The Best (And Worst) Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout cookie season brings out strong opinions—and for good reason. Some flavors absolutely live up to the hype, while others feel like a letdown wrapped in pretty packaging. Nostalgia only gets you so far when the competition includes both classics and newer experiments. If you’ve ever bought a box and instantly regretted it, you’re not alone. This list ranks the best and worst Girl Scout cookies without sugarcoating a thing.

Samoas

First baked by Little Brownie Bakers in 1974, Samoas quickly climbed the cookie ranks to become the second best-seller in Girl Scout history—and it’s easy to taste why. These chewy, caramel-coated, coconut-packed rings are striped with dark chocolate and wrapped in nostalgia. They’re the only cookies that routinely come with a side of melted chocolate on the box, and while their tropical flair isn’t for everyone, for coconut lovers, this is a finger-licking favorite that smells like childhood and tastes like victory.

Tagalongs

Born in 1976 from the ovens of Little Brownie Bakers, Tagalongs have held onto their third-place title like peanut butter to the roof of your mouth. These chocolate-covered, peanut butter-packed treats smell like heaven and deliver a crunchy-meets-creamy experience that wins over even the strongest snack skeptics. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you—one bite turns into three before you can even blame it on the Thin Mints.

Adveturefuls

Even though Adventurefuls only hit the scene in 2022, they’ve already climbed to fourth place in sales—and it’s easy to see why. These brownie-inspired bites bring rich fudgy flavor, a caramel crème center, and just enough sea salt to keep things interesting. While some wished for a gooier middle, the bold chocolate punch and polished presentation still made this cookie a standout.

Thin Mints

Thin Mints have held the top spot since the 1950s, and with good reason. These crispy cookies deliver a perfect blend of rich chocolate and refreshing peppermint, making them dangerously easy to snack on by the sleeve. While they aren’t as over-the-top as some of the newer options, their clean finish and nostalgic crunch keep them firmly in fan-favorite territory.

Do-Si-Dos

These oatmeal sandwich cookies bring big peanut butter flavor with every bite. The filling tastes like the real deal, nestled between two crumbly, slightly dry cookies that pack a nostalgic Nutter Butter vibe. While rich and satisfying, they’re best enjoyed with a glass of milk—and maybe in smaller batches than their minty counterparts.

Caramel Chocolate Chip

This chewy, chocolate chip-packed cookie stood out as the favorite among the gluten-free options, thanks to its oat flour base and generous dose of semisweet chocolate. The texture impressed everyone, especially given the lack of traditional flour. However, a lingering off-note—possibly from the caramel or sea salt—kept it from rising to the top.

Girl Scout S’mores

This cookie promises s’mores but doesn’t quite deliver the nostalgia. While the chocolate filling is fudgy and satisfying, the graham sandwich exterior tastes more like corn syrup than classic graham cracker, and the marshmallow flavor lacks the gooey texture you’d expect. If you think of it as a chocolate sandwich cookie, it’s fine—but as a s’more, it’s missing the spark.

Savannah Smiles

These lemon-dusted cookies packed a zippy citrus flavor that earned praise from a few lemon lovers, but most tasters were divided. While the powdered sugar coating added a nice touch, the soft texture and slightly chalky bite kept this cookie from climbing higher in the ranks. It had potential, but ultimately faded into the background.