The Bakery Factor: A Tale of Two Companies
One of the most crucial pieces of information for vegans hoping to enjoy Girl Scout cookies is that there are two official licensed bakers: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers. The cookies sold by your local council will come from one of these two companies, and their recipes for seemingly identical cookies can differ significantly. This is why a cookie like Peanut Butter Patties is vegan, but its Little Brownie Bakers equivalent, the Tagalong, is not. You can identify which bakery provides cookies to a troop by checking the box or asking the Girl Scout directly.
Vegan-Friendly Cookies from ABC Bakers
If your local Girl Scout council sources its cookies from ABC Bakers, you have a solid selection of plant-based options. Always check the packaging for the most current information, as recipes can change, but generally, the following cookies are made with vegan ingredients:
- Thin Mints: The classic minty chocolate cookie is vegan from both bakeries, making it a safe choice everywhere.
- Peanut Butter Patties: These crispy cookies, topped with peanut butter and coated in a chocolaty layer, are vegan. Be careful not to confuse them with the non-vegan Tagalongs from the other baker.
- Lemonades: A savory shortbread cookie with a tangy lemon icing, these are a zesty plant-based treat.
- Adventurefuls: These brownie-inspired cookies with a caramel-flavored crème filling have been confirmed to be vegan-friendly from ABC Bakers.
- Caramel Chocolate Chip: This cookie is both vegan and gluten-free, featuring chewy caramel and rich chocolate chips.
- Toast-Yay!: For those who enjoy a French toast-inspired cookie, the Toast-Yay! is vegan. However, be aware that this cookie is being discontinued after the 2025 season.
Limited Options from Little Brownie Bakers
For those in regions served by Little Brownie Bakers, the choices are far more limited. In fact, for the 2025 season, only one cookie is guaranteed to be vegan:
- Thin Mints: As with ABC Bakers, Little Brownie Bakers also makes their Thin Mints with vegan ingredients. This is the only consistent plant-based option available from this bakery.
The Great Cookie Comparison: Navigating the Names
Because the two bakeries use different names and recipes, it is essential for vegans to know the correct name and bakery for the cookies they want. The following table provides a quick guide to some popular cookies and their vegan status.
| Cookie Name (ABC Bakers) | Vegan Status | Cookie Name (Little Brownie Bakers) | Vegan Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin Mints | Vegan (from both) | Thin Mints | Vegan (from both) |
| Peanut Butter Patties | Vegan | Tagalongs | Not Vegan (contains milk) |
| Lemonades | Vegan | Lemon-Ups | Not Vegan (contains milk) |
| Adventurefuls | Vegan | Adventurefuls | Not Vegan (contains milk) |
| Caramel Chocolate Chip | Vegan | Caramel Chocolate Chip | Not Vegan (contains milk and eggs) |
| Toast-Yay! | Vegan (Discontinued after 2025) | N/A | N/A |
Understanding Cross-Contamination for Strict Vegans
An important consideration for strict vegans is the potential for cross-contamination. Both Girl Scout bakers clearly state that their vegan-friendly cookies are produced in shared facilities that also handle allergens like milk, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts. While the recipes themselves do not contain animal products, this process can lead to trace amounts. The packaging includes a precautionary allergen disclosure for transparency. Vegans who are comfortable with this will find the cookies acceptable, while those with strict zero-tolerance policies may prefer to avoid them.
A Vegan's Cookie Season Strategy
With this knowledge, a vegan can confidently approach cookie season. Start by finding out which baker supplies your local troop. You can ask a Girl Scout, check the box, or use the Girl Scout council finder on their website to determine this. If you are in a Little Brownie Bakers region but want the wider variety of vegan options, you can explore online ordering from a troop in an ABC Bakers region using the Digital Cookie platform. This allows you to support a Girl Scout while still getting the cookies that fit your dietary needs. Always double-check the ingredient list on the packaging for the most accurate information before you buy.
Beyond the Cookie: Broader Nutrition on a Vegan Diet
While it's exciting to find vegan-friendly treats like certain Girl Scout cookies, it's important to remember that they are still a dessert. A balanced vegan diet is about more than just avoiding animal products; it emphasizes nutrient-dense whole foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Enjoying these occasional treats is part of a healthy relationship with food, but they shouldn't replace the nutritional foundation of a well-planned, plant-based eating pattern.
Conclusion
So, can vegans eat Girl Scout cookies? The answer is yes, but with a few important caveats. It is essential to first identify which of the two bakeries, ABC Bakers or Little Brownie Bakers, produces your local troop's cookies, as their recipes differ. Thin Mints are a safe bet everywhere, while councils using ABC Bakers offer several additional vegan varieties like Peanut Butter Patties and Lemonades. By checking the bakery and label, vegans can confidently participate in cookie season and support the Girl Scouts, one delicious, plant-based cookie at a time. For more information on ingredients, you can visit the official Girl Scouts website.
