Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Gluten-Free Girl Scout Cookies - Horrible!

sschevychevelle

Recommended Posts

sschevychevelle Newbie
sschevychevelle
Posted

Hey everyone, this is my first post since being diagnosed with Celiac in December (2013). The forum has been incredibly helpful, and I'm excited to become part of the community. Now, on to the post...

 

It's unfortunate that my first post is a negative one, but ever since finding out about the pilot program for gluten-free girlscout cookies a few weeks ago, I had been dying to see what they came up with - I'm a thin mint addict every year when they come out, and love most of their other cookies, so I figured they'd be able to put together a phenomenal gluten-free cookie.  WRONG.

 

My coworker, who's daughter is a Girl Scout, brought in one single Girl Scout gluten-free cookie for me to sample today. They only gave her one sample cookie in a sealed plastic bag, and knowing I had just been diagnosed with Celiac, she kindly saved it for me to sample.  It was REALLY bad.  Super sugary sweet, crumbled into a very fine powder in my mouth, and had a strange flavor that reminded me of something ..... had me racking my brain for a minute.....  then I came up with it - it tasted exactly like candy cigarettes, the white sugary ones.  These: 

 

candy-cigarettes.webp

 

That is not how a cookie should taste. The only good part was the chocolate chips.  Anyways, I'm extremely disappointed.  Try them out if you must, but I just want to save some people the 3.75 or whatever they will charge for them.  I can all but guarantee they won't sell them nation-wide next year because whoever tries them during this pilot season is going to absolutely hate them. 

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

I never bought girlscout cookies even before I went gluten-free. Too expensive, and hardly any of the money raised actually goes to the girl scouts.

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

If you want thin-mints...try an almond or coconut based one. I *think* Elana's pantry has a recipe. I've been too chicken to try (I have mint flavoring issues) but I may since I've had luck recently with an organic mint extract.

I'll probably get violent d, but what the hell.

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

I just looked up Pamela's cookies and I didn't see a thin mint, but their double chocolate mini cookies are really good. I haven't tried all the flavors because a lot of them have corn (which I am intolerant to), but if the rest of their stuff is as good as these chocolate mini's, I bet you'll be delighted. Maybe you could make some sort of mint "dip" to use with them.

 

Or you could google gluten-free thin mint recipes and make your own.

LauraTX Rising Star
LauraTX
Posted

That is quite disappointing.  My area isn't a part of the test areas, but I was hoping for it next year.  I always like to support Girl Scouts, when I was a kid I would sell a lot of boxes so I could get free summer camp.   Ah well, my hiney size doesn't need cookies anyways!

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I never bought girlscout cookies even before I went gluten-free. Too expensive, and hardly any of the money raised actually goes to the girl scouts.

No, the troop gets about 70 cents per box. The rest of the profit goes to the council who must pay for volunteer training (from how to safely camp to child abuse identification....the classes are endless), fingerprinting and background checks (that exceeds fifty bucks per adult), liability insurance for every single Girl Scout event including meetings, etc. Like you, I was skeptical. It is unfortunate that we live in a sue happy society where even the scouts are not immune.

Our cookie troop profits cover the costs of our events like camping, but also we cover vests and dues to those who can not afford to be in scouts. Girl Scouts is primarily run by volunteers like me and most of our female Senators, Congresswomen, astronauts, etc. we're once scouts.

I will get off my soap box now. But I really believe in the Girl Scout organization. It is not perfect, but no group is!

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

I apologize. I knew the troop only kept a small percentage but I assumed it was like a lot of the school fundraisers where a COMPANY kept most of the profits. Now I know better. Thank you.

 

I was a 4-H girl when I was young. And whether it be 4-H, Scouting, Boys and Girl's Clubs, or other kid's organizations, there is no doubt in my mind these things are great for kids.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I have not tried the gluten-free Girl Scout cookies yet. I expect they'll be no better than other store-bought gluten-free versions, but remember, it takes time to forget what gluten/wheat tastes like. I expect Chevy Chevrolet ( my brother has a 1968 model), you have not been gluten free long enough!

In any case, our troop is selling them. I hope they sell well. I am excited that some little celiac Girl Scout will get to eat some cookies. How nice to feel normal!

By the way, You don't have to eat the cookies. Girl Scouts has a "Care to Share" program. These cookies are donated to our troops or our local food shelter.

sschevychevelle Newbie
sschevychevelle
Posted
  • Author

I have not tried the gluten-free Girl Scout cookies yet. I expect they'll be no better than other store-bought gluten-free versions, but remember, it takes time to forget what gluten/wheat tastes like. I expect Chevy Chevrolet ( my brother has a 1968 model), you have not been gluten free long enough!

In any case, our troop is selling them. I hope they sell well. I am excited that some little celiac Girl Scout will get to eat some cookies. How nice to feel normal!

By the way, You don't have to eat the cookies. Girl Scouts has a "Care to Share" program. These cookies are donated to our troops or our local food shelter.

 

I have only been gluten free for a month, however I've already had 4-5 different brands/kinds of gluten free cookies - not that that's something to brag about! - and they've all been very good actually.  I didn't mean to come on here and rag on the Girl Scout organization in any way, I was just shocked at how bad the cookie tasted.  I assumed if it was made by the Girl Scouts, it was going to be really good.  I'm also disappointed because it would've been great to see this become a regular part of their line-up, but now I'm doubting that enough people will buy these again after eating them and so they will most likely not continue to make them.

 

But I'm one person, so obviously try them for yourself before taking my word for it.  

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

Too bad they didn't make gluten-free thin mints. No one out there has a version...everybody has chocolate chip.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I just returned from a cookie meeting and I guess I will have to wait until the end of the month to try the gluten-free cookies when they make the initial deliveries for our service unit. I am really hoping that they are decent. If not, maybe they will source a better supplier for next year. I did hear that they are better than those cinnamon "diet cookies" that they had in the past and have since discontinued.

I agree that there are too many chocolate chip cookies in the market. A nice brownie type cookie maybe. Of course I use to adore Thin Mints......

No offense taken.

Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

They tried sugar free ones one year.  Anyway...   A girl kept pushing me to buy some.  I finally told her that we had food allergies.  Not quite true as they are really intolerances.  So she brightly said that they had sugar free ones!  Then I told her that we weren't allergic to sugar.

 

Apparently in PA they sold nuts and trail mix one year as I found some outdated packets in my MIL's cupboard.  We never had those here though.

 

I think they might do better if they switched to something smaller and less expensive.  Not sure what though.  The boy scouts have popcorn but that's even worse in terms of price.

WitsEnd Rookie
WitsEnd
Posted

Girl Scout cookies are made in several different bakeries across the country and while they all produce the same core cookies (thin mint, trefoils, samoas, etc) there are other flavors that are unique to certain bakeries so one GS may sell a lemon cookie, for example, but that cookie isn't offered in a different state. So there's a possibility some gluten-free cookies are better than others.

I haven't heard anything about their baking process for gluten-free cookies though. I hope they are taking all the proper precautions necessary to avoid cross contamination. Knowing the Girl Scouts I bet they are but obviously I'd like to see that in writing before eating the cookies.

Brandiwine Contributor
Brandiwine
Posted

:( I was looking forward to trying them, glad you let us know I would have been disappointed with a box full of nasty cookies...

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

I can not figure out for the life of me why on earth they thought it was a good idea to make a gluten free Girl Scout cookie and not make it a thin mint. Frankly, the decision to go with something else entirely was (imo) the height of idiocy.

JNBunnie1 Community Regular
JNBunnie1
Posted

I'm kinda with you on that one Addy, I used to be a Girl Scout, definitely the best-seller.

I know I used to eat more than my share....

NoGlutenCooties Contributor
NoGlutenCooties
Posted

I'm one of the few weird people in the world who don't like Girl Scout cookies - any of them - never did. But I was going to try the Gluten Free ones if I saw them... now I know not to bother. Thanks!

 

(Someone asked about their process and being aware of cross-contamination... the advertisement I saw had the "Certified Gluten Free" logo on it... which leads me to believe they must be doing it right... right?)

larry mac Enthusiast
larry mac
Posted

My wife always bought a bunch of cookies when her niece was in Girl Scouts. Luckily she's grown up now. Thin mints were my least favorite. Just never have liked hardly anything mint. I did like the Trefoils, Thanks-a-Lots, Samoas, and Tagalongs.

 

It's my understanding that the gluten-free ones are only to be offered in certain regions of the country, and only for table sales. 

 

best regards, larry mac

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I have the new gluten-free chocolate chip Shortbread cookies. Our troop is selling them. I admit, the are not as good as my homemade chocolate chip cookies, but the are not bad for a commercially baked cookie. The bakery did use two gums which affect the texture a bit, but I suspect that they were trying to kids from pulverizing them.

I ate one and then found myself reaching for another. If they were horrible, I would have stopped at one. My Gluten eating daughter stressed that they were much better than the cinnamon diet cookies offered in the past.

The original poster has only been gluten-free for less than two months. Everyone has their own opinion, but let's face it, it takes a long time to forget what gluten containing foods taste like!

sschevychevelle Newbie
sschevychevelle
Posted
  • Author

I have the new gluten-free chocolate chip Shortbread cookies. Our troop is selling them. I admit, the are not as good as my homemade chocolate chip cookies, but the are not bad for a commercially baked cookie. The bakery did use two gums which affect the texture a bit, but I suspect that they were trying to kids from pulverizing them.

I ate one and then found myself reaching for another. If they were horrible, I would have stopped at one. My Gluten eating daughter stressed that they were much better than the cinnamon diet cookies offered in the past.

The original poster has only been gluten-free for less than two months. Everyone has their own opinion, but let's face it, it takes a long time to forget what gluten containing foods taste like!

 

Cyclinglady, you already posted a comment on the 1st page of this thread saying that I've only been gluten-free and it takes a long time to forget what gluten containing foods taste like.  My response to your first comment was that I actually have found a TON of delicious gluten-free cookies.  For example, Udi's snickerdoodles, although they are incredibly unhealthy (100+ calories per cookie) are actuallly the best snickerdoodles I've ever had.  I've even made a couple batches of gluten free cookies myself, using good recipes, that turned out really delicious.  So the issue is not that I am expecting so much from gluten-free cookies.  The issue was that MY experience with the girl scout cookie was that it was powdery, SUPER sweet, and tasted exactly like a candy cigarette. 

 

But again, I didn't write this post with the intent of attacking the girl scouts or hurting their sales.  I was just taken back by how bad of a job they did, especially considering that it seems very easy to make delicious gluten-free cookies, and I wanted to share my experience with others. 

 

As for your review of the cookie, someone mentioned that different regions bake the cookies differently, so maybe your region made a better gluten-free cookie, who knows.  My region's was very very BAD.

LauraTX Rising Star
LauraTX
Posted

Cyclinglady, you already posted a comment on the 1st page of this thread saying that I've only been gluten-free and it takes a long time to forget what gluten containing foods taste like.  My response to your first comment was that I actually have found a TON of delicious gluten-free cookies.  For example, Udi's snickerdoodles, although they are incredibly unhealthy (100+ calories per cookie) are actuallly the best snickerdoodles I've ever had.  I've even made a couple batches of gluten free cookies myself, using good recipes, that turned out really delicious.  So the issue is not that I am expecting so much from gluten-free cookies.  The issue was that MY experience with the girl scout cookie was that it was powdery, SUPER sweet, and tasted exactly like a candy cigarette. 

 

I think you guys both have valid input here, that is the great part of this forum :)  We are all Silly Yaks together.  I think cyclinglady may be correct in that they had to make them extra hard and stuff to make it through handling and such with the pouch packaging.

 

I personally never liked thin mints but I don't really like mint. I always liked the shortbread ones or "trefoils" I think they are called.   I think people don't buy girl scout cookies for the taste necessarily... I mean, how good can a shelf stable cookie be?  I used to LOVE pecan sandies as a kid, and one day a few years back I had a home made version from a bakery and I was like wow, pecan sandies taste like crap- where have these been all my life?!?!?!  I used to also be a fan of the famous amos chocolate chip cookies and those are about as hard and crusty as you can get.  But I would still eat the whole bag because they are all tiny and pop right into your mouth.  But they are no where in the same realm as fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.

 

BRB going to go dig in my chocolate stash now....

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

. But I really believe in the Girl Scout organization. It is not perfect, but no group is!

 

 

Me too! I was one for many years and I sold dozens of cookies.

 

I could eat a whole row of somoas in a heartbeat. :) 

 

I asked a group of them selling boxes outside the grocery store the other day f they had any G F ones. You would think I had asked

of they had any liver-flavored ones from the look I got. LOL The supervising Mom said 'Um,. no we just have the same flavors as always".

 

flavors...sigh...

I bought a few boxes anyway and gave them away to the guys working on our house.

 

Girl Scouts are a solid organization and they can use the support. IMHO

  • 2 weeks later...
lpellegr Collaborator
lpellegr
Posted

Just as a counterpoint, in spite of what I read here I bought 2 bags of the gluten-free cookies from a local (NJ) troop, and I was pleasantly surprised.  Sure, you only get 20 cookies for $5, but I had to stop myself after 3 cookies.  I thought they tasted and felt like my memory of Pecan Sandies (with chocolate chips instead of nuts).  It has been 9 years, and I have pretty low expectations for gluten-free foods, but I have to say I would recommend these.  I'm going to buy more and hide them from myself for when I need a cookie fix and don't want to bake them myself.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Just as a counterpoint, in spite of what I read here I bought 2 bags of the gluten-free cookies from a local (NJ) troop, and I was pleasantly surprised.  Sure, you only get 20 cookies for $5, but I had to stop myself after 3 cookies.  I thought they tasted and felt like my memory of Pecan Sandies (with chocolate chips instead of nuts).  It has been 9 years, and I have pretty low expectations for gluten-free foods, but I have to say I would recommend these.  I'm going to buy more and hide them from myself for when I need a cookie fix and don't want to bake them myself.

I have some in my big freezer right now! It is supposed to keep me from gobbling them up, but I deserve a treat after polishing all my living and dining room furniture (my Mom is coming soon!)

LauraTX Rising Star
LauraTX
Posted

UGH I want some!  Can't get them in my area :(

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,331
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Kristy2026
    Newest Member
    Kristy2026
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.