student purchasing homemade ice cream from SFA's Lumberjack Express student-run food truck

You can pick up two scoops of homemade ice cream in addition to lunch at Stephen F. Austin State University’s Lumberjack Express student-run food truck from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Education Annex Parking Lot No. 15 on campus. For $2 cash, you can purchase ice cream that SFA culinary students have created based on a Girl Scout cookie flavor. This is part of a nationwide effort by restaurants to support Girl Scouts, who haven’t been able to sell cookies as easily this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Robin Johnson


NACOGDOCHES, Texas — ¬Lumberjack Express food truck patrons can purchase a special dessert created by Chef Todd Barrios, clinical instructor of human sciences at Stephen F. Austin State University, and his culinary students in honor of Girl Scout cookie season.

“It’s been fun creating ice cream based on the cookie flavors,” Barrios said. “We are looking forward to adding this to our offerings on the Lumberjack Express.”

On Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch, patrons visiting the student-run mobile lab can purchase two scoops for $2 cash. Upcoming flavors include:

  • Marshmallow S’mores
  • Strawberry Shortbread
  • Caramel DeLites and Coconut
  • Lemonade Cheesecake
  • Maple Toast-Yays!
  • Peanut Butter Sandwich and Almond
  • and Peanut Butter Patties Vanilla.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer Girl Scouts are able to sell cookies this year. To support the organization, restaurants nationwide are buying boxes of cookies and converting them into delicious desserts, said Dr. Chay Runnels, professor and interim director of SFA’s School of Human Sciences.

“Many restaurants in cities across Texas and the nation are putting Girl Scout cookie-inspired desserts on the menu this season,” she said. “It just allows our students to have fun with unique ingredients and keep up with current culinary trends.”

It also offers SFA students a chance to serve a dessert that was removed from the Culinary Café menu when the pandemic forced it to switch from in-person to takeout service.

“Chef Todd and the culinary students are known for their ice cream, and since the Culinary Café has gone to a takeout model, the students have been unable to offer ice cream as a dessert on the regular menu,” Runnels said.

Lumberjack Express is open from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays by the Education Annex Parking Lot No. 15 on campus. Reservations are highly recommended, but walk-up orders can be purchased with credit card only. Each meal is $8, and only 60 meals will be sold. Patrons must follow the COVID-19 drive-thru and walk-up procedures.

Culinary Café is open from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Drive-thru meals can be picked up in the Education Annex drive-thru portico, located at 1620 Raguet St. For walk-up service, pick up your meals at the purple tent in front of the Education Annex’s north entrance.

View menus and purchase tickets at sfasu.edu/culinarycafe and sfasu.edu/lumberjackexpress. For more information, call (936) 468-4502.

Girl Scout cookies will be sold in Nacogdoches and the surrounding areas through March 23 by local Girl Scouts.