The VegNews Guide to Vegan Girl Scout Cookies

Like PSL season, Girl Scout cookie season starts earlier and earlier. Of course, we are not complaining. From January to March, keep an eye out for the girls in green sashes selling their deliciously addictive (and increasingly vegan-friendly) cookies. However, these treats aren’t just for us. Every box sold helps a Scout learn essential skills in entrepreneurship, compassion, and communication. To keep up, the Scouts are also rolling out new delivery methods and pre-orders so the cookies get to your hands safely.

Tale of two bakeries.

Girl Scout cookies are made by one of two bakeries: ABC Bakers (offering four vegan cookie options) and Little Brownie Bakers (offering one vegan cookie option). Each of the bakeries cater to different regions, so depending on your location, your vegan options will be different. To check which bakery makes the cookies your local troop sells, check out this map from Wide Open Eats. Limited vegan options and looking to get your hands on more? Check out the Girl Scout Council Finder to find a troop served by ABC Bakers and ask about their Digital Cookie platform for shipping options. Read on to find out which flavors are vegan-approved and how they help a Scout.

VegNews.GirlScoutToastYays

Toast-Yay

Watch out, Thin Mints, a new favorite cookie may take over. These toast-shaped treats are buttery, cinnamon and deliciously sweet without an ounce of animal ingredients. Made exclusively by ABC Bakers with vegan ingredients, Toast-Yays are always vegan, so you’re free! The only question of the season will be: do you eat your Toast-Yays frosting side down or frosting side up?
How you help: Every box of Toast-Yays translates into real-world customer service and business training. Girl Scouts gain sales acumen, team smarts, and confidence to become their true #girlboss.
How VegNews Editors Eat Them: Like Cinnamon French Toast cereal, floating in a bowl of cashew milk. Do not judge.
VegNews.PeanutButterPatties

peanut butter patties

If the peanut butter cup can be improved, the peanut butter patties are. Crunchy vanilla cookies are topped with sweet and creamy peanut butter and enrobed in vegan chocolate. However, be sure not to confuse them with Tagalongs. While the Peanut Butter Patties made by ABC Bakers are vegan, their cousins, the Tagalongs, made by Little Brownie Bakers, contain milk.
How you help: In a world of endless choices and pathways fueled by marketing and social media, these crunchy yet creamy cookies focus on teaching one life skill we wish we had a better handle on: decision making. Scouts are taught how to plan, solve problems, commit to action, and think creatively. At least we can be decisive about one thing: we want these cookies.
How VegNews Editors Eat Them: Dandies vegan marshmallow sandwich to make a peanut butter s’more.
VegNews.ThinMints

fine mints

These eat-the-box chocolate mint cookies continue to be best sellers year after year. They’re great crumbled into non-dairy ice cream, dipped in hot chocolate, and of course nibbled right out of the box! Pro Tip: Don’t rack your brain: Both ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers make these cult-favorite cookies with vegan ingredients.
How you help: These popular cookies help teach a skill we can all improve: money management. Explorers learn to keep track of orders, keep records, and develop the essential skills necessary for any young entrepreneur.
How VegNews Editors Eat Them: Straight from the freezer for a fresh minty treat.
VegNews.Lemonades

lemonades

Pucker! These citrus shortbread cookies balance tart and sweet with a tangy lemon glaze and a sweet, crumbly base. Don’t confuse them with Lemon-Ups, as this cookie, made by Little Brownie Bakers, contains milk.
How you help: When you hand over your five bucks for a box of these citrusy treats, you’re contributing to a scout’s goal-setting skills. The girls learn to organize a sale, create goals and meet them.
How VegNews Editors Eat Them: Crushed, mixed with melted Miyoko butter, and pressed into a cake batter for a fluffy aquafaba-based lemon meringue cake.

Do you prefer to make your own cookies? Take a look at these delicious vegan versions.

For more vegan cookies, read:
25 Accidentally Vegan Cookies
16 Vegan Cookies That Are Shipped Across the Country 8 Vegan Cookie Recipes VegNews Editors Are Baking Right Now

JUST LAUNCHED! Vote for your favorite vegan products at the 2022 VegNews Veggie Awards.

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