What Are the Ingredients in Tagalongs?

November 9, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the official ingredient list from Little Brownie Bakers, the base ingredients for Tagalongs include peanuts, sugar, enriched flour, and cocoa. Knowing what are the ingredients in Tagalongs is crucial for anyone with dietary restrictions or food allergies, especially due to the use of peanuts, milk, and wheat.

Quick Summary

A breakdown of the components found in Tagalongs cookies, including the peanut butter, flour, sugar, and chocolate coating, along with major allergens and production details from Little Brownie Bakers. It also highlights differences from Peanut Butter Patties.

Key Points

Cookie Base: Tagalongs have a crisp, wafer-style cookie base made from enriched wheat flour.
Peanut Butter Filling: The creamy filling consists of peanuts, sugar, hydrogenated palm oil, and salt.
Chocolaty Coating: The cookie is enrobed in a coating made primarily from sugar, vegetable oils, and cocoa.
Not Vegan: Tagalongs contain whey, a milk ingredient, distinguishing them from the vegan-friendly Peanut Butter Patties from ABC Bakers.
Major Allergens: Key allergens are peanuts, wheat, soy, and milk, with cross-contamination warnings for tree nuts and eggs.
Two Bakeries: Ingredient lists differ based on whether the cookies are from Little Brownie Bakers (Tagalongs) or ABC Bakers (Peanut Butter Patties).

A Detailed Look at Tagalongs' Core Components

Tagalongs, produced by Little Brownie Bakers for the Girl Scouts, are a popular cookie known for their layered flavor profile of peanut butter and chocolate. The complete ingredient list, which is often dense and contains many sub-ingredients, can be broken down into three main sections: the crispy cookie base, the creamy peanut butter filling, and the chocolaty coating. Each component contributes to the cookie's signature texture and taste.

The Chocolate and Peanut Butter Coatings

The outer layer of a Tagalong is a chocolaty coating that fully enrobes the cookie. The main ingredients for this coating include sugar and various vegetable oils, such as palm kernel and palm oil. Cocoa powder is used to provide the chocolate flavor, while soy lecithin acts as an emulsifier to create a smooth texture. The iconic peanut butter filling is made from peanuts, sugar, hydrogenated palm oil, and salt. The use of hydrogenated oil helps the filling maintain its consistency and shape, ensuring it stays firmly on top of the cookie base.

The Cookie Base and Other Ingredients

The cookie base is a crunchy wafer made from enriched flour, which contains wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, and B vitamins. Other ingredients in the base include sugar, invert sugar, cornstarch, salt, and leavening agents like baking soda and monocalcium phosphate. The cookie's crispy texture provides a contrast to the smooth fillings. Several minor ingredients and additives, such as natural and artificial flavors, are also listed to enhance the overall taste. One notable ingredient is whey, which is a milk derivative.

Key Additives and Allergens

Tagalongs are manufactured in a facility that also processes other allergens, increasing the risk of cross-contamination. It's crucial for consumers with severe allergies to be aware of these manufacturing practices. The primary allergens present in Tagalongs include peanuts, wheat, soy, and milk.

Emulsifiers: Soy lecithin and sorbitan tristearate are used to keep the chocolate and peanut butter smooth and prevent separation.
Leavening Agents: Baking soda and monocalcium phosphate help the cookie base rise and achieve its light, crispy texture.
Sweeteners: In addition to sugar, invert sugar provides moisture and a sweeter taste, while cornstarch is used as a thickener.

Tagalongs vs. Peanut Butter Patties: A Crucial Distinction

There is a common point of confusion among Girl Scout cookie fans regarding Tagalongs and Peanut Butter Patties. This is because the Girl Scouts work with two different bakeries, Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Bakers, and their products have slightly different recipes. Tagalongs are the version from Little Brownie Bakers, while Peanut Butter Patties are from ABC Bakers. The most significant difference lies in their ingredients, particularly regarding allergens.

Why Tagalongs are NOT Vegan

Unlike Peanut Butter Patties, the Tagalongs from Little Brownie Bakers are not vegan because they contain whey, a milk ingredient. The ABC Bakers version, the Peanut Butter Pattie, uses a different recipe that does not include whey, making it vegan-friendly. This distinction is critical for those on a plant-based diet and is a common source of confusion during cookie season.

Ingredient Comparison: Tagalongs vs. Peanut Butter Patties


Component	Tagalongs (Little Brownie Bakers)	Peanut Butter Patties (ABC Bakers)
Peanut Butter	Peanuts, sugar, hydrogenated palm oil, salt, whey	Peanuts, hydrogenated palm oil, corn syrup solids, salt
Cookie Base	Enriched flour, sugar, vegetable oil, invert sugar	Enriched wheat flour, vegetable oil shortening, cocoa, high fructose corn syrup
Chocolaty Coating	Sugar, vegetable oil, cocoa, soy lecithin, whey	Sugar, vegetable oil, cocoa processed with alkali, soy lecithin
Major Allergens	Peanut, Wheat, Soy, Milk	Peanut, Wheat, Soy
Vegan Status	No (contains milk)	Yes (vegan-friendly)

Conclusion: Understanding the Full Picture

While the simple answer to "what are the ingredients in Tagalongs" might be peanut butter and chocolate, the full ingredient list reveals a more complex picture. The cookie is a carefully engineered blend of flour, sugars, oils, and other additives to achieve its unique flavor and texture. Crucially, the presence of milk derivatives like whey distinguishes Tagalongs from their vegan counterpart, Peanut Butter Patties, made by the other official Girl Scout baker. For consumers with allergies, always check the packaging for the most current and accurate ingredient information. The official Girl Scouts website offers detailed allergen information for all their products, confirming the ingredients and manufacturing conditions. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the official Little Brownie Bakers website.

Frequently Asked Questions

The peanut butter filling in Tagalongs is a specially formulated mixture containing peanuts, sugar, hydrogenated palm oil, and salt. Unlike some natural peanut butters, it is designed for a consistent, thick texture.

No, Tagalongs are not vegan. They are produced by Little Brownie Bakers and contain whey, a milk ingredient. The similar-looking Peanut Butter Patties from ABC Bakers, however, are vegan.

Yes, according to the ingredient list from Little Brownie Bakers, Tagalongs contain both natural and artificial flavors to enhance their taste.

The difference in names is because the Girl Scouts partner with two different bakeries. Little Brownie Bakers produces Tagalongs, while ABC Bakers produces Peanut Butter Patties. The recipes and ingredients for each are slightly different.

While the ingredient list for Tagalongs does not include eggs, they are manufactured in a shared facility with tree nuts and eggs, so there is a risk of cross-contamination for those with egg allergies.

Enriched flour is wheat flour that has been supplemented with nutrients like niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, and riboflavin. It is used to create the crispy cookie base.

The major allergens in Tagalongs are peanuts, wheat, soy, and milk. The product is also made in a facility that handles tree nuts and eggs, posing a potential risk for those with severe allergies.