If you’re planning your cookie order, the biggest update for girl scout cookies 2026 is simple: there’s one major new cookie to put at the top of your taste-test list. Exploremores™ joined the national lineup for the 2026 Girl Scout Cookie season as a rocky road ice cream–inspired sandwich cookie with chocolate, marshmallow, and toasted almond–flavored crème. (girlscouts.org)
Below is a practical, step-by-step guide to finding the 2026 lineup in your area, checking prices before you buy, choosing which flavors to try first, and making the most of cookie season without missing limited local availability.
Quick answer: what’s new in 2026?
The new 2026 Girl Scout Cookie is Exploremores™. It’s a sandwich cookie inspired by rocky road ice cream, built around chocolate, marshmallow, and almond-flavored crème. Girl Scouts of the USA announced that Exploremores would be available nationally online and in person at local booths during the 2026 season, alongside favorites such as Thin Mints®, Samoas®/Caramel deLites®, Peanut Butter Patties®/Tagalongs®, Adventurefuls®, and more. (girlscouts.org)
That said, local cookie availability can still vary. Each Girl Scout council works with one of two licensed bakers, and that can affect cookie names, recipes, and the exact varieties offered in your area. (girlscouts.org)
Step 1: Start with the new 2026 flavor
Before you fill your cart with your usual favorites, try the new cookie first. Exploremores is the headline addition to girl scout cookies 2026, especially if you like chocolate-forward desserts with a campfire-style twist.
Here’s how to decide whether Exploremores belongs in your order:
- Choose it if you like rocky road flavors. The cookie is designed around chocolate, marshmallow, and toasted almond flavor notes. (girlscouts.org)
- Pair it with a classic. If you usually buy Thin Mints or Samoas, add one box of Exploremores so you can compare the new flavor against an old favorite.
- Buy early if you’re curious. New flavors can attract attention, and local booth inventory may change quickly.
- Check allergen details before eating. Ingredients and allergen information may differ by baker, so review the package or the official nutrition information before serving cookies to anyone with food allergies. (girlscouts.org)
Exploremores is the best place to begin because it gives your 2026 order something fresh while still fitting the familiar Girl Scout Cookies tradition.
Step 2: Confirm which Girl Scout cookies are sold near you
The national lineup is helpful, but your local council determines what you can actually buy. GSUSA explains that availability varies by area and recommends contacting your local Girl Scout council to find out which varieties are available near you. (girlscouts.org)
To confirm your local lineup:
- Use the official Girl Scout cookie finder during your council’s cookie season.
- Enter your ZIP code.
- Look for nearby booths, troop links, or Digital Cookie® ordering options.
- Review the local flavor list before you commit to an order.
- If you’re looking for a specific cookie, ask the troop or council whether it is available locally.
This step matters because some cookies have different names depending on the baker. For example, one baker may use Samoas®, while another uses Caramel deLites® for a similar caramel, coconut, and chocolaty-striped cookie. Likewise, Tagalongs® and Peanut Butter Patties® are related favorites with different names by baker. (girlscouts.org)
Step 3: Know the 2026 flavors worth comparing
Once you’ve checked your local list, build your order around a mix of new, classic, chocolate, peanut butter, lemon, and gluten-free options where available.
Popular and current varieties listed by Girl Scouts include:
- Exploremores™: Sandwich cookies with chocolate, marshmallow, and almond-flavored crème. (girlscouts.org)
- Thin Mints®: Crisp chocolate cookies with a mint chocolaty coating. (girlscouts.org)
- Adventurefuls®: Brownie-inspired cookies topped with caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt. (girlscouts.org)
- Samoas® or Caramel deLites®: Crisp cookies with caramel, coconut, and chocolaty stripes. (girlscouts.org)
- Tagalongs® or Peanut Butter Patties®: Crispy cookies layered with peanut butter and covered in a chocolaty coating. (girlscouts.org)
- Do-si-dos® or Peanut Butter Sandwich: Oatmeal sandwich cookies with peanut butter filling. (girlscouts.org)
- Trefoils®: Shortbread cookies inspired by the original Girl Scout Cookie recipe. (girlscouts.org)
- Lemonades® or Lemon-Ups®: Lemon-flavored options that vary by baker and local council. (girlscouts.org)
- Toffee-tastic® or Caramel Chocolate Chip: Gluten-free options may be available in select areas. (girlscouts.org)
A smart first order might include one box of Exploremores, one mint option, one peanut butter option, one caramel-coconut option, and one simple cookie like Trefoils. That gives you a broad taste of the 2026 season without overbuying.
Step 4: Answer the big price question before you order
A common search every season is: how much are girl scout cookies 2026?
The most accurate answer is: prices vary by local council. Girl Scouts of the USA says each of its 111 councils sets its own prices, and pricing reflects the cost of cookies plus the cost of providing local Girl Scout programming and experiences. (girlscouts.org)
For 2026, many local examples show boxes around $6 to $7, with gluten-free or specialty varieties sometimes priced higher. One 2026 council document listed several standard cookies at $6 and an online-exclusive gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip at $7, while another council guide stated that all varieties were increasing to $7 for 2026. (girlscouts-gssi.org)
Before buying, confirm the price in one of these ways:
- Ask the Girl Scout or troop volunteer directly.
- Check your local council’s cookie page.
- Review the price shown in Digital Cookie before checkout.
- Look at the booth signage if buying in person.
- Ask whether specialty or gluten-free cookies cost more.
Avoid assuming your price is the same as a friend’s in another city or state. Girl Scout cookie prices can differ by council, even during the same season.
Step 5: Choose the best way to buy
You can usually buy Girl Scout Cookies in a few different ways, depending on your local council’s dates and policies. GSUSA notes that customers can purchase through participating Girl Scouts during the local council’s cookie season, use the Find Cookies search box to locate booths, or order online through Digital Cookie links from a Girl Scout or troop. (girlscouts.org)
If you know a Girl Scout
Ask for a Digital Cookie link or order card. This is often the easiest way to support a specific Girl Scout’s goals and make sure your purchase counts toward her cookie business.
If you don’t know a Girl Scout
Use the official cookie finder to search by ZIP code. During active local sale dates, you may see nearby booth locations or online ordering options.
If you want cookies shipped
Cookies purchased from a Girl Scout or troop cookie link may be shipped within the United States and to certain U.S. territories and military or diplomatic addresses, according to GSUSA. (girlscouts.org)
If you see cookies on resale sites
Skip them. GSUSA advises buying only from registered Girl Scouts and warns against purchasing through auction sites, community list sites, or platforms such as eBay and Amazon because freshness, integrity, and official support for Girl Scouts cannot be guaranteed. (girlscouts.org)
Step 6: Build a balanced 2026 cookie order
If you’re overwhelmed by the lineup, use a simple formula:
- One new flavor: Exploremores.
- One bestseller: Thin Mints, Samoas/Caramel deLites, or Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties.
- One contrast flavor: Lemonades, Lemon-Ups, or Trefoils.
- One shareable favorite: Choose the cookie most people in your household already love.
- One gift or donation box: Support the troop while avoiding a pantry overload.
For a smaller order, start with three boxes: Exploremores, Thin Mints, and your favorite peanut butter or caramel-coconut cookie. For a larger order, add Trefoils for baking, lemon cookies for spring desserts, and a gluten-free option if it is available in your area.
Step 7: Taste-test the new flavor the fun way
A simple tasting setup can make the 2026 cookie season more memorable, especially if you’re trying Exploremores for the first time.
Try this easy method:
- Chill one cookie in the refrigerator.
- Freeze one cookie for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Taste one at room temperature.
- Compare texture, sweetness, and flavor.
- Vote on the best version.
This works especially well with chocolatey cookies like Thin Mints, Adventurefuls, and Exploremores. It also turns a single box into a fun family or office taste test.
Step 8: Store your cookies so they last
Girl Scout Cookies are seasonal, so storage matters. GSUSA notes that every package is stamped with a “use or freeze by” date based on manufacturing date. (girlscouts.org)
For best results:
- Keep unopened boxes in a cool, dry pantry.
- Freeze chocolate-coated cookies if you like a firmer texture.
- Store opened cookies in an airtight container.
- Keep mint cookies away from delicate flavors like shortbread so the aroma does not transfer.
- Check the package date before saving boxes for later in the year.
If you plan to bake with them, Trefoils can become pie crusts, Thin Mints can be crushed into brownie topping, and caramel-coconut cookies can be chopped into ice cream mix-ins.
Step 9: Consider donating a box
If you want to support Girl Scouts but do not want more sweets at home, ask about your local council’s donation program. GSUSA says Girl Scouts may participate in council-approved programs often called “Gift of Caring” or “Cookie Share,” which allow customers to donate cookies. (girlscouts.org)
This is also a great option if you’re ordering online and want to help a troop reach its goal without managing shipping or storage.
Step 10: Remember what your purchase supports
Buying girl scout cookies is not just about dessert. GSUSA describes the Cookie Program as a way for Girl Scouts to build skills such as goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. (girlscouts.org)
Cookie proceeds also stay local with the originating council and troop, helping fund Girl Scout activities, programming, community projects, travel, outdoor experiences, and other troop plans. (girlscouts.org)
So when you buy a box of Exploremores or restock Thin Mints, you’re also supporting a girl-led business experience.
Final checklist for Girl Scout Cookies 2026
Before you place your order, run through this quick checklist:
- Try the new 2026 cookie: Exploremores™.
- Confirm your local lineup because availability varies.
- Ask your council or troop about exact pricing.
- Remember that the answer to “how much are girl scout cookies 2026” depends on where you live.
- Buy only from registered Girl Scouts, official booths, troop links, or Digital Cookie.
- Check allergen and ingredient details on the package.
- Freeze a few favorites for later.
- Consider donating a box through your local council’s approved program.
With one new rocky road–inspired cookie and plenty of familiar favorites, girl scout cookies 2026 is a great season to try something new while supporting local Girl Scouts.
