Abby Connolly
Wouldn’t it be nice if those prices applied today? Since the recipe was published, Girl Scouts nationwide began selling the cookies to fund camping trips and other activities.
By the time the 1930s rolled around and cookie sales were rising in popularity, the Girl Scouts organization turned to commercial bakers to bake their signature cookies. The national council gave permission for every council in the country to work with local bakers.
In 1935, the Girl Scout Federation of Greater New York used a local bakery to create their famous trefoil cookies and officially had them packaged as “Girl Scout Cookies.”
During World War II, with the rationing and shortage of ingredients like sugar and butter, Girl Scouts temporarily turned to selling calendars for fundraising. But when the war ended, cookie sales rose once again, and they were selling several types of cookies, including Thin Mints, by the early 1950s.
This was around when Girl Scouts began setting up tables and selling cookies in public places like shopping malls. Over the next few decades, Girl Scout cookies expanded in flavor, and the packaging underwent several transformations.
By the 1990s, only two commercial bakeries were used to bake Girl Scout cookies: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers.
The cookies became more accessible as time progressed, with sugar-free, low-fat, and, eventually, gluten-free recipes. When cookie sales remained successful, the organization introduced special awards that could be given to hardworking Girl Scouts who sold significant amounts of cookies.
The Girl Scout cookie-selling game changed significantly when the Digital Cookie platform was launched in 2014, allowing people to order cookies from specific Girl Scouts from any troop in America.
Today, Girl Scouts continue to sell their delicious cookies in-person and online, using the funds to plan activities, fund scholarships, and carry out community service projects.
Although some cookies have undergone name changes, like Samosas to Caramel deLites, they’re still delicious and enjoyed by many families nationwide.
What’s your favorite Girl Scout cookie?
