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Breastfeeding is one of the best parts of motherhood as it allows you to bond with your child as you nourish them with the best there is in the universe. Although the milk is expected to flow from the moment the baby is born and before for some new moms, sometimes, the twin superheroes need a little help. One of the best ways to boost your milk production is by use of lactation cookies.

But do lactation cookies really work? The truth is that some ingredients like oats, coconut oil, brewer’s yeast or flax seeds in the cookies have been known to increase breast milk. They are also healthy snacks when breastfeeding that you can quickly grab when hungry right when you wake up or in the middle of the night. This article shares 6 must-try lactation cookies recipes for new moms to help you increase your milk supply.

When Should You Start Eating Lactation Cookies?

If you have read about lactation cookies and you’re wondering when you can try them, then the time is now. Whether you are a few weeks to delivery or the baby is already a few weeks old, there’s no wrong time to start eating lactation cookies. Do lactation cookies work? Well, there’s only one way to find out – make a few (or several) and see.

Related Article: How to Increase Breast Milk Naturally

What’s in a Lactation Cookie?

As a breastfeeding mother, it’s normal and recommended that you are curious about everything that you ingest. It’s therefore understandable that you’d be curious – or even skeptical about the lactation cookies and why it should do what it says it does. What makes lactation cookies work?

Lactation cookies are made with ingredients that are known to be galactagogues. This means that they can increase the production and flow of breast milk. But for the ingredients that will stimulate milk production, lactation cookies would just be regular cookies.  The best lactation cookies recipes must have whole grains, nuts, and lactogenic seeds. Here are some of the best ingredients to have in your lactation cookies recipes.

1. Oats

Oats are high in iron which is needed for breast milk production. Breastfeeding mothers with iron deficiency will experience low milk production and might get anemic. Oats are known to be rich in a vast range of nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and phytochemicals that enhance the supply of milk for your baby. 

Also Read: Is It Possible To Lose Weight While Breastfeeding? (9 Expert Tips That Work)

2. Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds are great for breastfeeding mothers as they help in milk production and the quality of milk. Whether they are put in lactation cookies or not, flaxseeds should be a must-have ingredient in a lactating mother’s diet.

3. Brewers’ Yeast

Brewer’s yeast is one of the best galactagogues you can find. It’s the wonder ingredient that makes lactation cookies as effective as they are known to be.  

Ensure that your lactation cookie recipe is rich in these elements to make it more effective. Here are a couple of lactation cookies recipes to try out.

Also Read: The Ultimate Guide on Expressing and Storing Breast Milk

4. Coconut

Coconut in all shapes and forms is an incredible recipe to increase breastmilk production. Be it in the form of oil or as grated powder, coconut should be included in a breastfeeding mother’s diet for its nutritional value.

Coconut contains unsaturated fats that are healthy and important for the baby. Coconut improves the quality of breast milk due to its high concentration of omega-3 and essential fats.  

Also Read: Managing Colic In Babies: Life Saving Tips for New Moms

5. Nuts

Nuts such as almonds and peanuts are laden with healthy fats and minerals that are vital for the production of milk for a breastfeeding mother. Most nuts also contain proteins and calcium that your baby needs for growth and development.

Nuts are great as a healthy snack to keep you feeling fuller for longer and as an ingredient in lactating cookie recipes.

Also Read: 15 Best Foods For Breastfeeding

6 Easy Lactation Cookies Recipes You Should Try

1. Oats Lactation Cookies Recipe

Makes about 20 cookies.

Time – 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 cups oats
• 1 ½ cups pure organic all-purpose flour
• 5 tablespoons brewer’s yeast
• 3 tablespoons flaxseed, ground to powder
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ground to powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, pure organic
• 4 tablespoons virgin coconut oil
• 1 ½ cups cane sugar
• 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips

Direction

1. Preheat the oven the 180 degrees Celsius.
2. Put the oats, flour, yeast, flaxseed, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, and salt in a sizeable bowl and mix them well.
3. Put the butter and coconut oil in an electric mixer bowl and blitz on medium speed until it’s creamy.
4. Pour in the sugar and beat on medium to high speed for about 5 minutes until it’s fluffy. Make sure that none sticks to the sides of the bowl by scraping and putting it back to the bottom.
5. Crack the egg and the yolk and beat it on a small bowl.
6. Add in the egg and egg yolk to the electric mixer and beat for 3 minutes until it’s well combined.
7. Pour in the vanilla extract and beat until it’s combined.
8. Slowly put the dry ingredients into the mixer and whisk on low speed until it’s well mixed with no lumps.
9. Throw the chocolate chips in and mix with a spatula.
10. Using a spoon or an ice cream cone, scoop the dough into 1-inch rounds and place them on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
11. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the bottoms turn golden.
12. Let the cookies cool and store them in an airtight container.

Special Instructions

If you need to make the cookies later, freeze them after putting them on the baking sheet. When they are frozen, scoop them and put them in an airtight container or a ziplock bag.

If you need your cookies drier or moister, play with the butter and coconut oil ratios. Less butter will give you drier cookies while more coconut oil will give you thinner, larger cookies since it will spread more.

Read More: 12 Breastfeeding Essentials for Nursing Moms

2. Flaxseed Lactation Recipe

Makes about 20 cookies

Time – 25 minutes

Ingredients

• ¼ cup flaxseed powder
• ½ cup of water
• 1 cup of coconut sugar
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 2/3 cups oat flour,
• ¾ cup old fashioned rolled oats,
• ¼ cup brewer’s yeast
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips,
• Maldon sea salt (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and grease it with butter.
3. Mix the flaxseed meal and water in a sizeable bowl, and let it sit for five minutes.  
4. Once the flaxseed gets jelly, add the coconut sugar, coconut oil, and vanilla extract to the bowl.
5. Whip the mixture until it’s smooth and well combined.
6. Then add in the oat flour, rolled oats, brewer’s yeast, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
7. Mix them until it’s well combined with no lumps. Thrown in the chocolate chips and fold them in.
8. Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop the dough and place it on the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
9. Bake cookies for about 10 minutes until the edges are just slightly golden brown.
10. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 15 minutes.
11. Remove the cookies and transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Special Instructions

To get thicker cookies, don’t flatten the dough when you place it on the baking sheet. Gently push the top of the cookie dough to get slightly thinner cookies.

To get the cookies harder and better geld together, leave them on the baking sheet a little longer.

3. Sweet Potato and Coconut Lactation Recipe

Makes 20 cookies

Time – 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups steamed sweet potato, chopped
• 1 ½ cups shredded coconut
• 1 cup almonds
• ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 2 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 1 ½ scoops Lactation Protein Powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2-3 drops Stevia
• Pinch of salt

Directions

1. Put all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until it’s smooth
2. Pour the dough into a bowl and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. You can let it sit for up to an hour if you wish.
3. Once chilled, scoop out your desired bites with a spoon or an ice cream scoop.
4. Roll them into balls
5. Roll them with shredded coconut or any other topping of your choice
6. Enjoy the cookies chilled.

Special Instructions

The cookies can be stored in the fridge for up to 10 days in a zip lock bag or an airtight container. 

4. Oatmeal Lactation Cookies Recipe

Makes 12 cookies

Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tbsp brewer’s yeast
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups oats
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 2 tbsp whole flaxseed optional
• ½ cup of coconut oil
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 tbsp flaxseed, ground
• 3 tbsp water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius
2. Put the coconut oil and sugar in a mixing bowl and mix them until soft.
3. Add the egg and vanilla and whisk.
4. Mix the flaxseed and water in a separate bowl and then add to the mixing bowl.
5. Add the flour, brewer’s yeast, cinnamon, and salt to the mixing bowl and mix some more.
6. Throw in the oats, raisins, and whole flaxseed into the mixture and fold them in.
7. Scoop out the batter onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
8. Flatten the cookies slightly as you desire.
9. Bake for 12 minutes.

Special Instructions

This recipe is flexible and you can substitute whole wheat flour for regular white flour. If you’re not fond of flaxseed, you can omit them altogether. Substitute the coconut oil for butter for fluffier dough.

Read more: Foods to avoid to prevent colic

5. No-Bake Peanut Butter Lactation Cookies

Makes 12 cookies

Time – 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• ½ cup flaxseed ground or milled
• 3 tablespoons brewer’s yeast
• 1 cup peanut butter
• ½ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions

1. Add all ingredients except for the chocolate chips in the bowl of an electric mixer.
2. Whisk on low speed until the mixture is well combined and there are no lumps.
3. Throw in the chocolate chips and fold them in.
4. Scoop the mixture with a tablespoon-sized and roll it into a ball.
5. Place the balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Put the balls in for 30 minutes.
7. Once the bites have been set, put them in a ziplock bag or an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Special Instructions

The bites can be enjoyed before they are refrigerated if you’d like to eat them right away. They can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks without going bad.

You can add almonds, dried fruit chunks, or other nuts of your choice if you desire.

6. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies

Makes 40 cookies

Time – 35 minutes  

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp. Brewer’s Yeast (do not substitute)
• 2 Tbsp. Flaxseed Meal
• 3 cups oats
• 2 Cups of Organic Dark Chocolate Chips
• 4 Tablespoons of Peanut Butter
• 1 Cup of Butter
• 1 Cup of White Granulated Sugar
• 1 Cup of Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 2 cups of Flour
• 4 Tablespoons of Water
• 1 Tsp e Baking Soda
• 1 Tsp of Salt
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
2. Mix the water with the Flaxseed Meal in a small bowl and allow it to sit for 5 minutes.
3. Mix the butter, the sugars, vanilla, and the eggs in a bowl
4. Whisk with a mixer for 3 minutes until all ingredients are well combined.
5. Pour the flaxseed into the mixture and beat until well blended.
6. Mix the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and brewer’s yeast in a large bowl. Put this mixture in the butter and mix for 2 minutes.
7. Stir the oats, chocolate chips, and peanut butter into the mixture until well combined.
8. Using a tablespoon, scoop out the mixture and place it onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.
9. Bake for about 10 minutes or until they start to brown.
10. Allowed them to cool on the pan for another 3 minutes.
11. Enjoy the delicious cookies with a drink of your choice or on their own.

FAQs

• How soon after birth can you eat lactation cookies?

There is no specific time that you can start eating lactation cookies. You can start eating them a few days before delivery or shortly after delivery and throughout breastfeeding.

• What is the most important ingredient in lactation cookies?

The key ingredients in lactation cookies that are responsible for breast milk production include oats, brewer’s yeast, flaxseeds, and nuts.

• Can I eat lactation cookies every day?

It is okay to eat lactation cookies every day but limit to about two cookies per day. Consult with your healthcare professional in case of any queries.

• What are the side effects of lactation cookies?

There are no known harmful side effects of lactation cookies as they are made with natural food ingredients such as oats and flaxseeds. However, eat the cookies in moderation to avoid too much weight gain or excess milk production which would result in breast engorgement.

Final Thoughts

Your diet plays a big role in milk production; when it comes to breast milk production, you are what you eat. A healthy diet consisting of a high intake of fruits, vegetables, water, and healthy proteins will give you that needed boost. Besides, you need a delicious, nutrient-packed treat that is both healthy and lactogenic with a little touch of indulgence. Make these lactation cookies for the times you need to grab something yummy and healthy. Which action cookie recipe have you tried out? Let us know in the comments below.

Read Next:

• Is It Possible To Lose Weight While Breastfeeding? (9 Expert Tips That Work)
• 15 Best Foods For Breastfeeding
• 10 Common Breastfeeding Problems And How To Solve Them
• 12 Breastfeeding Essentials For Nursing Moms