Introduction to the New Cookie
There is a universally accepted truth in today’s America: There are those with flawless taste who know Caramel deLites (née Samoas) are the reigning champion of Girl Scout Cookies, and there are those who are wrong.
The New Challenger: Exploremores
But the ardent annual cookie pushers have a new challenger. The Girl Scouts of America just dropped Exploremores, a “rocky road” ice cream-inspired confection. I scored an invite to the VIP reveal party in Irvine, California, on Thursday, Sept. 25 where I got an exclusive first-taste to see if the newbie was a threat to the reigning champ or just a glorified Tagalong.
Description of Exploremores
Girls Scouts of Orange County CEO Vikki Shepp described the Exploremores as a “rocky road-inspired sandwich cookie” with a creamy filling that “evokes those flavors of almond, chocolate and marshmallow.” She would know; Shepp was on the innovation committee that spent three years developing the new cookie.
Taste and Texture
The rookie cookie is a chocolate sandwich one with a sweet, chocolate-hued filling. Unlike the crumbly texture of an Oreo (from which the Exploremores take clear inspiration), the first bite delivered a pleasingly soft and slightly chewy texture, along with a subtle hint of marshmallow. It’s a pleasant, borderline nostalgic taste that’s hard not to like.
The Rocky Road Inspiration
The “rocky road” inspiration, however, comes up a bit short. The almond note, either in textural or extract forms (Girls Scout’s official copy states that the cookies feature a “toasted almond-flavored crème”), was nearly absent, lost beneath the chocolate and sugar. If you’re looking for a true rocky road experience, you won’t find a crystal-clear interpretation here. But it’s still a rather tasty cookie that, if you squint hard enough, might evoke a scenic journey on the road of rockiness.
Comparison to Other Cookies
Does it dethrone the Caramel deLite? Alas, no. That would be a herculean task. Even Thin Mints (preferably frozen, of course), the obvious second-place contender, can’t beat the trifecta of caramel, coconut and milk chocolate. (OK, fine: According to Shepp, Thin Mints are still the top seller, with Caramel deLite a “close second.”) But, sure, what with its creamy filling and pleasant chew, I’d safely put Exploremores up there with the best.
The Girl Scout Mission
The event itself was a testament to the Girl Scout mission, a tradition as venerable as the cookies they sell. The sale of cookies started as a grassroots effort in 1917 when the cookies, usually simple sugar cookies, were originally home-baked by troop members with moms volunteering as advisers. This at-home fundraiser has since evolved into today’s program, which, while teaching girls entrepreneurial skills, helps fund activities and service projects.
The Girl Scouts sell roughly around 200 million boxes each year, according to a 2023 NPR report, with an estimated 700,000 Girl Scouts participating.
The Cookie Unveiling Event
The cookie unveiling, fittingly, was held at Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine, a not-for-profit restaurant. Owner Natalia Ostensen, a onetime Girl Scout from Laguna Beach, shared her own memories with the organization, like developing deep friendships at meetings to singing songs and baking bread on a stick at camp.
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Tayva Veal, a Girl Scouts Ambassador, holds up a box of Exploremores. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Heroic Actions
The evening’s highlight, however, was 16-year-old Girl Scout Ambassador Tayva Veal from troop 2898 in Lake Forest. Veal shared how the organization taught her to “lead with compassion,” a lesson that helped in her recent heroic actions. Shepp announced that Veal earned the rare Girl Scout Saving Award, an accolade reserved for monumental acts of bravery; Veal, along with her mother, helped save the life of a Sand City Beach fisherman who lost his footing and collapsed, pulling him ashore.
Conclusion
Exploremore is a solid, sweet cookie contender that will be available when Girl Scout Cookie season arrives.
FAQs
Q: What is the new Girl Scout Cookie?
A: The new Girl Scout Cookie is called Exploremores, a “rocky road” ice cream-inspired confection.
Q: What does the Exploremores cookie taste like?
A: The Exploremores cookie has a sweet, chocolate-hued filling, a pleasingly soft and slightly chewy texture, and a subtle hint of marshmallow.
Q: Is the Exploremores cookie better than the Caramel deLite?
A: No, the Caramel deLite is still the reigning champion of Girl Scout Cookies.
Q: How many boxes of Girl Scout Cookies are sold each year?
A: The Girl Scouts sell roughly around 200 million boxes each year.
Q: What is the Girl Scout Saving Award?
A: The Girl Scout Saving Award is an accolade reserved for monumental acts of bravery.
