Two Bakers, Two Sets of Vegan Rules
For those wondering, 'are Girl Scout cookies really vegan?', the simple answer is: some are. The complication arises because Girl Scout cookies are produced by one of two licensed bakers, ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers, which serve different parts of the country. The recipe and ingredients for cookies with similar names can differ significantly depending on the bakery. This makes it essential for vegans to identify their local baker to determine their available options.
ABC Bakers' 2025 Vegan Cookies
For the 2025 season, ABC Bakers provides a wide array of options made with vegan ingredients. Their lineup includes:
- Thin Mints: The classic chocolate-mint cookie is vegan regardless of the baker.
- Peanut Butter Patties: A crispy vanilla cookie with a layer of peanut butter, covered in a chocolaty coating.
- Lemonades: Tangy lemon-flavored icing tops savory shortbread cookies.
- Adventurefuls: Brownie-inspired cookies with a caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt.
- Toast-Yay!: These French toast-inspired cookies, though vegan, will be discontinued after the 2025 season, so stock up while you can.
- Caramel Chocolate Chip: A chewy, gluten-free cookie that is also made with vegan ingredients.
Little Brownie Bakers' 2025 Vegan Cookies
In contrast, Little Brownie Bakers offers a far more limited selection for vegan cookie lovers. For the 2025 season, their only vegan cookie is the Thin Mints. Vegans in regions served by Little Brownie Bakers need to be especially vigilant when ordering other flavors to avoid non-vegan options.
A Tale of Two Cookies: Avoiding Confusion
One of the most common pitfalls for vegans is confusing similarly named or described cookies from the two different bakeries. The most well-known example involves the peanut butter cookies and the caramel coconut cookies. For instance, Peanut Butter Patties from ABC Bakers are vegan, but their counterpart from Little Brownie Bakers, called Tagalongs, contains milk. Similarly, Caramel deLites (LBB) and Samoas (LBB) both contain dairy and are not vegan, despite Caramel deLites being similar in name to other potential vegan options.
Vegan Girl Scout Cookie Comparison Table
| Cookie Name | Bakery | Vegan? | Non-Vegan Counterpart | Non-Vegan Counterpart Bakery | Key Distinguishing Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thin Mints | ABC Bakers & Little Brownie Bakers | Yes | N/A | N/A | Always vegan, regardless of baker |
| Peanut Butter Patties | ABC Bakers | Yes | Tagalongs | Little Brownie Bakers | LBB's version contains milk |
| Lemonades | ABC Bakers | Yes | Lemon-Ups | Little Brownie Bakers | LBB's version contains milk |
| Adventurefuls | ABC Bakers | Yes (New recipe in 2024) | Adventurefuls | Little Brownie Bakers | LBB's version contains milk |
| Toast-Yay! | ABC Bakers | Yes (Discontinued after 2025) | N/A | N/A | French toast-inspired, vegan for 2025 season |
| Caramel Chocolate Chip | ABC Bakers | Yes (Also gluten-free) | Toffee-tastic | Little Brownie Bakers | Different, LBB's version is also gluten-free but not vegan |
| Caramel deLites / Samoas | Little Brownie Bakers | No (Contains dairy) | N/A | N/A | LBB's popular coconut cookie is not vegan |
How to Ensure You Get Vegan Cookies
To avoid accidentally purchasing cookies with animal-derived ingredients, follow these steps during cookie season:
- Find Your Local Baker: Visit the official Girl Scout website and use their cookie finder to determine which bakery serves your area.
- Check the Packaging: Always read the ingredient list on the physical box to be certain. While a cookie may be vegan in one region, the recipe can differ with the other baker.
- Use Digital Cookie: If your local council is served by Little Brownie Bakers, you can use the Digital Cookie platform to find a troop selling cookies from ABC Bakers, allowing for direct shipping of vegan options.
- Ask the Scout: When buying in person, ask the Girl Scout which bakery produced their cookies. They often have allergy guides or flyers that specify vegan options.
Shared Facilities and Cross-Contamination
While certain cookies are made with vegan ingredients, it is important to note that most, if not all, Girl Scout cookies are manufactured in shared facilities. The packaging includes a precautionary allergen disclosure warning about potential cross-contact with common allergens like milk, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts. This is standard practice in the food industry to ensure transparency for those with severe allergies. For those who can tolerate potential cross-contamination, the labeled vegan cookies are safe. However, for those with severe sensitivities, this remains a significant consideration.
Conclusion: Navigating the Cookie Landscape
Determining if Girl Scout cookies are vegan requires a little research, primarily due to the different recipes and offerings from the two licensed bakeries. For the 2025 season, ABC Bakers offers several vegan choices, including Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, Lemonades, and Adventurefuls. Meanwhile, Little Brownie Bakers' vegan selection is limited to Thin Mints. By understanding these distinctions and consulting the official Girl Scout cookie finder, vegan consumers can confidently support the Girl Scout program while enjoying plant-based treats.
Lists of Vegan Girl Scout Cookies
- ABC Bakers Vegan Options (2025):
- Thin Mints
- Peanut Butter Patties
- Lemonades
- Adventurefuls (new vegan recipe in 2024)
- Toast-Yay! (ending after 2025 season)
- Caramel Chocolate Chip (gluten-free and vegan)
- Little Brownie Bakers Vegan Options (2025):
- Thin Mints
