Thin Mints or Thick Mints?

By Kendall Jensen

Photo Credit: Kiana East
Posing with her favorite Girl Scout cookies, a VHS freshman says she could never live without Thin Mints.

With revenue of $700 million a year and over 200 million boxes sold, Girl Scout Cookies have taken over the country. Girl Scouts have sold their famous cookies for almost one hundred years, starting in 1917. Not only are the cookies a scrumptious treat, they are for a great cause.

With 28 different cookies offered, there are many options when selecting the treat of your choice. The most popular cookies, according to Statisticbrain.com, are the infamous Thin Mints, which make up 25% of the cookie sales. The next two most popular cookies are Caramel DeLights, or Samoas, with 19% of sales, and Peanut Butter Patties with 13% of sales. The selling of these desserts is carried out by the 2.3 million Girl Scout members annually.

Besides the tastiness of the cookies, there are other positives that result from sales. 100% of the money made from the cookies goes to local troops and their councils, who then decide for what to use the money, which usually goes toward either funding for troop activities, or contributing to charity events and fundraisers. “I really like how me buying Girl Scout cookies not only contributes to my weight, I help contribute to my community through the Girl Scouts!” joked Sophomore Kendall Mall.

Although most Americans are fans of Girl Scout cookies, some do argue that they are not all they are made out to be. “Yeah the cookies taste good, but they aren’t very good for you and they are majorly overpriced,” stated Senior Kyle Hintz. A popular new trend emerging is healthier, cheaper, alternative home-made recipes that mimic Girl Scout cookies. “Making the alternative Thin Mint recipe is even better than the real one because you can increase the amount of minty-ness and they cost just pennies per cookie,” explained Ms. Ferry, Viera High School Teacher.

Below is the alternative Thin Mint Recipe suggested by Ms. Ferry:

 Thin Mints

Ingredients

1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon mint extract

3 (1 ounce) squares semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

¼ cup butter

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter or margarine until creamy. Add the sugar, and beat until mixed well. Beat in egg and mint extract.
2. Sift flour, cocoa, and salt together into a small bowl. Add flour mixture by halves into creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.
3. Divide dough in half. On lightly floured surface roll dough into two 1 1/2 inch diameter cylinders. Wrap each cylinder in waxed paper, and refrigerate 5 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Thirty minutes before baking, place both cylinders in freezer.
5. Remove one cylinder at a time, and slice 1/4 inch thick pieces with very sharp knife. Place on cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake 10 to 12 minutes.
6. Melt 1/4 cup butter or margarine and the semisweet chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave. Drizzle over warm cookies. Place on wire racks, and let cool and harden.

Sources Consulted:

http://www.statisticbrain.com/girl-scout-cookie-statistics/

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42270952/ns/business-small_business/t/how-girl-scouts-built-their-million-cookie-empire/#.UwTjy_m-2So

http://www.top-business-degrees.net/girl-scouts/

Recipe From: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Thin-Mint-Cookies/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=thin%20mints&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe&soid=sr_results_p1i5