Girl Scout Cookie Crumble: Part 4

It all comes down to this. This is for all the marbles. It's all on the line. 

Who will emerge victorious?

Thus far, we've seen that Samoas and ABC S'mores are better than Caramel deLites and LBB S'mores, Shortbreads and Do-Si-Dos are better than Trefoils and Peanut Butter Sandwiches, and Peanut Butter Patties and Lemon-Ups are better than Tagalongs and Lemonades. (In my opinion, of course. I'm not a reviewer who pretends I have all the answers. Just good taste.) 

It's the fourth quarter. The score is tied 3-3 between Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Bakers. Here we go.

Cookie Crumble, Round 7: Thin Mint (ABC) vs. Thin Mint (LBB)

Thin Mints are the classic Girl Scout cookie. I don't need to tell you that. This is the only cookie (aside from the recent S'mores addition) to have the same name in both regions. So I was surprised to see that THE signature Girl Scout cookie could be so different between the two regions. 

The ABC Thin Mint is a good cookie. It's more crunchy/crispy, and more mint-forward. The cookie is flavorful, has a good taste. The mint flavor is stronger, while the chocolate flavor is not as apparent. 

The LBB Thin Mint is also a good cookie. But it's a better executed cookie. The chocolate is smoother. The chocolate and mint flavors are more well-balanced. The cookie is still crunchy, but it's not like a cracker. The LBB Thin Mint hits the boxes for the ideal Thin Mint. 

Round 7 Winner: Thin Mint (LBB)

Overtime: Caramel Chocolate Chip, Toffee-tastic, Thanks-A-Lot

I've never tried these cookies before. I usually stick with my favorites. But I felt like I needed to taste them in order to round out my taste test. Since they don't have an equal made by the other baker, I didn't think it was right to include them in the overall score. But I thought they were worth mentioning.

Caramel Chocolate Chip (ABC) has good caramel and chocolate flavors. The cookie is gluten-free, which is a positive for some. I found it to be dry, almost like a biscuit. I wasn't a fan. I don't hate it, but I wouldn't choose to buy it.

Toffee-tastic (LBB) is also a gluten-free offering. It's like a sugar cookie with toffee pieces. It tasted somewhat like a Maurice Lenell cookie in mouth feel/texture (if that is a familiar reference to you - it might be too Chicago-centric). It is satisfying, but the toffee pieces can be sticky. 

Finally, the Thanks-a-Lot (ABC) cookie was actually very good. It's a shortbread cookie with a layer of chocolate on the bottom. Sadly, this cookie is being discontinued, but I think this was a real winner. It reminds me of the Petit Ecolier cookies. 

Final Thoughts

I always thought that Girl Scout cookies were a universal experience. I'm still surprised they're not, as I think about it. It wouldn't be difficult for two bakers to use the same recipes, would it? Are the differences due to climate? Is it an urban/rural split? 

Yet as I think about what it would take to have one common recipe for the whole country, I realize that we would be getting rid of cookies that would be somebody's favorite. Someone out there loves Caramel deLites and Peanut Butter Sandwiches just as they are. They grew up on those cookies, and suddenly having Samoas or Tagalongs would be a big shift. 

For myself, I have to declare Little Brownie Bakers the winner. I liked their cookies better. Though I did find some I liked more in the ABC Bakers lineup. (I may have to place more online orders in future years to get kinds not available in my region.) 

Wherever you live, whatever cookies are available to you, buy cookies and support a good cause. 

Girl Scout Cookie Crumble: Part 3

Which set of Girl Scout cookies is better? This is a question I've attempted to answer in my last few posts. If you haven't read Part 1 and Part 2 yet, I encourage you to catch up. It's fine. I won't start without you. 

Back? I'll get started. 

Cookie Crumble, Round 5: Peanut Butter Patties vs. Tagalongs

Like I said in my last post, I'm not really a peanut butter-as-dessert person. Even when it's combined with chocolate, it's not something I'd choose to make or order off a menu. But I had to try these cookies to really complete this scientific determination. 

The Peanut Butter Patties by ABC are solid cookies. I could see buying these. The chocolate is on the sweeter side, and is a good complement to the peanut butter in the cookie. The shortbread-ish base of the cookie is also crunchy, giving the cookie a good tactile mouth feel. I like this.

Tagalongs by LBB are a slightly lighter cookie. The peanut butter in the cookie is a stronger flavor than the chocolate; it really takes over, and the two competing flavors aren't as well balanced. It's okay, but I like the Peanut Butter Patty better.

Round 5 Winner: Peanut Butter Patties (ABC)

Cookie Crumble: Round 6: Lemonades vs. Lemon-Ups

I'm a fan of lemon. It's not a default choice for me, but it can be a good change of pace, a break from the usual. 

Lemonades by ABC are good shortbread cookies with a slight lemon icing on the bottom side. I like the idea of this cookie, where the lemon icing isn't visually apparent but is positioned well for flavor. (Though I'm wondering now: are we supposed to eat these with the lemon design facing up or facing down?) The lemon design on the on the cookie is visually appealing. The lemon flavor is on the lighter side, and isn't very strong. 

Lemon-Ups by LBB are the same idea, a shortbread cookie lemon icing, though the design is different and the icing is different. I have to say, I like the lemon icing on this cookie better than the Lemonade. The Lemon-Up icing is closer to lemon flavor, even almost a Lemonhead. It's tangier, more flavorful. I like this cookie better.

Round 6 Winner: Lemon-Ups (LBB)

Score:

ABC: 3

LBB: 3