10 Surprising Secrets About Girl Scout Cookies

From January through March of each year, Girl Scout cookies are the number one cookie brand in the United States

The rest of the year, Oreos top the bestselling cookie list. These are the 17 secret meanings behind these popular company names.

About 200 million boxes of Girl Scout cookies are sold each year

Burp. Don’t miss these 16 business secrets from the savviest Girl Scout cookie sellers.

Americans loves themselves some Thin Mints

Thin Mints account for a quarter of all sales. Samoas/Caramel deLites make up 19% of sales, and Peanut Butter Patties/Tagalongs come in at 13%.

Millions of Thin Mints are baked each day

During peak bake times, Girl Scout cookie producers bake over 4.5 million Thin Mints per day. That’s right, per day. Steal these secret ingredients that your grandma puts in her sugar cookies.

The Girl Scouts recipes are keeping with the times

No preservatives, “zero trans fats per serving”—plus, Thin Mints, Thanks-A-Lot, Lemonades and Peanut Butter Patties Girl Scout Cookies are vegan.

The box might be a little lighter than you remember.

In 2009, the cost of baking Girl Scout cookies rose, but rather than opt for a price spike, the organization stuffed fewer cookies in boxes of Thin Mints, Tagalongs and Do-si-dos. Here are more bizarre secrets from the world’s biggest businesses.

The first cookies were home-baked

Before the business exploded, in the 1920s and 1930s, Girl Scouts around America baked their own sugar cookies and sold them to raise money for their activities. Make sure you know these baking mistakes you never realized you were making.

During World War II, cookie sales were put on hold

Due to sugar, flour, and butter shortages caused by the war, in 1942, Girl Scouts sold calendars in lieu of cookies.

In 1933, Girl Scouts of Greater Philadelphia Council sold cookies in the city’s gas and electric company windows

Then, a box of 44 cookies rang in at 23 cents, or you could splurge for six boxes at $1.24. Here are the 13 secret ingredients for irresistibly delicious cookies.

Cookie sales aside, Girl Scouts are leaders

An estimated 74 percent of women in the U.S. Senate and 58 percent of women in Congress are Girl Scouts alumnae. Now that you know all of the Girl Scouts’ cookie secrets, check to see if you can find the 36 hidden messages in these company logos.

Sources: ABC Smart Cookies, officially licensed Girl Scout Cookie baker for more than 75 years, GirlScouts.org, MentalFloss.com