Before Christmas, I posted a picture on Instagram of some lactation cookies I made and I’ve had quite a few people ask me for the recipe I used…so today I’m finally getting around to sharing it!
For those of you not familiar with lactation cookies (because I know I definitely wasn’t before having a baby), they’re basically just normal cookies with a few added ingredients that are supposed to help increase a nursing mom’s milk supply. I originally looked for a recipe for these cookies when Henry was having issues gaining weight. I assumed that I most likely just had low milk supply, and so I was looking to do anything I could to help increase it, especially if it involved baking a batch of cookies! (However, as I shared in his one month update yesterday, we eventually found out that he had a tongue tie/lip tie which is what was likely causing the lack of weight gain!)
The ingredients in these cookies that are supposed to help boost your milk supply are the oatmeal, the flaxseed meal, and the brewers yeast. From what I’ve read, brewers yeast seems to be the most crucial ingredient, so be sure not to leave that out and also be sure you’re getting the right type of yeast, as there are other kinds out there. (FYI: I found my brewers yeast at Whole Foods, but I’m sure other speciality food stores/home brewery stores carry it as well)
As far as taste goes, these cookies honestly just taste like normal oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and they’re SO good! Both Cam and my mom have eaten quite a few of them and seem to enjoy them just as much as I do…even though they’re obviously not lactating, ha! 🙂
Granted, I can’t really say just how much these cookies actually do to increase milk supply. I’m sure everyone may have different results, so who knows whether the ingredients really do make a big difference in the amount of milk you’re making or whether it’s just a placebo effect that’s all in your head. Either way, I definitely think they’re worth making for this reason alone – breastfeeding is a LOT of work and it totally deserves a batch of delicious cookies! Plus, it also makes you pretty hungry all the time and so these guys make a great little snack (that you can eat one-handed!) any time of day.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies
Recipe adapted from: Just Mommies
Ingredients
3 cups of oatmeal (steel-cut or old-fashioned)
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 and 1/2 cups of brown sugar
1 (12 oz) bag of chocolate chips
1 cup of butter, softened
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 and 1/2 cups of brown sugar
1 (12 oz) bag of chocolate chips
1 cup of butter, softened
2 eggs
4 tablespoons of water
4 tablespoons of water
3 tablespoons of brewers yeast
2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of baking soda
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| Forgot to include the salt in this picture…whoops! |
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Mix together the flaxseed meal and water, and then set aside for 3-5 minutes.
3. Cream butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time and mix until blended.
5. Stir flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to the butter mix. Beat until blended.
6. Sift together dry ingredients, except oats and chips.
7. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and mix until fully incorporated.
8. Stir in oats, and then stir in chocolate chips.
9. Scoop or spoon cookie dough onto baking sheet.
10. Bake for 10-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies.
Makes approximately 3-4 dozen cookies.
I was going to wait to share this recipe with a post about my experience with breastfeeding. However, right now we’re still in the thick of getting the hang of things and so I feel it’s way too premature to talk about it just yet. But because I love these cookies so much, I wanted to go ahead and share this recipe ASAP for my fellow nursing mamas out there. I’d highly suggest giving these cookies a try, and if you’re going to visit a nursing mom, these could be a great gift to bring along!
