We Don't Need No Stinkin' Girl Scout Cookies!

[Cherie]

Since there was a recent thread about the connection of Planned Parenthood to Girl Scouts of America, I thought I'd start this one. I realize a lot of people like to boycott the Girl Scout cookies because of the connection. Sometimes, this can be a sad decision, because every year the craving for some of those delicious cookies seems to overtake you like a [i]coup d'état.

[/i]No fear, dear Phamily! This is a thread for recipes for some of those lovely cookies. Not only do you get to boycott Girl Scouts if you so desire, you get to have that wonderful feeling of accomplishment when people gasp in amazement, "Wow, you made these [i]yourself?!"[/i]

Here's one I found courtesy of a blog I follow: [url="http://www.citywifecountrylife.com/2010/08/tasty-samoa-cookies.html"]http://www.citywifec...oa-cookies.html[/url]

[b]Homemade Samoa Cookies[/b]

[b][i]Cookies:[/i][/b]
[list][*] 1 cup butter, soft[*] 1/2 cup sugar[*] 2 cups all purpose flour[*] 1/4 tsp baking powder[*] 1/2 tsp salt[*] 1/2 tsp vanilla extract[*] up to 2 tbsp milk[/list]Preheat oven to 350F.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt at a low speed, followed by the vanilla and milk, adding in the milk as needed to make the dough come together without being sticky (it's possible you might not need to add milk at all). The dough should come together into a soft, not-too-sticky ball. Add in a bit of extra flour if your dough is very sticky.
Roll the dough (working in two or three batches) out between pieces of wax paper to about 1/4-inch thickness (or slightly less) and use a 1 1/2-inch cookie cutter to make rounds. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and use a knife, or the end of a wide straw, to cut a smaller center hole. Repeat with remaining dough. Alternatively, use scant tablespoons of dough and press into an even layer in a mini donut pan to form the rounds.
Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, until bottoms are lightly browned and cookies are set. If using a mini donut pan, bake for only about 10 minutes, until edges are light gold.
Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Topping:[list][*] 3 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)[*] 12-oz good-quality chewy caramels[*] 1/4 tsp salt[*] 3 tbsp milk[*] 8 oz. dark or semisweet chocolate (chocolate chips are ok)[/list]Preheat oven to 300. Spread coconut evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet (preferably one with sides) and toast 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until coconut is golden. Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
Unwrap the caramels and place in a large microwave-safe bowl with milk and salt. Cook on high for 3-4 minutes, stopping to stir a few times to help the caramel melt. When smooth, fold in toasted coconut with a spatula.
Using the spatula or a small offset spatula, spread topping on cooled cookies, using about 2-3 tsp per cookie. Reheat caramel for a few seconds in the microwave if it gets too firm to work with.
While topping sets up, melt chocolate in a small bowl. Heat on high in the microwave in 45 second intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching. Dip the base of each cookie into the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment paper. Transfer all remaining chocolate (or melt a bit of additional chocolate, if necessary) into a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off and drizzle finished cookies with chocolate.
Let chocolate set completely before storing in an airtight container.

Makes about 3 1/2-4 dozen cookies.

[img]http://bakingbites.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/homemadesamoas.jpg[/img]


ALSO ...

A rather easy way to recreate those thin mint cookies is this: using "dipping chocolate" (a special kind of chocolate, you can usually find it at any supermarket. There are recipes to turn regular chocolate chips into dipping chocolate, just google it!), simply melt it to a smooth, liquidy consistency. This can be done in a glass or microwave-safe bowl in the microwave, starting with 90 seconds, then stirring, and then continuing microwaving for 15 second intervals, stirring afterwards, until it's melted. You don't want to overheat the chocolate; stirring it up actually helps it melt, and it doesn't take as long as you'd think. Be sure, when you are working with dipping chocolate, that you keep all your bowls and utensils bone-dry. Water will easily ruin the consistency. When it's been melted down, add some peppermint extract until you've reached the chocolate/mint ratio you prefer. (Yes, you can taste-test it all you want until you reach perfection!) Then, simply dip a Ritz cracker into the bowl, coat it with chocolate, shake off the excess, and let it dry on wax paper. Voila! Homemade Thin Mints!

Edited January 21, 2011 by CherieMadame

[Sarah147]

MMMMMMMmm.

They charge too much anyway. More good reasons to boycott.

Thank you for the delicious recipe!

Edited January 21, 2011 by JoyfulLife

[homeschoolmom]

I've made these. They're awesome.

[IcePrincessKRS]

This is something to bookmark for later. I already put in my order for GS cookies a few weeks ago. My friend's daughter is in a troop run by a lady in our parish (so I know on a local level they have nothing to do with PP, most of what they do is military related).

[Ed Normile]

When making girl scout cookies, do you cook the girl scouts first or do you grind them first and then cook them?

ed

[AudreyGrace]

you're awesome.

my fried just posted a status on facebook, freaking out all excited because there's now an app to locate where girl scout cookies are... I told her to make her own. haha.

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

+JMJ

Girl Scout Cookie Recipes and more are in this massive cookbook: [url="http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Enjm1/483Recipes.pdf"]http://freepages.gen.../483Recipes.pdf[/url]

You may never have to eat out again!

They have a slightly more complex mint cookie recipe:
[b]
Girl Scout Mint Cookies [/b]

1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
2 Eggs
2 Tbl. Water
2 Tbl. Cooking Oil
1/2 Cup Cocoa
1 pkg. Chocolate Chips
2−3 drops Wilton's Candy Mint Flavoring

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine cake mix, eggs, water, cooking oil,
and cocoa. You will need to blend this together well, this will be a
very sticky mess. Let stand for 20 minutes, and then shape into very
small 1/2 inch balls. Place these balls on a cookie sheet 2 inches a part,
and smash down flat. You will need to spray a large spoon with Pam to
make them flat. Bake for about 8 minutes. Let cool until they reach
room temperature.

Heat chocolate chips in either the microwave, or in a double boiler.
When completely melted add a couple drops of the mint flavoring.
Be careful not to add too much, it is a powerful flavoring.
You can either spread the melted chocolate on the cookies,
or you can dip the cookies into the chocolate.

Edited January 24, 2011 by FutureNunJMJ

[sixpence]

they were selling girl scout cookies after mass yesterday...........

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

Obviously, it is a person's own decision whether to boycott Girl Scout cookies because of the national association's connection with Planned Parenthood (or because Girl Scout cookies can be bad for your waistline).

But, I do know that many Girl Scout troops depend on the sale of cookies to help pay for being able to attend camp in the summer, and other troop activities. I strongly suspect that not all Girl Scout troops (or individual Girl Scouts) support the national association's decision.

So, if there is a local Girl Scout troop sponsored by the local Catholic school or a troop with many Catholic members, it might be worthwhile talking to the leader of the troop before boycotting. I wouldn't want members of a troop not to be able to raise funds for activities as a result of a decision they had nothing to do with.

Personally, I'm not saying either decision is right or wrong, only that there might be individual circumstances that might warrant an exception.

Note: I am not the leader of a Girl Scout troop, nor was I ever a Girl Scout. I was a member of the "opposition," namely a Camp Fire Girl. I don't hear much about the Camp Fire Girls anymore, but I liked our uniforms better. Plus we sold candy, not cookies, likely one of the reasons I have such a sweet tooth for candy today. However, I HATED selling candy every year, which helped me realize that my future career was probably not in sales. I also managed to avoid Camp Fire Girl Camp, which sounded awful to me. After one disastrous week at Camp Fire day camp when I was 7 or 8, my mother realized I wasn't really "happy camper" material. I was a kid who just wanted a good book to read and to be left alone to do what I wanted, not be forced to take part in organized activities. I loved going camping with my family every summer at Lake Tahoe, but that was totally different from "camp."

But, I've heard some kids love camp, so I don't want a Girl Scout who really thinks camp is fun not to be able to afford to go. However, as usual, I can see the other side, too, and the reasons to boycott Girl Scout cookies.

Edited January 24, 2011 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[Totus Tuus]

Or you can eat Cool Mint Oreos which are WAAAAY better than GS' Thin Mints and oh so easy to obtain.

[Pontifite 7 of 10]

Oh my goodness!
This is amesome!
I can now enjoy the
heavenly delight that
is girl scout cookies
without the guilt!
This is the work of
God, friends.