Did you know there are two gluten-free Girl Scout cookies? I test one of the cookies for hidden gluten, and share what I think of both gluten-free options below. This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosures.
You know gluten free has gone mainstream when the Girl Scouts are making cookies for their gluten-challenged friends.
Gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats, is a staple ingredient in cookies. (Read: What is Gluten and Why is it Bad for Some People?)
But the Girl Scouts got clever a few years ago by launching two gluten-free cookie options, ensuring that its celiac and gluten intolerant Girl Scouts don’t have to go without.
While it’s nice to know the Girl Scouts have considered the millions of gluten-free eaters in the world, I’m sorry to report that the cookies are only lackluster.
I personally miss Thin Mint and Tagalongs cookies, and neither are available gluten free. (Please note that I created my own copycat gluten-free Thin Mint cookie recipe.)
Gluten-Free Girl Scout Cookie Options
The Girl Scouts are on-trend by offering not one, but two gluten-free cookies for their gluten-challenged supporters.
And even better, the Girl Scouts ensured that both of its gluten-free cookie options were certified gluten free.
Let’s talk about which options are safe for the gluten-free community:
(1) Gluten-Free Caramel Chocolate Chip
The Caramel Chocolate chips cookies have a subtle caramel flavor with a hint of sea salt. They’re crunchy (not soft) and a bit dry and crumbly.
Unfortunately, the gluten-free caramel chocolate chip cookies are only offered in select markets (they’re not available in my hometown of Denver, bummer).
Thanks to Facebook, I was able to purchase some from a friend and have them shipped to me.
Because the cookies contain oat flour, and oats are a controversial ingredient in the celiac disease space, I decided to test the cookies for hidden gluten using my Nima Sensor, a portable gluten-detecting device.
I’m happy to report that Nima didn’t find any hidden gluten. (Smiley face = no gluten found.)
In addition to gluten-free oat flour, the cookies also contain brown sugar, semisweet chocolate chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, dextrose, sunflower lecithin), butter, eggs, sunflower oil, tapioca starch, invert sugar, sweetened condensed milk, molasses, natural flavor, sea salt, xanthan gum, cream of tartar, baking powder (cornstarch) and baking soda.
The caramel chocolate chip cookies are certified gluten free by the GFCO.
(2) Gluten-Free Toffee-tastic Cookies
The Girl Scouts also offer Toffee-tastic cookies to the gluten-challenged community. These cookies are crispy, buttery cookies that contain sweet and crunchy golden toffee bits.
The ingredients include rice flour, tapioca starch, sugar, butter, palm oil, brown rice flour, butter toffee bits (sugar, butter, corn syrup, soy lecithin, salt), invert sugar, salt, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, and baking soda.
Toffee-tastic cookies are certified gluten free by the NSF and are only offered in select markets (and they are available in Denver).
I’ve never been one to eat toffee-flavored anything, so I’m not excited about this flavor at all. However, I bought some in the name of research so I could tell you they’re okay, not as bad as I thought they would be. They have more of a buttery flavor than toffee flavor, which is a-okay with me.
Learn more about all of the gluten-free Girl Scout cookies options on the Girl Scout website.
Gluten-Free Girl Scouts Alternatives
While it’s nice that that Girl Scouts created gluten-free cookies, in all honesty, the only Girl Scouts cookie I ever want is the Thin Mint cookie, which is not gluten free.
If you love and miss Thin Mint cookies like me, I have a few suggestions for you:
(1) Try Goodie Girl Mint Cookies
Good Girl Mint Cookies are gluten free and taste nearly identical to Thin Mint cookies. Find them on Amazon or at many local grocery stores nationwide. I’ve even seen them at Marshalls and HomeGoods too. I check for them when I shop at either of those stores.
(2) Lillabee’s Chocolate Mint Brownie Thins
Lillabee’s offers a paleo version of Thin Mint cookies that just might satisfy your Thin Mint cookie cravings.
If it fits your diet, I suggest coating these crunchy mint brownie cookie crisps with a smothering of melted chocolate. Purchase Lillabees Brownie Thin Mints on Amazon.
(3) Copycat Gluten-Free Thin Mint Cookies
If you’re comfortable in the kitchen, I highly recommend making my copycat gluten-free Thin Mint cookies.
I make them every year and personally think they’re better than the gluten-y Thin Mint cookies I can’t have anyway. Get the recipe here.
Lots of Cookie Options
Don’t love the cookie options in this post? Here are other gluten-free cookie recipes worth trying:
Gluten-Free Frosted Sugar Cookies
Monk Fruit Chocolate Chip Cookies Made with Almond Flour (Keto and Low-Carb)
Classic Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies