Get ready for Girl Scout Cookie wine pairing season!
Did you know I used to be a Girl Scout troop leader? Let’s just say I got sucked into it with crocodile tears my youngest dished out when her troop leader decided to move out of state a week before school started.
Being a Girl Scout troop leader for three years was definitely an experience. When it came to selling cookies – WOWZERS! It’s serious business. I was too busy to have my troop be anything but simple. So we would do a one day group sale at a friends house across the street from Washington Park in Denver – one of the busiest parks in the city. We would sell out in less than two hours. I would call my sales strategy a success – team building, togetherness and waaaay easier for all the working parents who’s kids sell cookies.
During my troop leading days I spent some time perfecting the best Girl Scout Cookie wine pairings. To be clear, I did not do this for work but out of necessity. You see as the parent who’s daughter(s) sells the cookies YOU are required to BUY all the cookies your child PLANS TO SELL and then you essentially reimburse yourself when the cookies are sold. Great strategy for Girl Scouts, not so much for the parent who drops a few Benjamin’s hoping their kid follows through with selling the cookies. (Now you know why all the parents at your office sell the cookies for their kids…)
We had A LOT of Girl Scout Cookies at my house since I had TWO little entrepreneurs.
My girls aren’t selling anymore so I can only help with Girl Scout Cookie wine pairing recommendations…
The Ultimate Girl Scout Cookie Wine Pairing Guide
Thin Mints
Thin Mints pair well with a rich, full bodied glass of red wine. My favorite pairings are Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tempernillo would also go well.
Samoas
Samoas are a balanced mix of sweet caramel, coconut and milk chocolate, making Merlot a perfect pairing.
Peanut Butter and Do-si-dos
Peanut Butter Tagalongs and Do-si-dos pair with juicy red wines such as Zinfandel or Malbec. (Merlot can work well too!) This Girl Scout Cookie wine pairing is like eating – and sipping – a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!!
Caramel Chocolate Chip
These gluten free chewy chocolate chip cookies have rich caramel, semisweet chocolate chips, and a hint of sea salt. When considering the perfect Girl Scout Cookie wine pairing a Port can work nicely but I also think a smooth Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot would be delicious.
Trefoils
Trefoils are delicious shortbread cookies – aka buttery sweetness with a crunch. My favorite wine pairing for these Girl Scout cookies are a buttery Chardonnay or a sparkling wine. A totally opposite – but delicious pairing – is with Sauvignon Blanc as its acidity cuts through the butter of the cookie.
Lemonades/Lemon-Ups
The best Girl Scout Cookie pairing for these lemony cookies are a crisp Albarino. Sparkling wine can also balance the sweet tartness of these cookies.
S’mores (these are being retired after 2025)
S’mores are my least favorite Girls Scout cookie only because we could never get enough for the troop to sell. They pair well with an oaked Chardonnay or a lighter red wine such as Pinot Noir.
Adventurefuls
Adventurefuls also came out after my girls stepped down from cookie sales. Thankfully as I would have eaten too many of these indulgent, salted caramel brownie cookies. Again, Port makes for the perfect Girl Scout Cookie wine pairing.
Elaine Schoch is an award-winning travel writer, wine judge, American Wine Specialist and certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET II). At Carpe Travel she shares wine travel destination guides for ALL WINE LOVERS – from novices to experienced pros – to help them plan their wine adventures, arming them with insider tips, must-visit spots, and things to see and do beyond the vines.