Girl Scouts to Introduce 'Exploremores' Cookie as Sales and Membership Strain Finances

The Girl Scouts of the USA will introduce a new cookie flavor, Exploremores, in January 2026 as the organization moves to bolster sales and revenues after a difficult year that included rising prices, declining demand and a $2.9 million operating loss in 2024.

Exploremores, described by the organization as a rocky road ice cream–inspired sandwich cookie layering chocolate, marshmallow and a toasted almond–flavored crème, will be sold online and at local troop booths during the 2026 cookie season, which typically runs from January through April. The Girl Scouts said the new flavor "reflect the spirit of exploration at the heart of every Girl Scout." Two flavors, S'mores and Toast-Yay!, are being retired at the end of the 2025 season, while other staples such as Thin Mints and Samoas will remain.

The rollout comes amid a multi-year slump in cookie sales and membership. In the New York region, the Girl Scouts of Greater New York sold about 1.1 million boxes in the 2024–25 season, down from 1.2 million the prior year and less than half the roughly 2.2 million boxes sold at the peak of pandemic-era demand. Nationwide, box prices have risen to $6 and $7 in many areas, up from $4 and $5 a decade ago, a change analysts and volunteers say has affected consumer purchases.

Membership has also fallen since the pandemic, with declines of as much as 34% reported in some councils. The national organization, a 113-year-old nonprofit, reported a $2.9 million operating loss in its most recent audited financials for 2024 and plans to raise membership dues from $25 to $45 in 2026 and to $65 in 2027; those figures are lower than an earlier proposed increase to $85.

All proceeds from cookie sales are retained by local councils and troops to fund programming, training and experiences for members. The organization said Exploremores will be part of that fundraising effort, though it has not released the full 2026 cookie lineup.

The new flavor announcement drew mixed reactions on social media. Some commenters praised the addition and said new flavors can help troop sales. Others raised concerns about allergens: despite the toasted almond–flavored crème, the product does not contain almonds and does include peanut flour, wheat and whey, according to product information released by the organization. Critics also called for more allergy-friendly and non-chocolate options.

Earlier this year, a consumer group report alleging traces of toxic metals and the herbicide glyphosate in Girl Scout cookies attracted headlines and prompted discussion of product safety. The Girl Scouts disputed the implication that its products were unsafe, saying its cookies meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards and noting that small amounts of contaminants can occur naturally in soil and crops.

The organization announced the new cookie on social media; it said the launch is intended to support local fundraising and provide fresh choices that may help troop sellers. The full impact of the new flavor on national sales and membership remains to be seen, and the Girl Scouts have not announced additional marketing or distribution plans beyond the standard online and booth sales for the 2026 season.

Local councils and troops typically set up neighborhood booths and maintain online storefronts during cookie season. The organization emphasized that cookie revenues are directed to local programming and that decisions about the cookie mix are intended to balance consumer interest, manufacturing considerations and fundraising goals.

The Girl Scouts did not immediately provide additional financial projections tied to the new flavor. The organization faces multiple pressures — higher retail prices, membership declines and competition for consumer spending — as it seeks to stabilize fundraising that supports programs for girls nationwide.