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There is a universally accepted truth in today’s America: Those with flawless taste who know Caramel deLites (née Samoas) are the reigning champion of Girl Scout Cookies, and those who are wrong.
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 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.
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.
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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, 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.
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 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.
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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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Tayva Veal, a Girl Scouts Ambassador, holds up a box of Exploremores. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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, fittingly, was held at Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine, a not-for-profit restaurant. Owner Natalia Austin, 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.
The room, filled with special guests, including Michelin-star restaurateur Yassmin Sarmadi (who also declared Caramel deLites as her favorite, yet another sign of superior taste), was treated to seemingly endless rows of Girl Scout cookie-themed desserts.
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.
Exploremore is a solid, sweet cookie contender that will be available when Girl Scout Cookie season arrives in Orange County. Online direct shipping and presale orders start Jan. 6. Cookie in-hand sales happen from Jan 25 through March 15. Visit cookiesoc.org to find out when the fierce cookie plugs go live in your area.
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Brock Keeling
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