The 2026 Girl Scout Cookie season is still months away, but today? We’ve got news worth mentally preparing your sweet tooth for. Just when you thought your cookie roster was locked down for life, the Girl Scouts said “hold my sash.” On September 9, the world’s largest girl-led organization announced Exploremores™, a brand-new rocky road–inspired sandwich cookie dropping in 2026.
That’s right—sandwich cookie. I got my hands on a preview box to try the new flavor. Spoiler alert: this one delivers.
What’s in the new Girl Scout cookie?
Let’s break down the cookie anatomy. Each one has:
- Two rich chocolate cookies with just the right level of crunch
- A filling of toasted almond–flavored marshmallow crème that tastes like your favorite nutty candy bar has been melted down and whipped smooth
It’s giving Rocky Road ice cream flavors—without the rockiness—in a snackable no-melt cookie format.
First bite reactions
The moment I opened the box, that nostalgic chocolate–marshmallow aroma hit me.
And the bite? Crunchy cookie meets creamy, almond-kissed filling. Think Jacques Torres meets Little Debbie: rich chocolate indulgence tucked into a no-frills plastic sleeve. If you’re the type to hoard brownie edges and pick out every last chocolate chip from the trail mix, this cookie was made for you.
How the new flavor stacks up
For me, Thin Mints are the holy grail. Samoas (a.k.a. Caramel deLites) are another fan-favorite, the chewy, coconutty chaos agent we all secretly hoard. But this new Rocky Road cookie? She’s the dark horse diva with main-character energy.
Would I buy again? Absolutely.
Would I crumble it over ice cream for a dessert power move? Without hesitation.
Does it pass the freezer test? Oh, it aces it. The chocolate cookie turns super crisp while the filling becomes fudgy. The chill takes the edge off the sweetness, so the cocoa really pops. Pro tip: dunk a frozen one in milk (you’re welcome).
As for ranking? It lands somewhere between “chocoholic cult fave” and “classic in the making.” It’s the kind of cookie you quietly stash in the freezer and savor one at a time when no one’s looking.
When can you get the new Girl Scout cookie?
This cookie hits the scene with the rest of the lineup in early 2026, and will be available both from your favorite Girl Scout and online. Heads up: the buzzy flavors tend to sell out faster than you'd think, so don’t wait.
Want first dibs? Head to girlscoutcookies.org to get notified when Exploremores (and all your faves) go on sale near you. Or text “Cookies” to 59618 for the latest cookie drop alerts.
Girl Scout cookie season runs January through April, but exact dates vary by location—so set those reminders now.
How the flavor came to be
Girl Scouts team up with bakers to spot flavor trends and turn them into cookies people actually want to eat. Every detail—from the recipe to the name—gets taste-tested until it’s lineup-worthy.
The name, Exploremores, channels the Girl Scouts’ go-anywhere, try-anything energy. “From camping trips to community projects, exploration has always been at the heart of the Girl Scout experience,” says Wendy Lou, Chief Revenue Officer of Girl Scouts of the USA. "Exploremores capture that same spirit—encouraging girls to step outside their comfort zones, try new things, and celebrate the joy of discovery.”
And yes, that spirit extends all the way to snack time.
Final thoughts: buy or skip?
Buy if you're a chocolate lover or just like your cookies a little more indulgent and out-of-the-box. If not? Try one anyway. It just might dethrone your go-to for midnight freezer raids.
Girl Scouts usually drop one new cookie flavor a year. At the same time, retired or underperforming flavors may quietly disappear from the lineup (RIP Lemon Chalet Cremes and Savannah Smiles). So if a fresh one hits the roster—you don't want to wait.
Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when you find yourself rationing your last cookie like it’s the final rose on "The Bachelor."
Susan (she/her) is the recipe editor at Good Housekeeping, where she pitches ideas, parses words, and produces food content. In the Test Kitchen, she cooks (and samples!) recipes, working with developers to deliver the best written versions possible. A graduate of Brown University and a collaborator on several cookbooks, her previous experience includes stints at Food & Wine, Food Network, three meal kit companies, a wine shop in Brooklyn and Chez Panisse, the pioneering restaurant in Berkeley, California. She enjoys playing tennis, natural wines and reality competition shows.
