New Girl Scout Cookie Has Nostalgia-Lovers Buzzing

Girl Scout cookie season officially launched Tuesday, January 6, introducing Exploremores to the 2026 lineup. The sandwich cookie takes inspiration from rocky road ice cream, featuring flavors of chocolate, marshmallow, and toasted almond-flavored crème. Girl Scouts of the USA retired S’mores and Toast-Yay! at the end of the 2025 season. “Girl Scout Cookie season is always a moment of joy and tradition, and this year promises to be incredibly exciting,” said Wendy Lou, who oversees the cookie program, in a press release.

GSUSA first announced Exploremores in September 2025, revealing the flavor months before the season began. PEOPLE exclusively reported the news in September. The retired S’mores featured graham sandwich cookies with chocolate and marshmallow filling, while Toast-Yay! were French toast-flavored cookies dipped in icing. When GSUSA announced the discontinuations in January 2025, a spokesperson told NBC’s TODAY that this marked the first time the organization gave customers advance notice that specific flavors would be retired.

Classic favorites return for 2026, including Thin Mints, Samoas (also sold as Caramel deLites), and Tagalongs (also called Peanut Butter Patties). Exploremores are available nationally at local booths and online. Girl Scout Cookie season runs from January through April, but local timing and availability vary, according to GSUSA. Customers can find booths in their area by visiting girlscoutcookies.org or texting COOKIES to 59618 for details on where to purchase cookies locally.

Three Ice Cream-Inspired Flavors Create the New Sandwich Cookie

Exploremores feature a filling that combines chocolate, marshmallow, and toasted almond-flavored crème between chocolate wafers. GSUSA describes the cookie as rocky road ice cream-inspired in its press release. PEOPLE editors tried the new addition last fall and appreciated how the almond and marshmallow notes paired with the rich chocolate taste. The sandwich cookie format builds on previous varieties the organization has offered while introducing a flavor combination new to the Girl Scout cookie lineup.

According to a press release shared with PEOPLE, Exploremores captures “the limitless spirit of exploration that drives Girl Scouts.” The cookie-selling program teaches participating girls to set goals, manage money, and learn business ethics. Through the hands-on selling experience, girls develop creative and entrepreneurial skills. The program serves as practical business training where participants practice inventory management, customer transactions, and goal-setting while building abilities they’ll use beyond their scouting years.

Last year’s lineup featured Thin Mints, Samoas (or Caramel deLites), Peanut Butter Patties (or Tagalongs), Adventurefuls, Caramel Chocolate Chip, Lemonades, Lemon-Ups, Toffee-tastic, Trefoils, Peanut Butter Sandwich (or Do-si-dos), S’mores, and Toast-Yay! GSUSA hasn’t released a full cookie lineup for 2026 yet, but revealed that classic flavors, including Thin Mints and Samoas/Caramel deLites, will return along with Exploremores. This suggests the 2026 selection will mirror 2025 minus the two retired varieties.

All Cookie Proceeds Stay Local to Fund Girl Scout Programming

Cookie purchases directly fund Girl Scout councils and troops in each buyer’s community. “With each cookie box sold, consumers are supporting Girl Scouts as they learn, grow, and thrive through all of life’s adventures,” GSUSA said in a September statement. “All proceeds from cookie sales stay local with Girl Scout councils and troops to help fund life-changing programs, experiences, and learnings all year long.” This structure means every purchase impacts programming in the buyer’s own region.

Lou said cookie season represents both a joyful tradition and a learning opportunity in the press release announcing the season launch. Young sellers practice customer service skills through real interactions at cookie booths and during online sales. The program also helps girls understand business operations from planning to execution. Cookie sales teach financial literacy as participants track their earnings and learn how proceeds support their local troops and councils.

Girl Scouts has maintained its cookie program as a fundraising and skill-building initiative for decades. Thin Mints have become a widely recognized cookie variety. Retiring S’mores and Toast-Yay! while adding Exploremores updates the selection while preserving classics that customers purchase annually. GSUSA balances introducing new options with keeping traditional favorites. The cookie program continues to attract both returning customers who seek familiar flavors and new buyers interested in trying recent additions like the rocky road-inspired Exploremores for this anticipated annual event.

Multiple Tools Help Customers Find Cookies Near Them

Customers have several ways to track down Exploremores and other varieties during the 2026 season. The organization operates a dedicated website where visitors can search for booth locations based on their address or zip code. Those who prefer text updates can message COOKIES to 59618 to receive details about nearby availability. Both in-person booth shopping and online ordering remain options, giving supporters flexibility in which troops they choose to support.

Individual Girl Scout councils determine specific start and end dates for their regions. Some areas may begin sales earlier in January or extend beyond April, depending on their council’s schedule. Customers can visit the Girl Scouts website and sign up for alerts to stay informed about their local season. Those who sign up receive notifications about booth locations, online ordering windows, and when their area’s cookie season officially begins and ends.

The January 6 launch begins the 2026 Girl Scout cookie season across the United States. The addition of Exploremores offers a new option for customers seeking something different this year. Both returning supporters and first-time buyers can seek out local Girl Scout booths during the season. The cookie program continues supporting youth development in communities nationwide. Every purchase helps fund activities, trips, and educational programs that Girl Scout troops and councils organize throughout the year.