The Girl Scouts Want Your Best Cookie Dessert Recipe

The Girl Scouts are looking for the best recipes across America that use their cookies as an ingredient as part of its second annual cookie recipe contest, and the creator of the winning recipe will get their own magazine feature.

From February 26 through March 25, the Girl Scouts will be accepting submissions for the best dessert recipes featuring Tagalongs, Samoas, Do-si-dos, Toffee-tastics, Savannah Smiles, Shortbreads, Rah-Rah Raisins, or the ultimate Girl Scout cookie, Thin Mints. Cash prizes for the top entries range from $250 to $500, and the winning entry will be featured in Taste of Home magazine.

Cooks of all levels, from beginners to professional chefs, are encouraged to apply and submit entries to one of four categories: (1) cakes, pies, cupcakes, (2) cookies, brownies, bars, (3) pudding, ice cream, gelatin desserts, and (4) candies. The top 16 — four from each category — will win a prize. Last year, a 15-year-old Girl Scout took home top honors with a caramel bar recipe featuring Shortbreads (also known as Trefoils) and Samoas (also known as Caramel deLites). From April 25 through May 1, the public will be able to vote for their favorite recipes on the Girl Scouts website.

The contest kicks off during Girl Scout Cookie Weekend, February 26 through 28, during which troops across the country will celebrate five essential skills of being a successful cookie entrepreneur — goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.

"As we kick off National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend, I urge consumers to take pride in what buying a box of cookies really supports, Girl Scouts CEO Anna Maria Chávez said in a statement. "Your purchase enables girls to learn important entrepreneurial skills and, through their earnings, positively impact their world."