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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Girl Scout Samoa Cookies

    Published: February 8, 2013 · Last Updated: May 17, 2022 by Heather · This post may contain affiliate links · 35 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These easy homemade Girl Scout Samoa Cookies combine a buttery shortbread cookie with a rich chocolate and caramel topping. Sweetened coconut adds texture and flavor to the topping. These cookies are simple to make at home, and now you can enjoy your favorite cookies all year round.

    overhead shot of melted chocolate on a shortbread cookie

    It’s that time of year when you see Girl Scouts wearing their brown sashes wandering from door to door and setting up camp outside grocery stores. Multiple order forms float around offices in a subtle contest to get the most buyers. You guessed correctly, and it’s the time of year for Girl Scout cookies! February 8th is National Girl Scout Cookie Day, according to the Girl Scout website.

    Jump to:
    • Samoas... a classic girl scout cookie
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Key ingredients and why we use them
    • Heather's helpful hints
    • Step-by-step instructions
    • Related cookie recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Samoas... a classic girl scout cookie

    There has been a cookie order form hanging up in our break room at work for the past 2+ weeks for Girl Scout cookies. However, at $4.50 a pop, these cookies are anything but reasonable. Just as I was working up the courage to put my name down for a box of cookies… the flyer vanished, along with my hopes of getting a box of Samoas.

    This week I got to thinking, Heather, you’re a baker, for goodness sakes. If the Girl Scouts of America can mass-produce thousands of boxes of Samoas each year, surely this is something that you can tackle in your kitchen. After all, I was a Girl Scout back in the day!

    girl scout samoa cookies sitting on cookie sheet

    Why you'll love this recipe

    These little morsels sure are delicious, but they do require a bit of work. Since my kitchen isn’t the equivalent of a factory assembly line, the baking has to be done in stages. First, make the shortbread, then add the coconut and caramel topping, and finally add the chocolate bottom and decorations on top.

    The end result was something better than I could have hoped for. It was better than the little purple box of Samoas that I’d grown to love.

    Key ingredients and why we use them

    Shredded Coconut: You want to use sweetened shredded coconut in this recipe. Do not use unsweetened coconut—it will not be sweet enough in this recipe.

    Caramel: I like to use packaged caramels for the topping. It's simpler than making your own caramel from scratch. Make sure you do not use caramel sauce. You want the packaged caramel candies because they will harden completely for the topping.

    Semi-Sweet Chocolate: Feel free to use semi-sweet or dark chocolate for these cookies. Either will work fine, and it's completely a personal preference.

    closeup of samoa cookies on a plate

    Heather's helpful hints

    Working with the caramel and coconut mixture can get difficult if it begins to harden before you have coated all the cookies.

    If this happens, simply move the pan back to the stove on low heat for 2-3 minutes to allow the mixture to warm again.

    Step-by-step instructions

    This recipe has three easy-to-follow steps for making your Samoa cookies. This takes some time, but each step is simple and straightforward.

    1. Bake (and cool) the shortbread cookies
    2. Make the coconut and caramel topping
    3. Add the chocolate coating on the bottom and drizzle on top

    Related cookie recipes

    If you're in the mood for more cookies, check out some more of our popular recipes below. We've got you covered... from peanut butter heart cookies to soft pumpkin cookies!

    • Chocolate and Espresso Mocha Snowball Cookies
    • Chewy Meringue Cookies with Blackberry Jam
    • Peanut Butter Heart Cookies
    • Irish Soda Bread Cookies

    Recipe

    Girl Scout Samoa Cookies

    These easy homemade Girl Scout Samoa Cookies combine a buttery shortbread cookie with a rich chocolate and caramel topping. Sweetened coconut adds texture and flavor to the topping. These cookies are simple to make at home, and now you can enjoy your favorite cookies all year round.
    Print Pin Comment
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours
    Yield: 24

    Equipment

    • 19 x 13-inch half-sheet baking pan
    • Rolling Pin
    • cookie cutter round 1½ inch
    • piping bag

    Ingredients

    Cookie Ingredients

    • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 cup all-purpose flour
    • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1-2 tablespoons milk

    Topping Ingredients

    • 3 cups shredded coconut
    • 12 ounces caramels
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3 tablespoon milk
    • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

    Instructions

    • Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
    • 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. 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 ¼-inch thickness (or slightly less) and use a 1 ½-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. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, until bottoms are lightly browned and cookies are set. Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
    • Preheat oven to 300. Spread coconut evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet 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 pot with salt and milk. Cook over low heat stirring frequently until caramel has melted. 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 teaspoons per cookie.
    • While topping sets up, melt chocolate in a double boiler over low heat on the stove. Dip the base of each cookie into the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment paper. Transfer all remaining chocolate into a piping bag and drizzle finished cookies with chocolate. Let chocolate set completely before storing in an airtight container.

    Notes and Tips

    Working with the caramel and coconut mixture can get difficult if it begins to harden before you have coated all the cookies. If this happens, simply move the pan back to the stove on low heat for 2-3 minutes to allow the mixture to warm again.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 143mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 251IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe?!Mention @mysweetprecision on Instagram and hashtag it #mysweetprecision!

    Did you make this recipe?! First, let me say THANK YOU for giving it a try!

    Please leave us a rating and feedback in the comments section at the bottom of this post. I always love to hear your thoughts and ideas on what went well — and didn't — with a recipe!

    Happy Baking!
    Heather

    « Key Lime Thumbprint Cookies
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jennifer

      April 10, 2022 at 9:19 am

      This recipe is wonderful, and my family loved them! Thank so much:)

      Reply
      • Heather

        April 16, 2022 at 3:08 pm

        I'm so glad that your family enjoyed the recipe, Jennifer!

        Reply
    2. Shari Michener

      March 22, 2022 at 3:46 am

      Heather, enjoyed reading your blog in the wee hours of this day. Really have some great cookie recipes. Will try one or two soon. Thanks for sharing with us.

      Reply
      • Heather

        March 22, 2022 at 2:47 pm

        Hi Shari! I'm so glad that you enjoyed reading some of my cookie recipes! I hope that you get a chance to give a new recipe a try :)

        Reply
    3. A Girl Scout troop leader

      March 12, 2016 at 7:02 pm

      So since you're taking away the main source of fundraising for Girl Scout troops, I hope you'll be making donations directly to local girls/troops you see trying to raise funds for their activities and community service.

      Reply
      • Liz

        February 14, 2021 at 12:07 pm

        Do you really have nothing better to do than to whine about some money being taken away from Girl Scouts?

        Reply
      • Darryl S

        March 22, 2021 at 6:04 pm

        Do you have ANY concept of how many versions of this recipe are online? Not to mention that hundreds, if not thousands, of other recipes that are copies of thin mints, etc. It's really sad that you are a supposed troop leader. Those young minds are doomed if you are in charge of them. Now just out of spite I'm going to make this very recipe and toast to you as I devour each one.

        Reply
      • Tea

        May 02, 2021 at 11:53 am

        The cookies are GMO poison anyway. I looked for the recipe because I would not be buying them anyway. Bravo if they somday cannot be used to raise funds.

        Reply
    4. CakePants

      March 30, 2014 at 10:43 pm

      I'd been looking for a recipe for homemade samoas ever since the last of mine, uh, magically disappeared...these look absolutely perfect!! Can't wait to give them a try!

      Reply
      • Heather @ Sweet Precision

        March 31, 2014 at 7:42 am

        I'm down to only one box left this year and I finally decided to put it in the freezer and save it for later in the year! I hope you enjoy the recipe :)

        Reply
    5. tableofcolors

      January 27, 2014 at 7:54 am

      These cookies say WOW! :)

      Reply
      • Heather @ Sweet Precision

        January 27, 2014 at 8:10 am

        Oh goodness these cookies were SO addictive!! I might have to try out another Girl Scout cookie this year!

        >

        Reply
    6. smileycook

      March 15, 2013 at 10:17 pm

      Delicious posts as always :-)

      Reply
      • Heather (Sweet Precision)

        March 16, 2013 at 11:28 am

        Thank you!!

        Reply
    7. Francesca

      February 11, 2013 at 12:07 am

      OMG! :-)

      Reply
      • Heather (Sweet Precision)

        February 11, 2013 at 6:33 am

        I know, right?! ;)

        Reply
    8. Stefano

      February 10, 2013 at 5:17 pm

      These look fabulous, Heather! Yum! :-)

      Reply
      • Heather (Sweet Precision)

        February 10, 2013 at 5:47 pm

        Thanks Stefano!

        On Feb 10, 2013, at 5:17 PM, Sweet Precisi

        Reply
    9. Dana @ Celiac Kiddo

      February 10, 2013 at 1:25 pm

      These were my absolute favorite girl scout cookie ever! Um, they still are :) But my family is gluten free so I may try to adapt your awesome recipe using my gf flour. If so, I'll be sure to link back to you and give credit where credit is due! Thanks for the inspiration and gorgeous photographs.
      -Dana

      Reply
      • Heather (Sweet Precision)

        February 10, 2013 at 3:56 pm

        Yay, I'm glad that you like the recipe! I don't know too much about gluten free baking but I'm excited to check out your blog!!

        Reply
    10. thehungrymum

      February 10, 2013 at 12:07 am

      Delish! My Miss7 joined brownie guides last week but I don't think the cookie selling is such a big thing here in Australia. Or should I say, I *hope* it isn't - I don't want to be doorknocking!

      Reply
      • Heather (Sweet Precision)

        February 10, 2013 at 7:59 am

        Oh how fun! I have such great memories from Girl Scouts :) I was never too serious about selling cookies- usually I just have my parents order forms to take to work ;)

        Reply
    11. Catherine Mae

      February 09, 2013 at 8:08 pm

      I found a recipe for thin mints (she uses the oreo part instead of ritz!) so i might need to try both of these recipes!

      Reply
      • Heather (Sweet Precision)

        February 09, 2013 at 10:48 pm

        Oh yummy! Those are another one oft favorites, I may have to try that too! Where did you find the recipe?!

        Reply
    12. Amanda

      February 09, 2013 at 5:25 pm

      Hello-

      I sent my check for $4.50 in the mail. Can I please get a box of your cookies!

      Thanks-

      AB~

      Reply
      • Heather (Sweet Precision)

        February 09, 2013 at 10:46 pm

        Ha- I need to send some if them away! They're so addictive :)

        Reply
    13. Allison (Spontaneous Tomato)

      February 09, 2013 at 4:26 pm

      Yum! Wait, is it really girl scout season again already? These look soooo good and also like a great way to use up a bunch of shredded coconut! (By the way, did you use sweetened or unsweetened coconut?) I'll keep that in mind... :)

      Reply
      • Heather (Sweet Precision)

        February 09, 2013 at 10:44 pm

        I know, it totally snuck up on me! So I used sweetened coconut but I'm hindsight probably could have used unsweetened since it gets mixed in with the caramel. They were so gooey and sweet!!

        Reply
    14. Lilly Sue

      February 08, 2013 at 6:16 pm

      Oh my gosh these look amazing. Samoas are my favorite too.i have thought of making them too but never have.will try! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Heather (Sweet Precision)

        February 09, 2013 at 9:11 am

        The worst part is when you make a batch you have like 36 cookies! I'm tempted to try and make some other kinds :)

        Reply
        • Lilly Sue

          February 09, 2013 at 5:19 pm

          Worst part?!! Lol sounds like the best part :) no I understand I am always trying to share my baked goods

          Reply
          • Heather (Sweet Precision)

            February 09, 2013 at 10:45 pm

            I know exactly what you mean! My coworkers are always my guinea pigs :)

            Reply
            • Lilly Sue

              February 09, 2013 at 10:49 pm

              Ha ha same here and my boyfriend :)

              Reply
    15. Leah

      February 08, 2013 at 4:15 pm

      These look awesome - way to give the Girl Scouts some competition haha. Your pictures are gorgeous!

      Reply
      • Heather (Sweet Precision)

        February 09, 2013 at 9:05 am

        Lol, thanks! I'm sure I'll break down a still buy a few boxes... I love Thin Mints too!!

        Reply

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