New Girl Scout Cookie Flavor Coming Your Way

The Girl Scouts are going to tempt you with a new sweet treat this coming cookie season! This week, the Girl Scouts of Orange County and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced their new cookie, Caramel Chocolate Chip. A few quick tips: this Caramel Chocolate Chip cookie will join the 2019 lineup. It is gluten-free offering.

More than delicious cookies, the Girl Scout Cookie Program® fuels girls’ development of entrepreneurial and essential life skills, and cookie earnings power amazing experiences for girl members.

The largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, the Girl Scout Cookie Program is proven to help girls develop five essential life and business skills, fostering the next generation of women who are entrepreneurs and business leaders.

A recent Girl Scout Research Institute study found that 85 percent of girls surveyed learned how to set goals and meet deadlines; 88 percent became effective decision-makers; 88 percent learned to manage money; 85 percent gained people skills; and 94 percent learned business ethics—all through the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Two out of three girls surveyed (66 percent) developed all five skills while accomplishing amazing things for themselves and their communities.

Unfortunately, they won't be available to all. The Girl Scouts of Orange County, whose cookies are produced by ABC Bakers, is one of the select areas that will offer the new gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip cookie, which joins classics like the Thin Mints®, Caramel deLites®, and Shortbread varieties, as well as other Orange County favorites including Lemonades™ and S’mores™.

The new Caramel Chocolate Chip cookie features rich caramel, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and a hint of sea salt in a chewy cookie. Who doesn't love some sweet and savory together?

When can you order them? The new season for Girl Scout Cookies will start January 27, 2019 and they will be available for as long as supplies last, and can only be purchased from a local Girl Scout, the organization has said.

All cookies, including the new gluten-free variety, will be available for purchase for $5 a package.

Girl Scouts of Orange County’s Cookie Program is scheduled from Jan.27 – Mar. 10, 2019.

Each and every purchase of Girl Scout Cookies-- 100 percent of the net revenue-- stays local and is an investment in girls and their leadership capabilities, both now and in the future, they said.

In Orange County, Girl Scouts do incredible things thanks to their cookie earnings, the spokesperson for that organization told Patch.

Collectively, Orange County Girl Scouts give over 500,000 hours each year through community service and Take Action projects, they said.

“We are looking forward to another exciting year of building up the next generation of female entrepreneurs through the Girl Scout Cookie program,” said Girl Scouts of Orange County CEO Vikki Shepp. "Your support of your neighborhood Girl Scout is so much more than a package of cookies. You are helping girls earn funds so that they can give back locally and beyond. You are supporting new and exciting adventures as girls explore the outdoors and travel, and you are helping girls build essential business and life skills that will benefit them in school, college, and their careers. Put simply, the Girl Scout Cookie Programs helps girls realize their dreams.”

The Girl Scout Cookie Program remains a powerful tool in the development of financially savvy girl leaders, GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo told us.

“Girl entrepreneurs learn valuable interpersonal and business skills via the cookie program that help them become successful in their future careers, no matter what path they choose," Acevedo said. "My experience selling Girl Scout Cookies taught me to be creative, enterprising, and persistent, and helped me build self-confidence and resilience. When you buy Girl Scout Cookies you are not only helping girls become business trailblazers, you’re also helping them power their Girl Scout adventures and ensuring they have access to the cutting-edge leadership experiences and opportunities that only Girl Scouts can offer.”

To learn more about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, visit www.girlscoutcookies.org. For more information about Girl Scouts, including how to join or volunteer, visit www.girlscouts.org/join.

What do you think about the new flavor? A swing and a miss or a home run? Let us know on Patch!

Photos, courtesy of Orange County Girl Scouts of USA