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The Best Homemade Girl Scout Cookie Recipes

Homemade Thin Mints

Girl Scout cookie season is just around the corner. As usual, I’m not really planning to buy any of the Girl Scouts’ offerings – although I am happy to support local troops in other ways – because I know that I can make cookies that are as good or better at home. Girl Scout cookies still contain partially hydrogenated oils, even if they have decreased the amount to come in under the FDA’s definition of “zero trans fats per serving” (no more than .5g per serving). Homemade cookies are made with real ingredients – butter, sugar, flour, chocolate – and really do have zero trans fats. They’re still indulgent treats, but treats you can feel good about eating!

You can find recipes for four of the Scouts’ best sellers here, including an easy to make version of Thin Mints that you don’t need a cookie cutter to shape:

If you prefer your cookies gluten free, I’ve got that covered, too:

And if you’ve had enough of the cookies on their own, try using them in another way:

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98 Comments
  • liz
    January 4, 2009

    Yum! I love girl scout cookies. Thin mints and Samoas are my favorite. A friend of mine made homemade Somoas once and they were delicious. Can’t wait to try these recipes out. Thanks for sharing!

  • meeso
    January 4, 2009

    This post made me excited! Who doesn’t love Girl Scout Cookies!!!

  • Amanda
    January 4, 2009

    Ooo thanks! I didn’t know you had a tagalongs recipe!

  • Scott at Realepicurean
    January 4, 2009

    I was never a scout, girl or boy, but these looks delicious anyway!

  • Sara
    January 4, 2009

    These look better than the original!

  • Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
    January 4, 2009

    I had no idea the girl scout cookies still have hydrogenated oils. I’m going to follow your lead — donate cash without buying cookies, until the cookies are made with a healthier formulation. meanwhile, I’m bookmarking your recipe for thin mints — they were always my favorites!

  • Carla
    January 4, 2009

    I still have your recipes bookmarked from when you first posted them. I made the samoas and am tempted to make thin mints this week. Thanks for posting these recipes! Not only are they made with real ingredients, it costs a lot less.

  • DIDEM
    January 4, 2009

    l like ıt so much,your photo wonderful..

  • CookiePie
    January 4, 2009

    Oh YUM – these all sound fabulous!!

  • Niki Theo
    January 5, 2009

    I heart thin mints, but hating waiting for them!!1 Thanks for the recipe!

  • Denay
    January 5, 2009

    Nicole, you are a genius. I never new homemade Girl Scout cookies could look so authentic. I would love to feature your Blog in my next online course for Home-based bakers. Did you take the photo, this is really awesome….not to mention these are my favorites, honest they’re still sitting on my hips!

  • PAWriter
    January 5, 2009

    The best part of these recipe? The fact that you call them by their old school names!

  • jeanology
    January 5, 2009

    thanks for posting this. I made the samoas last night and they turned out really well. I agree, they are better than the girl scout version!

  • Julie
    January 6, 2009

    Wow…those thin mints look great!

  • melissa
    January 6, 2009

    you had me a samoa…

  • Sue
    January 7, 2009

    Thanks for posting these all together. I’ve never made any of the GS knock offs. Someday I might try these, especially the Samoas. My kids love the Samoas and I don’t get it. To me they taste of chemicals. Love the Thin Mints!!!
    This year I’m planning on donating money to the local Girl Scout troop instead of buying cookies. I hope the girls earn points for my donation like they do if I buy the cookies. I would be sad to learn that some kid didn’t get to go to camp because I didn’t buy cookies.

  • JenJen
    January 8, 2009

    I found you through Be Different…Act Normal’s blog. I am so excited about your homemade Girl Scout Cookies. I am going to give you a shout out on my blog and link back to your blog. I hope that is ok. I am just so excited about these and want everyone to know.

    Thanks so much!

    Jen

  • Chrissy
    January 8, 2009

    Wow…those cookies look amazing! I found you through my friends blog tatertotsandjello! I’m so excited! I will be posting you on my blog too!

    I can’t wait to try them out!

    Chrissy

  • gourmet recipes
    January 14, 2009

    This goes directly to bookmarks! Thank you for sharing with us!

  • David Brice
    January 16, 2009

    I just found your great website whilst looking for recipes. I have never seen this site before and think it’s excellent. I have bookmarked it and intend to try out your cooky recipes.

  • greg
    January 20, 2009

    That is kind of lame that you just copy Girl Scouts and post it online. You are taking money away from Girl Scouts. That’s great that you think you are so creative, but there is no need to post it online, taking sales away from Girl Scouts and probably violating copyright laws. LAME!

  • greg
    January 20, 2009

    So what I said before was harsh. I think making things with girl scout cookies is great and so is making your own recipies, but if you support girl scouts it is kind of odd to post competitive recipies online. Why not at least name the “knock offs” something else unrelated to girl scouts? Be creative!

  • Su
    January 23, 2009

    I would love to try these. I also would rather donate $$ because they (GS) don’t get all the $$ you spend. I would love to see recipes for the lemon ones and the new one for this year.

  • Marina
    January 26, 2009

    I definitely support the idea of baking at home, but if you don’t want to eat the packaged cookies and are actually serious about supporting Girl Scouts, I recommend calling your local council and asking about their Gift of Caring program. This program allows you to donate cookies via the council to food shelves or to our men and women overseas. Still, over 70% of the purchase price stays with your local scouts (try to find another fundraiser that does that), your purchase will count towards a scout’s box total (which she can use towards camp, troop events, or membership dues), and donations through the council’s program are tax-deductible.

  • asian recipes
    February 20, 2009

    Thanks for sharing! The cookies looks so yummy in the photo. Keep up the good work!

  • Roz
    March 10, 2009

    Nothing is better than the REAL Girl Scout cookies ! You are taking sales away from the Girl Scouts. I know times are tough, but, Girl Scouts have to rely on donations & sales to keep it going.

    Every girl is excepted in Girl Scouts. No girl is ever turned down b/c of their abilty to not to pay to be in Girl Scouts. That is one of the reasons they rely on their sales of cookies. Please, remember that.

    You should not be posting these recipes.

  • cjoy
    March 12, 2009

    Thank you for these…my kids have severe food allergies and we can NOT safely serve Girl Scout Cookies to them. With your recipes I can make “safe” versions since I know how to substitute where necessary (starting with sunbutter made from sunflower seeds since one of the kids is very allergic to peanuts). I see this as a great opportunity for us. Thanks again!

  • Amy
    May 19, 2009

    Yum! I linked from my blog. I hope you do not mind. I am loving having these recipes right at my fingertips when I am craving some thin mints!

  • Diana D'Amico
    May 29, 2009

    I’m so glad I started checking around on your site of receipe’s. I’ve always loved girl scout cookies & it would be so nice to make these awesome cookies for my family. Especially as gifts! I’ve been in Az for almost 2 yrs & fell in love with your station, and especially your AM show. Thank you for being such a great show and station to watch!

  • Coafuri mirese
    September 15, 2009

    I made these yesterday and they were absolutely delicious! My nieces loved them. I must say that I think they are better than the Samoa cookies because you get a lot more caramel and chocolate. Thanks for the great recipe.

  • Electronic Cigarette
    March 11, 2010

    Oh, how I wish to be a kid again and eat all these cookies.

    Your girl Mary 🙂

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