By Kiera Ford, volunteer contributor, American Red Cross

Even though it’s not an official holiday, dessert enthusiasts all over the world can rejoice in knowing they can eat excessive amounts of cookies without shame today in honor of National Cookie Day.

As a former girl scout, I remember all too fondly going door to door with puppy dog eyes and a toddler voice, trying to convince my neighbors to buy obscene amounts of cookies. Wearing my green vest with ironed- on patches, my sister and I would stalk the neighborhood convincing our community that diet season was over, and it was time to board the cookie train.

Although this was a great experience, Girl Scouts do way more than just sell cookies during one part of the year. What many don’t know is that the Red Cross and the Girls Scouts have had a long standing relationship that includes troops from all across the United States. Each year, Girl Scout troops donate thousands upon thousands of boxes of those painfully addicting cookies to not only the Red Cross, but also fire departments, hospitals, EMTs, the military, and other services that seek to help the community and to those that make sacrifices for the betterment of the public. The Red Cross uses these delicious cookies to help comfort those who have been affected by disaster.

Each year, the Girl Scouts donate thousands of cookies to community advocates across the United States as part of their “Cookies from the Heart” campaign. This campaign brings joy to the heart of millions who receive these cookies from community advocates such as the Red Cross. The Red Cross also partners with Girl Scout to help them earn badges and learn all too important safety tips such as CPR and fire safety (for camping and such).

The relationship between the Girl Scouts and the Red Cross offers those who need a helping hand, a chance to feel brief relief through a well-known, delightful and comforting dessert.

So, if you’re like me, and you keep a box of Thin Mints in the freezer because you can’t wait all the way until February for more cookies, take those bad boys out and enjoy them in Honor of National Cookie Day!

I got recipes, got a lot of recipes, got a lot of people tryna take all of my recipes! :

 

LEMONADES YOGURT PARFAIT

8 Lemonades Girl Scout cookies, coarsely crushed
¼ c. sweetened dried cranberries
4 (6 oz.) containers flavored yogurt
1 c. chopped mixed fruit (bananas, grapes, mandarin oranges, kiwi or blueberries)
4 Lemonades Girl Scout cookies for garnishing

How to Make:

Combine crushed cookies and cranberries.
Divide cookie mixture.
Spoon half of cookie mixture into the bottom of four tall and narrow dessert glasses.
Top with half of yogurt and half of mixed fruit pieces.
Repeat layers.
Garnish each dessert with 1 whole cookie.
http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/lemonades-yogurt-parfait

THIN MINT CHEESECAKE

Crust:
1 1/2 c. crushed Thin Mints
1/4 c. sugar
2 tbsp. butter
Mix together and press into 9in spring form pan

Filling: (melt the two ingredients together)
1 1/2 oz. sweet chocolate
1 tsp butter
1 1/2 lb. cream cheese
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. heavy whipping cream
1/4 c. milk
2 eggs
1/4 tsp. salt

How to Make:

Chill crust for 1 hour
Combine cream cheese mixture and chocolate mixture. Pour mixture into chilled crust. Place spring form pan inside large pan with 1 inch water. Bake at 325 degrees in the oven for 90 minutes. (Check to see if done at 60 minutes). When it is done, open the oven and let it rest for 15 min. Remove from the oven and chill for 1 hour. Top with Thin Mint crumbles before serving.
http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/thin-mint-cheesecake

SAMOAS ICE CREAM TRUFFLES 

1 pt. vanilla ice cream
8 coconut-chocolate cookies

How to Make:

1. Let ice cream stand at room temperature 15 minutes to soften.
2. Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and place in freezer.
3. Process cookies in a food processor 1 minute or until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour cookie crumbs into a shallow dish.
4. Scoop ice cream into small balls using a 1 1/4-inch ice-cream scoop, and roll in cookie crumbs. Arrange on prepared baking sheet in freezer. Freeze truffles at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Girl Scout Samoas cookies.

Trefoils Ice-cream Truffles: Substitute 1 sleeve (21 cookies) old-fashioned shortbread cookies for coconut-chocolate cookies. Proceed with recipe as directed. Makes 22 truffles. Prep: 25 min., Stand: 15 min., Freeze: 30 min. Note: For testing purposes only, we used Girl Scout Trefoils cookies.

Do-Si-Dos Ice-cream Truffles: Substitute 1 sleeve (11 cookies) peanut butter-cream cookies for coconut-chocolate cookies. Proceed with recipe as directed. Makes 22 truffles. Prep: 25 min., Stand 15 min., Freeze: 30 min. Note: For testing purposes only, we used Girl Scout Do-Si-Dos cookies.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/samoas-ice-cream-truffles

For more tasty recipes using Girl Scout cookies check out the organizations website for “official” spin offs to these delectable treats: http://www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/all-about-cookies/Cookie-Recipes.html