Trying to work out whether Girl Scout S’mores Cookies are safe for vegans to consume can be a bit tough.
Cookie brands often hide their ingredients behind vague terms such as “natural flavors,” and even when they do present a full list of ingredients, it can be hard to know whether animal products are lurking in there.
To make sure you’re consuming food that aligns with your vegan lifestyle and diet, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Girl Scout S’mores Cookies.
Here’s what I found.
Are Girl Scout S’mores Cookies Vegan?
No. Girl Scout S’mores Cookies are not vegan.
Girl Scout S’mores Cookies are one of the Girl Scouts’ most popular cookies. These cookies have two versions: chocolate coated graham cracker sandwich cookies, made by ABC Bakers, and a graham cracker cookie with chocolate and marshmallow filling, made by Little Brownie Bakers.
Unfortunately, neither cookie is suitable for vegans. Little Brownie Bakers Girl Scout S’mores Cookies contain whey, sugar, cane sugar, and molasses, while ABC Bakers’ contains sugar and molasses.
Whey is automatically a no-go for vegans because it is a dairy product. However, the sugars and molasses in both types of cookies were probably processed with bone char, an animal-based charcoal that is often used in decolorizing and purifying sugar.
Molasses, on the other hand, is a by-product of sugar production, so if the sugar manufacturer uses bone char, it’s likely that molasses was involved as well. Unless the sugar is labeled as “raw,” “unrefined,” or “organic,” it is probably processed with bone char.
If you are the type of vegan who doesn’t mind bone char, you’re in luck. Toast-Yay, Peanut Butter Patties, Thin Mints, Lemonades, Raspberry Rallies, Caramel Chocolate Chip,and Thin Mints don’t contain any other animal-based ingredients except questionably produced sugar.
Are Girl Scout S’mores Cookies Cruelty Free?
Yes! Girl Scout S’mores Cookies are cruelty free.
Girl Scout S’mores Cookies are not tested on animals at any point in the production process. This includes ingredient development and manufacturing, as well as packaged products. These cookies also don’t contain ingredients that are regularly tested on animals, such as artificial colors.
Animal testing is an outdated and gruesome practice that needs to end. It inflicts pain and suffering on innocent animals. There are alternative methods of testing that don’t involve animals and are more accurate. So there is no reason to test on animals, and Girl Scout Cookies are proof of that.
What Are Girl Scout S’mores Cookies Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Little Brownie Bakers’ Girl Scout S’mores Cookies:
- Graham flour
- Sugar
- Palm oil
- Wheat flour
- Cane sugar
- Cornstarch
- Cocoa
- Invert sugar
- Chocolate
- Molasses
- Salt
- Natural flavors
- Baking soda
- Cocoa processed with alkali
- Soy lecithin
- Whey
Let’s break down each ingredient of Girl Scout S’mores Cookies:
Graham flour
Graham flour is a type of wheat flour that is made from whole wheat berries, including the germ and bran. It is used in baking and has a slightly nutty flavor. Graham flour is vegan.
Sugar
Sugar is a sweet, crystalline substance that is obtained from sugarcane or sugar beet. It is often processed with bone char, which makes it unsuitable for vegans. Unless it is labeled as “raw,” “unrefined,” or “organic,” sugar is usually processed in bone char and is not vegan.
Palm oil
Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil that is extracted from the fruit of palm trees. It is a common ingredient in many cosmetics, soaps, and processed foods. Palm oil is vegan friendly.
Wheat flour
Wheat flour is a type of flour made from grinding wheat kernels. It is a common ingredient in many baked goods and can be used to make bread, pasta, pastries, and more. Wheat flour is vegan friendly.
Cane sugar
Cane sugar is a type of sugar that is made from sugarcane. It is often processed with bone char, which makes it unsuitable for vegans. Unless it is labeled as “raw,” “unrefined,” or “organic,” sugar is usually processed in bone char and is not vegan.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is a type of starch that is made from corn kernels. It is used as a thickening agent in many foods and cosmetics. Cornstarch is vegan friendly.
Cocoa
Cocoa is a powder made from grinding cocoa beans. It is used to make chocolate and many other products. Cocoa is vegan friendly.
Invert sugar
Invert sugar is a type of sugar made from sucrose. It is used in many foods and cosmetics as a sweetener. Invert sugar like refined sugar, cane sugar, and molasses is not vegan because it is often processed with bone char.
Chocolate
Chocolate is made from cocoa beans. It can be used in many different ways such as in candy, baked goods, and more. While often mixed with milk or other dairy products, chocolate on its own is vegan friendly.
Molasses
Molasses is a thick, dark syrup made from sugarcane or sugar beet. It is often used in baking and as a sweetener. Molasses is not vegan because it is often made from sugarcane that is processed with bone char.
Salt
Salt is a mineral that is composed of sodium and chloride. It is used to add flavor to food or as a preservative. Salt is vegan friendly.
Natural flavors
Natural flavors are substances extracted from plants or animals. They are used to add flavor to food or cosmetics. Natural flavors can be vegan friendly, but they may also be animal derived. The natural flavors in Girl Scout S’mores Cookies are probably vegan given the product’s nature (cookies).
Baking soda
Baking soda is a white powder that is used in baking as a leavening agent. Baking soda is vegan friendly.
Cocoa processed with alkali
Cocoa processed with alkali is a type of cocoa that has been treated with an alkaline solution. Cocoa processed with alkali is vegan friendly.
Soy lecithin
Soy lecithin is a substance that is made from soybeans. It is used as an emulsifier in many foods and cosmetics. Soy lecithin is vegan friendly.
Whey
Whey is a type of protein that is made from milk. It is often used in body-building supplements and as a protein powder. Whey is not vegan because it is an animal-derived product.
Why Aren’t Girl Scouts S’mores Cookies Vegan?
Girl Scout S’mores Cookies are not vegan because they contain whey, a milk derivative, and some questionable ingredients, such as refined sugar, molasses, invert sugar, and cane sugar. These sugar ingredients may be processed with bone char, which is not vegan.
Are Girl Scout Adventurefuls Vegan?
No. Girl Scout Adventurefuls contain milk and refined sugar.
This brownie-type cookie is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Girl Scout Thin Mints Vegan?
No. Girl Scout Thin Mints contain refined sugar, caramel color, and inverted sugar. Thin Mints are often proclaimed as vegan, but until the Girl Scouts and their affiliated cookie makers can confirm they use sugar that is not processed with bone char, we can’t say for sure they’re vegan.
These cookies are not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Girl Scout Peanut Butter Patties Vegan?
No. Girl Scout Peanut Butter Patties contain refined sugar and invert sugar.
These cookies are not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Girl Scout Lemon-Ups Vegan?
No. Girl Scout Lemon-Ups contain whey protein concentrate and refined sugar.
These cookies are not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Girl Scout Toast-Yay Vegan?
No. Girl Scout Toast-Yay cookies contain refined sugar.
These cookies are not safe for vegan consumption.
Vegan Alternatives to Girl Scout S’mores Cookies
There may be no truly vegan Girl Scout Cookies, but there are plenty of other delicious vegan cookies out there! Here are some of my favorites:
- Lenny & Larry’S The Complete Cookie, Chocolate Chip
- Partake Chocolate Chips Soft Cookies
- Lakanto Keto Friendly Cookies
With these cookies, you can have some delicious vegan cookies without having to worry about any animal products! You can find them at your local grocery store or online. So you don’t have to miss out on any of the fun!
If you’re feeling ambitious, you could always try making your own vegan s’mores cookies! There are plenty of recipes online that use vegan-friendly ingredients. Here are some I like:
- Homemade Vegan S’mores by Honest Cooking
- Copycat Girl Scout S’mores by Honest and Truly
With some ingredient exchange, you can have a delicious and vegan-friendly version of the classic Girl Scout S’more, no campfire is required!
Final Words
So, there you have it! Girl Scout S’mores are not vegan. But there are plenty of other delicious vegan cookies out there for you to enjoy! You can also try making your own vegan s’mores at home.
With some creativity and effort, you can still enjoy the classic taste of a Girl Scout S’more without any animal products!