Cookie Cupboard FAQs

The Girl Scouts River Valleys Cookie Program returns February 20-March 29, 2026.

There are three types of cookie cupboards where Girl Scouts River Valleys troops can pick up additional cookie inventory after the initial order:

Council On-Demand Cookie Cupboards: Located in warehouse spaces and open to all troops. There are seven Council Cookie Cupboards, with five in the Twin Cities Metro, one in Mankato, and one in Rochester.

Regional Cookie Cupboards: Assigned to troops in communities/areas without close proximity to a Council Cookie Cupboard. Troops are required to place a planned order by Monday at 7:00 am for pick up later in the same week.

Regional Express Cookie Cupboards: Similar to regional cookie cupboards but are in closer proximity to a Council Cookie Cupboard. Troops are required to place a planned order by Monday at 7:00 am (CST) for pick up later in the same week. These cupboards close after the third week of the sale.

General FAQs for All Cupboards

What hours/days are cupboards open? toggle arrow

Available through Cookie Central, reference the Cookie Cupboards article to view the Council Cupboard Map and Council Cupboard Drive-Up instructions and Operating Hours Reference Sheet ahead of your visit. For troops that utilize Regional/Regional Express Cupboards, the information on hours of operation are located on the Smart Cookies dashboard.

What should I expect when visiting a Council On-Demand Cookie Cupboard? toggle arrow

These cupboards employ temporary staff during the cookie season to work in the warehouse locations. Staff will greet you, record vehicle information, and take the order on a tablet. The staff will send the order to the warehouse for staff to pull the cookies on carts, then return to your vehicle to load the cookies for you. Please remain in your vehicle. You’ll receive a paper copy of a receipt, which you can use to verify the order totals. Once your order is loaded you may exit the location.

Who can pick up an order? toggle arrow

It is strongly recommended that only registered troop cookie managers and troop leaders pick up cookies from the cupboard, because the troop is financially responsible for cookies picked up from cupboards. However, a registered volunteer can designate a parent/guardian in the troop to pick-up from the cupboard if a registered troop cookie manager or leader is unable to do so. The troop cookie manager or troop leader must authorize any and all inventory pick-ups from a cookie cupboard.

Can I pick up cases or packages at a cupboard? toggle arrow

Troops can pick up cookies by the case or the package at all council on-demand cookie cupboards and regional/regional express cupboard. The council express cupboards require cookies to be picked up in full cases.

What should I do before I pick up my order? toggle arrow

Prior to visiting any cupboard, be sure to clear your vehicle of obstacles so the staff can load the cookies safely and efficiently.

Before visiting an on-demand cupboard, have your order ready prior to your visit with totals by variety in cases and packages. If another volunteer/adult will be picking up cookies on your behalf, you can forward the email to them.

Before visiting a Regional cupboard, print out the planned order from Smart Cookies.

Can I return cookies or exchange cookies at a cupboard? toggle arrow

No, cookies cannot be returned to a cupboard, nor can sealed cases be exchanged at a cupboard for other varieties. If you have damaged cookies, you may bring them to a council or regional cupboard for an exchange of the exact variety. 

An exchange timeframe will be announced in The Cookie Press in early March. Cookies must be in full, bakery-sealed cases to be eligible to exchange during the exchange timeframe. Exchanges are not allowed until the exchange timeframe. If your troop finds that you have extra inventory, connect with your community/area product leader and/or visit The Cookie Resource Help Hub to find troops looking for more cookies.

Council On-Demand Cupboard FAQs

Where are the Council Cookie Cupboard locations? toggle arrow

Available through Cookie Central, reference the Cookie Cupboards article to view the Council Cupboard Map and Council Cupboard Drive-Up instructions and Operating Hours Reference Sheet ahead of your visit.

Do I need to make an appointment to visit a council on-demand cupboard? toggle arrow

No appointment is needed to pick up cookies at any of the on-demand cupboard locations. These cupboards are often busiest when they open for business. The cupboard staff will do their best to move you through the line as quickly as possible. If you are in a hurry, we suggest arriving at off-peak times, such as 2:00 pm weekdays and 10:00 am on weekends.

How will I know the cupboard has enough cookies? toggle arrow

Girl Scouts River Valleys will post cupboard inventory levels on Cookie Central. You can view the latest inventory updates from the Cookie Cupboard Inventory drop-down menu located at the top of the page. For Regional/Regional Express cupboards, contact your cupboard manager for any inventory questions.

What should I expect when visiting a Council Cookie Cupboard? toggle arrow

Council Cookie Cupboards employ temporary staff during the cookie season to work in the warehouse locations. Staff will greet you, record vehicle information, and take the order on a tablet. The staff will send the order to the warehouse for staff to pull the cookies on carts, then return to your vehicle to load the cookies for you. Please remain in your vehicle. If your vehicle requires staff to be in close contact with you, you may be asked to exit the vehicle or load the order yourself. You’ll receive a paper copy of a receipt, which you can use to verify the order totals. Once your order is loaded you may exit the location.

How do cookies get transferred to my troop after they are picked up at a cupboard? toggle arrow

A transaction will take place in Smart Cookies to transfer cookies to your troop in the system through a Cupboard to Troop transaction. The troop contact will receive an email to confirm the transfer. You can view your Troop Transfer Order Report and filter for Cupboard to Troop transfers or view the Cupboard to Troop transfer(s) on the Manage Orders screen by filtering for those transfer(s).

What if the number of cookies I received does not match Smart Cookies? toggle arrow

If any errors occur with your cupboard transaction, complete the online Cookie Cupboard Error Report Form and a member of the Girl Scouts River Valleys staff will follow up with you.

Planned Order Cupboards (Regional Express & Regional) FAQs

When are planned orders due and when can I pick up my cookies? toggle arrow

Planned orders are due Monday mornings by 7:00 a.m. for all Regional and Regional Express Cupboards. The planned order schedule is below:

PLANNED ORDER DEADLINE	PICK-UP DATES
Monday, February 23 at 7:00 am	February 26-27
Monday, March 2 at 7:00 am	March 5-6
Monday, March 9 at 7:00 am*	March 12-13
Monday, March 16 at 7:00 am	March 19-20
Monday, March 23 at 7:00 am	March 26-27

* Regional Express Planned Order Cupboards close on March 16.

If your troop utilizes a Regional or Regional Express Cupboard, refer to the Smart Cookies dashboard message for information on the cupboard hours of operation-not all locations may be open on Cookie Go Day weekend. The dashboard also features the contact information for the cupboard manager. If you need cookies immediately, connect with that volunteer to see if they can assist you ahead of the first planned order deadline.

Regional and Regional Express Cupboards will have a pick-up date of Thursday and a pick-up time of 7:00 – 7:30 am. This is not the day and time to pick up cookies, rather, it is a default setting used for the troops to place the order in Smart Cookies

Who can place a planned order? toggle arrow

Troop cookie managers or troop leaders in Smart Cookies can place a planned order for their troop. Visit our Smart Cookies Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to place a planned order.

Can I edit or delete my planned order information? toggle arrow

You can edit your planned order until the planned order deadline. View the instructions in the Smart Cookies Guide. If you need to delete your planned order, contact Girl Scouts River Valleys. Order locations and times cannot be changed after the Monday 7 a.m. deadline of the week that you are picking up the order.

Troops can also increase (depending on cupboard inventory) or decrease their order upon arrival at the planned order cupboards.

Do I need to order in full cases at a cupboard that requires a planned order? toggle arrow

Planned orders can be made in cases/packages at Regional or Regional Express Cupboards.

What will happen once you arrive at the planned order cupboard? toggle arrow

At a Regional or Regional Express Cupboard, your cupboard manager will prepare a receipt. Verify the count of the cookies against the receipt.

What happens if I don’t pick up my planned order? toggle arrow

Any orders not picked up on their specified day will be absorbed back into cupboard inventory. Cookies cannot be returned to the baker, so please be mindful of this when placing a planned order.

Council Finder

Cookie Cupboard FAQs

The Girl Scouts River Valleys Cookie Program returns February 20-March 29, 2026.

There are three types of cookie cupboards where Girl Scouts River Valleys troops can pick up additional cookie inventory after the initial order:

General FAQs for All Cupboards

Troops can pick up cookies by the case or the package at all council on-demand cookie cupboards and regional/regional express cupboard. The council express cupboards require cookies to be picked up in full cases.

Prior to visiting any cupboard, be sure to clear your vehicle of obstacles so the staff can load the cookies safely and efficiently.

No, cookies cannot be returned to a cupboard, nor can sealed cases be exchanged at a cupboard for other varieties. If you have damaged cookies, you may bring them to a council or regional cupboard for an exchange of the exact variety.

Council On-Demand Cupboard FAQs

Available through Cookie Central, reference the Cookie Cupboards article to view the Council Cupboard Map and Council Cupboard Drive-Up instructions and Operating Hours Reference Sheet ahead of your visit.

If any errors occur with your cupboard transaction, complete the online Cookie Cupboard Error Report Form and a member of the Girl Scouts River Valleys staff will follow up with you.

Planned Order Cupboards (Regional Express & Regional) FAQs

Planned orders are due Monday mornings by 7:00 a.m. for all Regional and Regional Express Cupboards. The planned order schedule is below:

PLANNED ORDER DEADLINE

PICK-UP DATES

Monday, February 23 at 7:00 am

February 26-27

Monday, March 2 at 7:00 am

March 5-6

Monday, March 9 at 7:00 am*

March 12-13

Monday, March 16 at 7:00 am

March 19-20

Monday, March 23 at 7:00 am

March 26-27