Girl Scout cookie season has arrived in America.

If there’s a knock at the door, there’s a chance it’s a Girl Scout who’s begun the annual ritual of selling the iconic cookies.

Of late, fans of the famous cookie brand can get their Trefoils and Adventurefuls at online storefronts, making the purchasing process smooth as butter for buyers, said Katie Maskey, product program communications manager at the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.

“Each girl is able to set up her own unique storefront. She can upload a video where she can directly talk to her customers. That way, she can upload a photo and then send out her link where customers can support her cookie business directly through online sales,” Mrs. Maskey said.

Online “digital cookie” storefronts help to develop marketing skills in the girls, Mrs. Maskey said.

“[They] learn some of those marketing skills that way. And then, as they are connecting with their customers, whether they’re sending an email ... they can watch as those sales come in, connect with their customers that way, and then they'll be able to watch how their marketing skills were able to be successful for them with those sales,” Mrs. Maskey said.

Customers can pay with a credit card, Venmo, or PayPal. In the storefront, buyers have the option to get the often addictive Girl Scout Cookies delivered by mail — or have the Girl Scout hand deliver them to their doorstep, the old-fashioned way.

“The girl is still absolutely involved in that process of the order, collecting the orders, delivering it to their customers. They’re learning those business ethics through the digital cookie process,” Mrs. Maskey said.

Order pickups begin Feb. 7, and in northwest Ohio the Thin Mints reign supreme.

“That is a nationwide, that is a council wide, that is a region wide — Thin Mints are number one,” Mrs. Maskey said. “A next close call, I would say, would be our Caramel deLites, and then the Peanut Butter Patties.”

Sweet treat enthusiasts who can’t wait for their order in the mail can often find Girl Scouts selling cookies at their local Kroger and Walmart, Mrs. Maskey said.

“All of our Kroger locations in Toledo are super excited that they are welcoming Girl Scouts this year in front of their business,” Mrs. Maskey said.

Cookie booths start Feb. 14 and last through March 16, where girls can practice their sales pitches and customer service skills on the ground.

“Being able to watch them grow is 100 percent my favorite part of being involved in the program,” Mrs. Maskey said.

She served as co-leader and volunteer for Girl Scout Troop 1186, from when the girls were Daisies to Brownies and now Juniors, she said.

“Watching them come out of their shells and learn communication skills. They are talking to people. They’re making eye contact, they’re having important conversations and talking about their plans and their goals and their desires to their cookie customers,” Mrs. Maskey said.

One flavor to say goodbye to and stock up apocalypse-style for is the Toast-Yay cookie flavor, which is having its last hurrah this year before being retired.

“It’s a French toast-inspired cookie, so it kind of has that nice cinnamony flavor profile to it,” Mrs. Maskey said. “Stock up. Put them in your freezer. That would be my advice.”

Girl Scout Cookie fanatics with a busy schedule can find time to make a quick purchase stop at a cookie booth just off the road at Mr. G’s Barn in Holland, sold by Girl Scout Troop 11002 stationed out of South Toledo.

“[The owner] always lets us sell there before he opens in March,” said Carrie Burk, troop leader and cookie manager of Troop 11002.

Cookie season brings forth opportunities for fund-raising in each troop — an experience that the leader of the former top-selling troop in Ohio knows firsthand, having gone on a trip to Florida during the summer with cookie sales money.

“Everything was paid for with our cookie sales that we’ve made over the years,” Mrs. Burk said. “They were able to fly. We rented an Airbnb. They swam with dolphins. We went to a dinner show. We’ve done amazing things. We went water rafting in West Virginia with our cookie sales.”

Their top-selling year the troop made more than $11,000, Mrs. Burk said. Being a top seller comes with the follow-through, of course.

“I remember picking up cookies, and we would have five vanloads full of cookies when we would pick up. Just pallets upon pallets of cookies,” Mrs. Burk said.

Girl Scout Cookie Season announces itself with opportunities for strengthening social skills and allowing for the joyous antics of youth, Mrs. Burk said.

“Selling in the snow, kids would make snow angels in the snow, between customers. ... It’s a good time,” Mrs. Burk said. “The girls always love dressing up and holding the signs. Waving at customers and flagging customers down.”

Sweets enthusiasts with a craving for Girl Scout cookies can visit gswo.org/findcookies to type in their ZIP code and find their nearest cookie booths after Feb. 14.

First Published January 8, 2025, 3:47 p.m.