7 Girl Scout cookies put to the test

HOW TO BUY

Girl Scout Cookies can be purchased only from girls participating in Girl Scouts. Cookies are on sale now through Girl Scouts, with deliveries taking place from Feb. 27 through March 4. Booth sales will run from March 6-29.

COST

$4 per box

GET THE MOBILE APP

Available for the iPhone or Android phone, the app allows users to enter a Zip code to check a particular location, or let the device’s GPS read your location and show you cookie sales nearby.

HOW TO CONTACT GIRL SCOUTS OF WESTERN OHIO

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio

Cincinnati, OH 45242-1804

(513) 489-1025

E-mail: council@girlscoutsofwesternohio.org

Web Site: www.girlscoutsofwesternohio.org

Facebook: http://facebook.com/102482840131

Twitter: http://twitter.com/GirlScoutsWOH

Michelle’s rankings:

1. Tagalongs

2. Samoas

3. Thin Mints

4. Do-si-dos

5. Trefoils

6. Savannah Smiles

7. Rah-Rah Raisins

Connie’s rankings:

1. Samoas

2. Savannah Smiles

3. Thin Mints

4. Rah-Rah Raisins

5. Trefoils

6. Tagalongs

7. Do-si-dos

Sandy’s rankings:

1. Thin Mints

2. Trefoils

3. Tag A Longs

4. Do Si Doh

5. Savannah Smiles

6. Samoas

7. Rah-Rah Raisin

Amelia’s rankings:

1. Tagalongs

2. Samoas

3. Trefoils

4. Savannah Smiles

5. Rah-Rah Raisins

6. Do-si-dos

7. Thin Mints

VIDEO ON OUR WEB SITE: Dining Divas try out Girl Scouts’ brand new Rah-Rah Raisins cookies.

You’ve probably been hit up by your relatives, neighbors and co-workers to buy a box or two — or 10.

It’s Girl Scout Cookie season, and sales are in full swing just in time to dash any hopes of keeping those New Year’s resolutions to cut back on the sweets.

Pre-orders for this fund-raiser will continue through Feb. 22, with deliveries starting at the end of this month. Booth sales at grocery stores and retailers across the region will begin at the same time. The cookies are selling for $4 a box.

As part of National Cookie Weekend at the end of February, girls also will participate in Operation Cookie Booth. Girls will be taking donations for cookies to be shipped to military members serving overseas, in partnership with Heroes in Action. Traditional booth sales will run from March 6-29.

Before the boxes arrive, the Dining Divas — Amelia Robinson, Sandy Collins, Connie Post and myself — decided to put samples of the seven cookies available in our region to the test. Our taste test included a brand new variety, an oatmeal raisin cookie featuring Greek yogurt chunks.

To help you make a very informed decision about which varieties to purchase when you are approached by an adorable Girl Scout, here’s our take on each of the seven cookies for sale here:

THE SKINNY (OR NOT SO SKINNY) ON THE COOKIES

Thin Mints

Description: Crisp wafers covered in chocolaty coating. Made with natural oil of peppermint.

Our take: Thin, crispy, minty, delicious. These are the quintessential Girl Scout cookie. These cookies have stood the test of time. They are still chocolatey and delicious. They are also vegan-friendly.

Nutrition Facts: Serving size: 4 Cookies (32g). Servings Per Container: 8. Calories per serving: 160. Total fat per serving: 8 g

Samoas

Description: Crisp cookies coated in caramel, sprinkled with toasted coconut and striped with dark chocolaty coating.

Our take: Chocolate, caramel, coconut. The tasty triple threat. Our batch seemed to be less chewy and caramely as we remember from past years. But they still were delicious.

Nutrition Facts: Serving size: 2 cookies (29g). Servings Per Container: 7. Calories per serving: 140. Total fat per serving: 8 g

Tagalongs

Description: Crispy cookies layered with peanut butter and covered with a chocolaty coating.

Our take: Some things are just meant to be together. Romeo and Juliet. Cookies and milk. Peanut butter and chocolate. These peanut butter patties are simply delicious. It's the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of cookies. Unfortunately, these are the least waistline-friendly variety. But sometimes you just have to make some sacrifices.

Nutrition Facts: Serving size: 2 cookies (25g): Servings Per Container: 7. Calories per serving: 140. Total Fat per serving: 9g

Do-si-dos

Description: Crunchy oatmeal sandwich cookie with creamy peanut butter filling. No artificial colors or flavors.

Our take: Where's the peanut butter? These cookies seemed pretty light on the star ingredient of peanut butter compared to past years. We're hoping it was just a fluke with our box, but you could taste a lot of cookie with very little peanut butter. Disappointing.

Nutrition Facts: Serving size: 3 cookies (34g). Servings Per Container: 6. Calories per serving: 160. Total Fat per serving: 7g

Trefoils

Description: A traditional shortbread cookie.

Our take: These shortbread cookies are perfect for dunkin' in milk or coffee. Without the dunk, they certainly aren't as tasty as the other varieties. They aren't as sweet or flavorful as we recall from yesteryear, but they were simple and satisfying.

Nutrition Facts: Serving size: 5 cookies (32g). Servings Per Container: 8. Calories per serving: 160. Total Fat per serving: 7g

Savannah Smiles

Description: Crisp, zesty lemon wedge cookies dusted with powdered sugar.

Our take: Nice strong lemon flavor. These taste like a wedding cookie with a lemony kick. This treat is perfect for dessert with tea or coffee. A sweet treat with less guilt, as it's the lowest calorie count of all of the cookie varieties.

Nutrition Facts: Serving size: 5 Cookies (30g): Servings Per Container: 5. Calories per serving: 140. Total fat per serving: 5g

Rah-Rah Raisins

Description: Hearty oatmeal cookies with plump raisins and Greek yogurt-flavored chunks.

Our take: The newest cookie is not much to write home about compared to the other varieties. While the flavor is a nice balance of cinnamon and raisin and Greek yogurt-flavored chunks, they are dry and crumbly. The cookies break in transit and aren't visually appealing. On the positive side, though, it's something new and different to try.

Nutrition Facts: Serving size: 2 Cookies (25g). Servings Per Container: 7. Calories per serving: 120. Total Fat per serving: 5g

THE TOP SELLERS

According to Girl Scouts of America, the following are the top five sellers:

1. Thin Mints

2. Samoas

3. Tagalongs

4. Do-si-dos

5. Trefoils

CALORIES PER COOKIE

28: Savannah Smiles

30: Trefoils

40: Thin Mints