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I really, really want to do this.

I made the Samoas. The flavor was fantastic and very authentic, but I struggled with the texture of the cookie (crumbled as soon as I looked at it) and the coconut topping (sticky and tough to spread).

If you decide to make them, I'd suggest first reading the comments on the BB blog for tips from the recipe developer and other bakers. Also, be sure to give yourself a lot of time for these; some steps are tricky and/or time-consuming.

I really really REALLY want to try the Do Si Dos (those are after all my favorite), but the last thing I need around here right now is more cookies after consuming the 4 boxes I bought (sigh). One of these days... thanks for posting Kathryn.

As a long time Girl Scout, I'm begging you to buy a box or two of the real thing from a Girl Scout. It helps defer the cost of summer camp or other awesome programs for these girls. Just eat them in moderation and you'll be ok.

I made the samoas in the new easier bar format also excellent but to some extent I thought there was too much cookie for the amount of topping in comparison to the original. Personally I'm just peeling of the coconut an caramel layer, of course I had a tendency to do that with the actual samoas too. I have a feeling that you could put that topping on any favorite shortbread recipe and get a good result.

http://bakingbites.com/2009/02/homemade-girl-scout-cookies-samoas-bars/

Christal, how does the money get divided up? I know the actually selling girls only get about $.20/box, so whenever cookie season comes around I sometimes give all the women in my office who peddle the cookies $5 towards their daughters' activities. Way fewer boxes for them to sell and I don't have to feel guilty devouring an entire box of Thin Mints. But does the price of a box subsidize other girls?

i can never find a girl scout here in nyc-- so thanx for the recipes!!!

Squirrely,
Each Girl Scout Council (kind of like a large school district) chooses exactly how to split up the proceeds, after paying the bakers. Troops receive 12-17% of the purchase price of each box sold, and the rest goes to supporting the activities of the council: providing program resources and communication support, training adult volunteers (very important!), and conducting special events (like camps, first aid trainings, etc.). The money does not leave Girl Scouts, unless, of course, the individual troop decides to spend it elsewhere.

Information from
http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_cookies/faqs.asp and from my own thirteen years of shilling cookies door-to-door.

Thanks for the info. I had a conversation with a mother about how it wasn't "worth it" for her daughter to sell cookies, but when you look at how the proceeds are used that changes the perspective. I wish I'd been a scout!

you should have posted this in the girl scout cookie off season.

that said, i'm sure the gsa wouldn't mind just getting donations if you don't want to eat the cookies.

Made the samoas for v-day. super. fun. and tasty.

http://hestereats.blogspot.com/2009/02/gave-girl-scouts-best-run-for-its-food.html

I was a girl scout for many years and sold many, many boxes of cookies but I just can't justify buying something with that type of ingredient list. It is a real shame that an organization that does great things for girls can't produce a better quality cookie. Seriously, couldn't they contract with Newman's Own or something.

But thanks all for the suggestions for a donation instead. It will make me feel less like a jerk for walking on by...

omg - you're killin' me

Oh, man, I am so excited! I developed a nut and peanut allergy a few years ago, so a lot of cookies are now right out, including girl scout cookies. The samoas were my favorite, so I will give this a try one free weekend!

what a coincidence, i just made 2 of these tonight! i made the thin mints and samoa bars that someone else mentioned. I liked the samoa bars better, although they are a little messier to make and the cookie part is extremely crumbly. I thought the thin mints were a little hard at the minimum cook time given (they were still soft when i took them out of the oven, but hardened pretty quickly). Also, while the dough smelled very minty, a lot of the mint flavor was lost in the oven. I added a little peppermint oil to the chocolate coating to remedy this.

All in all, they're quite good. I'll have to let my friends be the ultimate judge.

oh my dear lord, my heart is going to hurt after this. each recipe calls for at least 3/4 C of butter.

but man.. it's gonna be a fun ride.

There's a great recipe from 101cookbooks.com that uses whole-wheat pastry flour, and has no corn (as long as you use powdered sugar that is free of it):

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001370.html

I do agree that the cookies could be made to be 'healthier', and that in many ways you're better off just donating money to a troop. however, it's not just about the product, there are other benefits of the cookie selling for the girls. it can and should teach self confidence, math and business skills, poise in public, etc. I would actually like to see these aspects encouraged more by the troop leaders... the girls scout I bought my box from sat silently at the table and nearly gave me the wrong change. if I could come up with a song and dance routine in my day, (and I was *incredibly* shy), I expect a little more from these girls!

Girl Scout: I only like all-natural foods and beverages, organically grown, with no preservatives. Are you sure they're real lemons?

Pugsley: Yes.

Girl Scout: Well, I'll tell you what. I'll buy a cup if you buy a box of my delicious Girl Scout cookies. Do we have a deal?

Wednesday: Are they made from real Girl Scouts?

I so thoroughly did not want to sell cookies that as a child I told my dad I would disown him if he made me become a girl scout. Which makes me wonder: are you actually required to sell cookies?

Is it true that Girl Scout cookies are now made in China instead of the U.S.?

Foodefafa, absolutely. My mom was our troop leader (hence, the thirteen years) and we role-played different situations that might happen when selling cookies. We had to know the cookie types by heart, health information, the name of the bakers (and by the way, they are all baked in the US by two different companies), etc. She drilled it into us.

Once I got older and lost the "cute" factor, I had to think up different tactics. My most memorable one was "Oh my goodness, you look down today! I think you're suffering from a terminal lack of Girl Scout Cookies! You need to order some now!" It definitely taught me the link between hard work and payoff.

I'm all for trying the recipes, but during the cookie season let's keep in mind what these cookies support. The prices rise yes, but over the cost of ingredients and the cost of shipping them. They still are in the budget of most and should be bought when you can.

Oooh, yes, I'll be eagerly awaiting a homemade version of lemon chalet cremes too. Those were my favorite! (And the girls here don't sell them anymore!)

Malia,

My daughters are girl scouts and are not required to sell cookies.
My kids' troop will give the girls order sheets if they ask for them, but encourages them to instead participate at a sales booth at school or at the nearby park, which I think puts less pressure on them to individually acheive some ridiculous goal.

You can also send cookies to the troops, which we did this year. Nice idea.