Every year, National Girl Scout Day is celebrated on March 12. Why? Girl Scouts actually came into existence on this day in 1912 thanks to Juliette Gordon Low. During this initial meeting in Savannah, Georgia, just 18 girls attended. Now, Girl Scouts has grown to almost 4 million members, and counting! This incredible organization aims to help girls develop their full potential and contribute to the improvement of society!
So, as impressed and inspired as I am with this company, what exactly does this National Girl Scout Day mean to me? An excuse to indulge in Girl Scout cookies, of course!!
But this year, I’m mixing things up a bit. No cookies straight out of the box for me (okay, let’s be real…maybe 1 or 2), instead I plan on taking Girl Scout Cookies to the NEXT level! I have gathered up my favorite recipes utilizing Girl Scout cookies as the main ingredient. Because, yes, Girl Scout cookies DO taste good on their own…but they taste BEYOND GREAT when you add in a few extra ingredients!
If National Girl Scout Day isn’t the perfect excuse to try out some of these recipes, then I don’t know what is!!
Thin Mint Truffle Pops
Give Thin Mints an upgrade with this delightful take on the chocolatey-mint cookie classic. Simply ground up a box of Thin Mints and mix in a 4 oz block of cream cheese. Roll this mixture into 1 inch balls, place on wax paper lined baking sheet and pop into the fridge for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, melt chocolate (or green candy melts for a more festive look), and after the chocolate balls have set in the fridge, use a toothpick dip each one into the melted chocolate. Set each ball back on the lined baking sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate’s hardened!
Samoa Pudding Pops
For this refreshing treat all you need to do is combine a cup of pre-made coconut pudding (or whichever flavor you prefer), 3/4 cup of milk, and a half teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth. Pour a layer of the pudding mixture into a popsicle mold (or an ice cube tray works too!), transfer to freezer, and allow to freeze completely. Then pour a layer of crushed samoa cookies onto the frozen layer, and pour another layer of pudding on top. Again, pop into the freezer and allow to freeze. Continue layering until your heart is content, freeze, and enjoy!
Tagalongs
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and mix a boxed cake mix according to their provided directions. Put 2 tablespoons of batter into the greased muffin tin and nestle a Tagalong cookie directly on top, then finish pouring in the rest of the batter. Bake for about 18 minutes and cool completely. For the mouthwatering frosting, mix 1 cup of butter, 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons whipping cream, 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 4 cups of powdered sugar. When the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with this tasty mixture, top with a half of a tagalong and indulge in this sinfully delicious dessert!
Savannah Smiles Streusel Bars
As sweet as this recipe is, I wouldn’t be opposed to serve this up for a decadent breakfast surprise! For the crust mix together 1/4 cup of softened butter, 1/3 cup of flower, 1/4 cup powdered sugar and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. In a bowl combine 2 packages of cream cheese with 1 large egg, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Spoon this mixture evenly on top of the cooked crust. Crumble a package of Savannah Smiles cookies on top of filling layer and return to oven for another 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and wait for the bars to cool (if you can) before serving!
Trefoil Cookie Butter
This might be my favorite recipe thus far, possibly because it’s so versatile! In a food processor, whip up 1 sleeve of trefoils, 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla, a dash of cinnamon, 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons of milk. The consistency should resemble that of butter and can be used on just about anything your heart desires! Don’t forget to store the leftover in the fridge…but after one bite, there’s a good chance there won’t be any!
Do-si-do S’mores
This one’s easy, yet brilliant at the same time! Impress your friends around the bonfire with these s’mores by simply substituting graham crackers with Do-Si-Dos. Twist off the top cookie from the bottom and place your melted marshmallow and slice of chocolate in between! Sounds like the perfect campfire treat to me!
Rah-Rah Raisin Bread Pudding
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place an entire package of broken up Rah-Rah Raisin cookies on the bottom of a greased casserole dish. In a seperate bowl mix together 2 eggs, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 cup of milk. Pour this mixture on top of the cookies and bake for 30 minutes. Just before serving, stir a small box of instant vanilla pudding with 2 1/2 cups of milk, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg; and drizzle this concoction on top of the bread pudding. You can also use caramel sauce if you prefer. Spruce up the final product with a sprinkle of raisins, and maybe even a scoop of ice cream!
So before you reach for that box of cookies, consider revamping them into something even MORE delectable! If you have any other ideas for ways to give Girl Scout cookies a new spin, let us know! And be sure to SHARE these ideas with everyone you know!
