What I like about Girl Scout Badges is that they encourage learning. To earn Badges, girls learn a variety of major life skills, including those in business, STEM, and the humanities. They encourage thoughtful exploration of our planet through ecology, climate awareness, and recycling. In addition, they promote leadership, friendship, kindness, and fitness. In brief, the Girl Scouts rock.
There are hundreds of badges to lead girls and young women into adulthood. They are modern and up-to-date. Of course, I wanted to know what they had for cooking. Their Cooking Badges teach necessary skills and basic survival, and also about the world around us, what is eaten by people from other cultures, and how we can all cook and eat locally and sustainably.
To promote Girl Scouting and the important work it does in molding world leaders, I like to buy Girl Scout Cookies during their annual fundraiser. I use them to create fun recipes, like my Mascarpone-Saffron Tart. This year, the new Lemon-Ups had me thinking immediately of combining them with blueberries. It was a good thought; this Blueberry-Lemon-Ups Crumb Cake is what happened. I consider it a step toward receiving my Baking Badge.
When you see a Girl Scout selling cookies, please buy some. Buy them for yourself, for your friends, your co-workers, or leave a box to thank your postal carrier… but mostly buy them for her. You are helping her become the amazing woman you know she can be.
~ David
Blueberry Lemon-Ups Crumb Cake
Ingredients
- 1 6.2-ounce package Girl Scout Lemon-Ups cookies
- finely grated zest of 1 lemon
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/4 cups cake flour
- 1/2 cup superfine sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- large pinch kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup sour milk (see note below)
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup blueberries, rinsed
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
Instructions
- Butter an 8-inch square baking pan and line with parchment paper so that the paper comes up two of the sides to create a “sling” for the cake. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Break cookies into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the lemon zest. Pulse the cookies until there are no pieces left — it should resemble sand, and you should have 1 1/4 cups. Pour the cookie crumbs into a bowl, add the flour and sugar, and mix well. Add in the melted butter and stir to incorporate, but make sure you are leaving good-size clumps to top the cake. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, blend cake flour, superfine sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add the butter in 4 additions and mix with the paddle attachment until mixture resembles coarse sand.
- In a small bowl, mix the sour milk, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Slowly add the liquid to the dry ingredients with the mixer running at low speed. Mix about 1 minute, scraping down the sides once or twice.
- Wipe out the bowl used for the liquid and add the rinsed berries. Cover with the tablespoon flour, and shake to coat the berries. Note: rinsing the berries enables the flour to stick, and the flour coating keeps the berries from sinking to the bottom of the cake. Add the flour-coated berries to the batter and gently mix in. Spread the batter in the prepared pan, then cover evenly with the crumb mixture.
- Bake for 43 minutes, remove from the oven, and let cook fully on a rack.
- Makes 20 2-inch x 1 1/2-inch pieces.
- Note: To sour milk, place 1 teaspoon white vinegar in a 1/3-cup measure. Fill the measure with milk. It will curdle almost instantly.
© 2024 Copyright Cocoa & Lavender
Jeff the Chef
May 9, 2020 at 7:39 amWhat a great idea. I always buy cookies from my niece. I usually just unceremoniously chow them down, but doing something like this with them looks so much more fun!
David Scott Allen
May 9, 2020 at 9:48 amI’m pretty much the same way, Jeff — but I wanted to do something to promote the Girl Scouts other than simply putting on weight! It is fun to find ways to use them in baking.
Gerlinde
May 9, 2020 at 9:57 amWhat a wonderful way to use Girl Scout cookies. Unfortunately I don’t have any lemon-up cookies at home because I have a cookie monster that devours them as soon as they enter our house a.k.a husband. I hope your doing well and enjoying your cookies.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 9, 2020 at 10:11 amLucky for me, Mark doesn’t love sweets… I just found a box of GS cookies from last year! How does that happen?
John / Kitchen Riffs
May 9, 2020 at 10:23 amI was never a Girl Scout but was a Cub Scout (equivalent, I guess, of what Brownies are to Girl Scouts). I don’t know if it was specific to the the area I lived (Philadelphia suburb in the 1950s), but we sold coconut “eggs” covered in chocolate — for 2 cents apiece. Each box contained at least 100 eggs, probably more — I sold thousands of these eggs, and no one ever bought an entire box. We went door-to-door hawking these eggs. It was fun, and actually taught persistence. And for 2 cents, the eggs were a pretty easy sell. Of course no one bought just one egg — usually half a dozen or more. Twelve whole cents! Riches. Anyway, this has nothing to do with Girl Scout cookies, does it? Or at least not much. I love lemon anything. Didn’t know the Girl Scouts had Lemon-Up cookies — I’ve never been able to get beyond the Thin Mints. 🙂 .
David Scott Allen
May 9, 2020 at 10:38 amHah! Small word – I, too, grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and sold those eggs as a Cub Scout! I think only one year because they switched to wrapping paper and ribbon. It did teach persistence, and also good people skills. I am sure that is how I ended up in fundraising! Curious to know what suburb you were in. I started in Havertown and then we moved to Villanova.
Oh, and until this year, Thin Mints were my go-to. Always buy the trefoils for making tart crusts, but now that I have Lemon Ups? The Mints have some competition!
Melissa
May 10, 2020 at 7:55 amThis really took me back to my Girl Scout cookie-selling days (also in the Philadelphia suburbs, as David knows–Villanova and then Penn Valley in my case). My best year was in seventh grade, when Mr. Nicholson, my math teacher, bought six CASES; it was apparently his custom to buy his year’s supply of cookies from whichever Girl Scout asked him first and I got lucky that year!
Your recipe sounds great, David; I’ve been doing a lot of baking while we’re in lockdown and I’ll definitely try this one. I don’t have GS cookies in the house other than a box of last year’s Thin Mints but I do have some lemon shortbread cookies hanging around and this would be a perfect way to use them up.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2020 at 3:24 amWow — I remember Mr. Nicholson! You must have won a prize for selling six cases, Melissa! I always forget you started out in Villanova…
The lemon shortbread cookies should work well… taste them first (do I have to?) — if they aren’t really lemony, double or triple the zest! Lucky for me (,y waistline), Mark has put a moratorium on sweets until flour and sugar are more easily found.
John / Kitchen Riffs
May 10, 2020 at 8:35 amI grew up in Cheltenham. Or I should say I lived there until halfway through the 5th grade. My parents moved to St. Louis at that point, and not having any better offers, I followed them. 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2020 at 3:20 amGood choice to follow them. 😊 St. Louis is a wonderful city!
Eha
May 9, 2020 at 5:38 pmTalk about memories on Mother’s Day ! Girl Guide and Brownie badges !! Methinks at the time my two girls were growing there were only about 32 or so different ones available. My older, somewhat introverted one, set herself the task of earning each and every one just to ‘prove a point’ ! Oh the baking one included !!! They were not easy to sew on – first, the fruit salad on left front, then left sleeve, right sleeve . . . and then where to go 🙂 ? I swore if she got one more it would end on her middle back !!! Oh yes, you do not have to encourage me to buy Girl Scout cookies . . . like your recipe too !
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2020 at 3:26 amGlad to bring back some fun memories for you today, Eha! Happy Mother’s Day to you!
2pots2cook
May 10, 2020 at 1:00 amBeautiful post David ! Unfortunately we don’t have anything that could be compared to Girl Scout Badges. Great encouragement for girls to become beautiful adults ! Enjoy your day !
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2020 at 3:28 amThanks, Davorka — the badge program is really amazing. The whole program is so important to girls and young women.
Frank Fariello
May 10, 2020 at 5:31 amThis unfortunately reminds me of my short but disastrous stint as a Boy Scout. Long story…
But the crumb cake does look lovely. I can remember Girl Scouts coming round door to door when I was a kid. Doesn’t happen any more, I don’t think. I guess you buy them online these days?
Fran @ G'day Souffle'
May 10, 2020 at 9:17 pmFrank, I think you can buy them online, but I see them frequently outside supermarkets during their selling season.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2020 at 3:32 amOh boy, sounds like a story worth hearing!
Yes, you can buy them online but you need to know a Girl Scout as all sales are tied to each girl’s cookie campaign. I know a few if you need a connection!
Himawan Sant
May 10, 2020 at 7:10 pmWyobrażam sobie, że twoje ciastka z kruszonką i cytryną będą bardzo smaczne … i bardzo odpowiednie dla mojego ulubionego kolegi z kawy.
Dziękuję za przepis od ciebie.
Pozdrowienia ode mnie w Indonezji.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2020 at 3:34 amHimawan — dziękuję bardzo za komentarz. Mam nadzieję, że twój przyjaciel od kawy lubi ciasto!
Eha Carr
May 16, 2020 at 10:27 pm*huge smile* David – you can guess where I have just subscribed, can you not ? . . . . Fascinating and close . . .
David Scott Allen
May 17, 2020 at 6:17 am🙂 — this was my first visit from Himawan… wonderful site!
Fran @ G'day Souffle'
May 10, 2020 at 9:20 pmDavid, I know that lemon and blueberries are your favorite combination. My grand niece is a Girl Scout so I am well aware of those tasty cookies! That’s a brilliant idea of using the cookies to make the crumb topping! (Damn, there goes my waistline again!)
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2020 at 3:35 amLucky for you to have a Girl Scout in the family, Fran! I’m lucky to have a good local connection!
Priya
May 11, 2020 at 5:22 pmCrumb cake is my favourite. I love crumbles from childhood. This cake looks amazing David. I love reading your post about badges. Sucha a great way to encourage and train your child.
sherry
May 11, 2020 at 9:40 pmyour cake looks very delicious david. i’m not sure if we have girl guide cookies here, but we probably do, and i just don’t know about it:-) i mean, we do have girl guides of course… Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
cheers
sherry x
Cocoa & Lavender
May 16, 2020 at 8:33 amHi, Sherry, it never occurred to me that Girl Guides/Girl Scouts may not all be the same around the world. To be honest, I thought they were. Even if you can’t get these Girl Scout cookies, any lemon shortbread would work!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
May 12, 2020 at 7:51 amI was a Brownie as well as a Girl Scout but can’t remember what the badges were that I earned. My granddaughter was a Brownie and one year when were were visiting she was selling cookies. Of course her grandfather bought a case and then told her to resale it again. She was so happy…I’ve got a photo of her that day on my blog. Love the idea of using the lemon cookies and yes you deserve a badge. 😊
Cocoa & Lavender
May 16, 2020 at 8:36 amI will have to find that photograph on your blog, Karen. What a wonderful thing for her to sell an entire case!
All That I'm Eating
May 14, 2020 at 5:43 amThis is a great idea, blueberries and lemon work so nicely together and I love how you’ve made a box of cookies go so much further.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 16, 2020 at 8:36 amI have to say, Carolyne, the box to last much longer this way… The cookies are so good, that I could eat the entire box at one sitting!
Ron
May 15, 2020 at 5:39 amYou get your badge in my book with this one. Looks mighty tasty.
Wow, I haven’t thought of Girl Scout cookies since moving over this way. We have Scouts over here, it’s called Scouterna, but I’ve never seen them selling cookies. But, we sure bought our share when we lived in the US. I don’t remember Lemon-ups but they sound very tasty. We have a lemon ginger snap here I’ll try in your recipe.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 16, 2020 at 8:38 amYou won’t have seen them before for a good reason. Lemon-ups are new this year, Ron. Up until this year, I pretty much bought the thin mints for eating, and the trefoils for baking. Now the lemon cookies are good for both!
Valentina
May 15, 2020 at 3:08 pmEvery year I buy way too many Girl Scout cookies and have to have someone hid them from me. No joke. What a delicious recipe you made! Yum! 🙂 ~Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
May 16, 2020 at 8:39 amI tried the hiding trick, Valentina, but I am much cleverer than Mark! I always found him no matter where he put them. For me, the trick is to give the girls the money, and tell them to share the cookies with someone who may need them more than I do! Of course, I do buy a couple of boxes just for experimentation purposes…
John
May 17, 2020 at 4:34 pmThis has Dean’s name written all over it. He loves desserts like this. I may have to track down the equivalent of these cookies and bake up a slab. I really want to try it, too!
Cocoa & Lavender
May 18, 2020 at 11:23 amJohn – it would be easy to find some really lemony shortbreads – or maybe just add lots of zest to the topping!
Christina Conte
May 17, 2020 at 11:37 pmMy daughter was only in the Girl Scouts for one year. Unfortunately, the leader didn’t see things the way I did (the girls only did things to earn $ to go on outings), whereas, I felt the experience should be teaching more about being selfless than selfish.
Your bake looks wonderful, David! What a lovely job you did!
Cocoa & Lavender
May 18, 2020 at 11:23 amSorry your daughter had a bad experience – I know so many who have had wonderful experiences…
Millican Pecan
May 18, 2020 at 9:10 pmThis looks so good. My daughter was a girl scout for several years. I love that you have incorporated the cookies into your recipe! I was looking for a recipe to use the blueberries that I will be picking this weekend!
Cocoa & Lavender
May 19, 2020 at 7:06 amThanks for the nice comment! This cake would work well with a standard crumb topping — or with a variety of different cookies! Maybe even a pecan streusel?
Gloria Roa Baker
May 20, 2020 at 8:02 pmI love this David looks delicious and I love blueberries!! wonderful!! hugs
Cocoa & Lavender
May 24, 2020 at 7:15 amThanks, Gloria! Blueberries have always been a favorite of mine, too!
Jasline (Foodie Baker)
May 22, 2020 at 12:08 amI love eating Girl Scout cookies, but have never thought of using them in bakes. This is a brilliant idea and the addition of blueberries just make it even more special.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 24, 2020 at 7:15 amThanks, Jasline — I try to make a special recipe each year using the cookies. I think it’s a nice way to promote the good that shouting can do for girls and young women.
Inger @ Art of Natural Living
May 25, 2020 at 8:23 amI remember going to the Gas Company as a Girl Scout for cooking lessons in their basement (but really nice) demonstration kitchen. Fun tribute! (And yes, I do buy cookies if they come arounde 🙂 )
Cocoa & Lavender
May 30, 2020 at 9:02 amWhat a fun thing to have in your memory banks, Inger! That is cool!
Andrea@thekitchenlioness
May 29, 2020 at 10:52 pmDear David, although there are no such things as Girl Scout Cookies sold around here, I have certainly heard about them and, you already know that I enjoy baking with cookie crumbs, so this is definitely a cake that I would love to make! And how nice to bake this beauty and combining it with a shout-out to all those wonderful girl scouts out there! I love the little messages on those cookies – what a great idea! Wish we had those around here! I would buy them for sure, not only to support the cause but also to bake your lovely cake, of course!
Liebe Grüße aus dem sonnigen Bonn!
Andrea & Co.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 30, 2020 at 9:03 amThanks, Andrea! I know you will make this recipe even better!
Marcelle
May 30, 2020 at 9:04 pmOh my goodness, this sounds divine! Such a beautiful summer dessert and using the lemon cookies as a topping is such a great idea. I don’t know if I can find Girl Scout Lemon-Ups at the moment, but I’ll try a different lemon cookie or make some. We will love this creative crumb cake, David! Yum
Cocoa & Lavender
June 3, 2020 at 2:43 pmMaking your own lemon cookies would be perfect – just make them really puckery Marcelle! 🙂
Susan Manfull
June 2, 2020 at 4:03 pmNow that we have some good blueberries, there are no cookies! Just as well that I wait until next year when I have had a chance to find my waistline again! Is there a cookbook based on Girl Scout cookies?
Cocoa & Lavender
June 3, 2020 at 2:44 pmI was shocked this morning to find out that I have actually lost a couple of pounds durning all this. Must be the conversion of muscle (what there was of it) to fat! It will be worth making these next year when the cookies are available!