Understanding the Two Bakeries
Before diving into the vegan options, it's essential to understand that Girl Scout Cookies are produced by two commercial bakers: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers. Each local Girl Scout council contracts with one of these two bakers, meaning the cookies available in your area depend on which bakery your council uses. This is why certain familiar cookies can have different names and slightly different recipes or ingredients, depending on your region. It is crucial for vegan consumers to know which bakery serves their area to identify the correct plant-based choices.
How to Identify Your Troop's Bakery
The easiest way to identify which bakery your local troop uses is to ask the Scout or check the package for the baker's logo. If you are browsing online, you can often tell by the cookie names. For instance, the caramel-coconut cookie is called 'Samoas' by Little Brownie Bakers and 'Caramel deLites' by ABC Bakers. The lemon cookies are called 'Lemon-Ups' by Little Brownie Bakers and 'Lemonades' by ABC Bakers.
ABC Bakers: The Clear Winner for Vegan Cookies
For those seeking vegan-friendly Girl Scout Cookies, ABC Bakers is the bakery to look for. They consistently offer a wider selection of plant-based options. For the 2025 season, a spokesperson confirmed to VegNews that ABC Bakers bakes six varieties made with vegan ingredients.
Vegan Cookie Options from ABC Bakers
- Thin Mints: The classic chocolate-mint cookie is famously vegan from both bakeries.
- Peanut Butter Patties: A crispy vanilla cookie with a peanut butter filling, covered in a chocolaty coating. Note that the Little Brownie Bakers counterpart, Tagalongs, is not vegan.
- Lemonades: These tangy shortbread cookies with a lemon-flavored icing are a citrusy plant-based treat. The Little Brownie Bakers equivalent, Lemon-Ups, contains milk.
- Toast-Yay!: Inspired by French toast, these cookies have a cinnamon-maple flavor and are shaped like toast. They are confirmed vegan but will be discontinued after the 2025 season.
- Adventurefuls: A brownie-inspired cookie with a caramel crème center and a hint of sea salt. Importantly, only the ABC Bakers version is vegan, while the Little Brownie Bakers equivalent contains milk.
- Caramel Chocolate Chip (Gluten-Free): This chewy cookie with caramel and semi-sweet chocolate chips is certified gluten-free and also happens to be vegan.
Little Brownie Bakers: Limited Vegan Selection
Little Brownie Bakers offers a far more limited selection of vegan cookies. As of the 2025 season, only one cookie variety is made with vegan ingredients.
Vegan Cookie Options from Little Brownie Bakers
- Thin Mints: This is the only consistently vegan cookie from Little Brownie Bakers. It is a chocolate-mint cookie, though with a slightly different recipe and texture compared to the ABC Bakers version.
Comparison Table: ABC vs. Little Brownie Bakers
To make it easy, here is a breakdown of the vegan-friendly options from each bakery.
| Cookie Variety | ABC Bakers | Little Brownie Bakers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin Mints | Yes | Yes | Vegan from both, though recipes vary. |
| Peanut Butter Cookies | Peanut Butter Patties (Yes) | Tagalongs (No) | LBB version contains milk. |
| Lemon Cookies | Lemonades (Yes) | Lemon-Ups (No) | LBB version contains milk. |
| French Toast Inspired | Toast-Yay! (Yes) | N/A | Toast-Yay! will be discontinued after 2025. |
| Brownie-Inspired | Adventurefuls (Yes) | Adventurefuls (No) | LBB version contains milk. |
| Gluten-Free Cookie | Caramel Chocolate Chip (Yes, vegan) | Toffee-tastic (No, contains butter) | ABC's GF option is vegan; LBB's is not. |
How to Get Cookies from a Specific Bakery
If your local Girl Scout council uses Little Brownie Bakers and you want more vegan options, you're not out of luck. The Digital Cookie platform allows you to purchase cookies online from troops in different regions. If you know a troop that uses ABC Bakers, you can use their online portal to order directly and have them shipped to you. The nationwide shipping option, typically available for a limited time during cookie season, also provides access to the full range of options.
Conclusion
Based on the 2025 cookie lineup, ABC Bakers is the clear choice for vegan consumers, offering six distinct cookie varieties, including gluten-free options. Little Brownie Bakers provides only one vegan option, the classic Thin Mints. Because your local Girl Scout council's bakery dictates the cookie selection, checking which bakery is used is essential for any vegan cookie enthusiast. By using the Digital Cookie platform, fans can expand their options and enjoy the full range of vegan treats no matter where they live.
For more detailed information on ingredients and nutritional facts for all current offerings, visit the official Girl Scouts website.
