sold to help pay for troop activities and, in 1922, the cost of the original homemade cookie was about 25 cents per dozen, according to Girl Scout cookie history. By 1950, there were three varieties: Peanut Butter Sandwich, Shortbread and Chocolate Mints — lovingly known as Thin Mints.
More than eight types of cookie are sold now and are made by two commercial bakers, according to Girl Scouts, but are still used for troop activities and service projects.
In turn, Girl Scouts learn five skills when selling cookies at stands or door-to-door, according to Girl Scouts Northern Indiana Michiana:
- Goal setting
- Decision making
- Money management
- People Skills
- Business ethics
Turns out, there was no contested favorite — readers said they enjoyed Thin Mints (a classic), or appreciated gluten-free cookie options. On Facebook, one Elkhart Truth reader said she likes to bake brownies with a cookie surprise dropped in each one.
(Below the graphic, check out the original Girl Scout cookie recipe and a brownie recipe using Girl Scout cookies)
GIRL SCOUT COOKIE
Makes six to seven dozen cookies.
The original, 1922 recipe cost about 26 cents to make, and sold for about 25 cents a dozen, according to Girl Scouts.
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar, additional for topping
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp. milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- Cream butter and cup of sugar, add well-beaten eggs. Add milk, vanilla, flour, salt and baking powder.
- Refrigerate for at least one hour. Roll dough, cut into trefoil shape and sprinkle sugar on top.
- Bake in oven at 375 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges begin to brown.
THIN MINT BROWNIES
Recipe from Little Brownie Bakers. Serves six.
As a former Girl Scout Brownie (a level of Girl Scout), cookie season was a welcome excuse to eat way too many Samoas at lunch. My mom would always order a few extra boxes for our family, but would hide them deep in the freezer so we could enjoy them well into the summer and fall as a surprise treat.
The same can be done with these minty, sweet brownies.
- ½ box Thin Mint cookies, crushed
- 1 box brownie mix
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- Crush Thin Mints into medium-sized chunks. Mix all ingredients into mixing bowl by hand until batter is stiff.
- Spread batter evenly into greased 13 x 9 inch pan and bake at the center of a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.
- Let cool before cutting.