Lactation Cookies.
No, never did I ever think I would be typing “lactation” and “cookies” in the same sentence and especially not on my blog.
But these
are
GOOD.
Here is my take on lactation cookies: I don’t know if the COOKIES really work, but I do believe that the key ingredients (oats, brewers yeast, coconut oil, flax) work. I sort of think that the cookies are an excuse to… eat cookies? But in a good way! Also, this is why I think they are so great – in those first few weeks, and heck, even now, I was so freaking hungry, like had never been so hungry in my life. Having something quick to grab, like something even quicker than a banana and almond butter, was imperative while in survival mode. Especially in the middle of the night.
Even since having Max, I’ve developed this hangry hunger every morning, to a point where if I don’t eat something very soon after waking, I feel physically sick. Most likely because he is taking calories from me at night? I’ve never dealt with that before. So having one of these as a snack in the middle of the night or even right when I wake up is a complete LIFESAVER.
Now, these are cookies. Like actual taste-good cookies. I tried a few recipes in the last couple weeks that tasted like cardboard and were drier than dirt. I wanted to make actual enjoyable cookies, ones I wanted to eat, ones I’d be happy to grab twice a day, maybe three times.
The texture: These are thick cookies, not cakey at all, slightly crunchy, but not in a bad or stale way – they are crunchy from the crazy amount of rolled oats inside. I wrote the recipe exactly as I’ve been making them – meaning mostly organic ingredients. Feel free to use non-organic ingredients and what you have on hand.
I know you’ll probably have questions on what you can substitute, what you can leave out or add, what you can change and so on, so I’ve added some notes below the recipe. These will taste best written EXACTLY as is. But I know that sometimes you gotta make some changes! I really, really suggest leaving the amount of fat/butter in the cookies – it adds to the calorie value and new moms need those calories! It will also help the cookie to be a more filling “snack.”
If you want to gift these to a new mom, I would make a batch and bake them, then make a batch and freeze them. Or bake half a batch and freeze the other half. Deliver both. Making a freshly baked double batch isn’t great because the cookies aren’t super soft and moist and that number of cookies will dry out before eaten. Unless of course their family will eat them too. If you’re a mom-to-be, you can totally make these ahead of time – scoop the dough into rounds, flash freeze it then place them in a ziplock bag. My friend Julie has a great tutorial on freezing cookie dough!
Do you have an awesome lactation cookie recipe? If so, share below!
What the video of how I make my Lactation Cookies!
Lactation Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups unbleached organic all-purpose flour
- 5 tablespoons brewers yeast
- 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 12 tablespoons organic unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons unrefined organic virgin coconut oil
- 1 1/2 cups organic cane sugar
- 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips/chunks, I like ghirardelli
- feel free to add: unsweetened flaked coconut chopped almonds, 1 to 2 tablespoons of almond butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven the 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, yeast, flaxseed, baking powder, soda, cinnamon and salt.
- In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the butter and coconut oil on medium speed until creamy. Add in the sugar and beat on medium to high speed until fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl if needed. Add in the egg and egg yolk, beating until combined, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add in the vanilla extract and beat until combined again. Gradually add in the dry ingredients, beating on low speed until just combined and mixed. Stir in the chocolate chips with a spatula until they are evenly dispersed.
- Scoop the dough into 1-inch rounds (I use an ice cream scoop so they are fairly uniform in size) and place on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until the bottoms are just golden. Let cool completely before storing in a sealed container.
Notes
2. You can use all butter if you don’t have/can’t find coconut oil. If you swap any butter amount for more coconut oil, the cookies will spread a bit more. If you decrease the fat (butter/oil) amount in total, these cookies will be drier. It’s up to you!
3. You can use 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour with similar results – any more and the cookies with be drier and grittier.
4. You can probably decrease the sugar by 1/4 cup without issue.
5. I do not have experience in making these vegan, so I can’t say what it would be like without the eggs or with vegan butter. I also am not sure how the consistency would be with gluten free flour.
6. I personally think you can increase the brewers yeast amount by 1 to 2 tablespoons.
Did you make this recipe?
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1,879 Comments on “Lactation Cookies.”
I am definitely going go try your recipe but I used my recipe for my first child two years ago and loved every bite. I bake so often that my best friend was watching my babe and saw these cookies in a Tupperware and helped herself. After she found out they were my lactation cookies, we had a great laugh and I told her she would definitely lactate. She thought they were delicious though!
I’m currently exclusively breastfeeding my 5 month old now and you really can’t explain breastfeeding hunger unless you’ve experienced it. It’s kind of great. I’m a bottomless pit and often have “second dinners” before bed and middle of the night snacks. It’s out of control in the most awesome way possible.
How to flash freeze?
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm I’m not even nursing, nor a mom and these sound AMAZING!! My best friend is pregnant .. I’m totally making her a batch once the baby is born … or hello, freezer!!
Hilarious confession: it’s been a long time ) since I’ve had babies (my youngest is 11) so I’m admittedly out of the baby lingo loop. So every time you mentioned “lactation cookies” i freaked out and cringed a little bit thinking “OMG surely she is not going to post a recipe that contains breast milk…is that really a thing these days? Is that what this blog is going to be now?!?” I just couldn’t even fathom such a thing. Finally, after the last time you mentioned the lactation cookies I googled it and was so RELIEVED to find that THAT is NOT what “lactation cookie” meant at all. You can imagine my relief. I mean as much as I love your writing and recipes and blog I may have had to draw the line. ;) Still giggling over that one…total blonde moment.
I thought the same thing. I’m not making Breast milk cookies!
Whew what a relief!
Go for it nursing moms!
These look amazing! I wish I had had this recipe this past summer. When I was still breastfeeding my husband would wake up in the middle of the night with me and while I was feeding the baby he would be feeding me a granola bar (I was still in the awkward I needed 2 hands to hold/ feed the baby). It was insane. The hunger was terrible, I was SO sick to my stomach if I didn’t eat right that second. Credit to my husband for packing a tupperware bin full of granola bars on my nightstand, it was my saving grace.
I’m so excited these are finally on the blog!!!
I’ve made (& devoured) 2 different lactation cookies, but they weren’t awesome. These LOOK awesome.
Breastfeeding hunger is unlike any other hunger I’ve experienced! I’m an insatiable beast. But it’s also kind of wonderful because I love to eat.
I’m definitely baking these tonight…god I hope I have enough butter in the fridge.
Just had to come back to say that I made these and…THEY ROCK!
I made only a half-batch (low on oats) and I only wish I had more! They taste like a regular non-lactation cookie in the best way possible. I subbed WW pastry flour for AP, added slightly more brewers yeast and slightly less sugar, and they still tasted awesome. My husband keeps eating them, too! If I need another supply boost, these are my go-to recipe now (Who am I kidding? I’ll eat them regardless of supply!)
They are awesome :)))
These cookies are amazing! I have shared this particular recipe with my friends and they love them as well as my husband and sister in law. And they work wonderso for me being a breastfeeding mom! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe on Pinterest!
Oh man these look good. Unfortunately my 7 month old has dairy and egg intolerances, so I guess I will have to stick to my random bowls of oatmeal at all hours of the day (seriously, 3am oatmeal makes a regular appearance in my life!)
someone above mentioned using the flax egg replacement! i think it’s on the back of the ground flax bag? (bob’s red mill) – also, you could probably try with vegan butter!
I recently used a chia seed egg replacement and it was perfect. 1 TBSP of ground chia seeds + 3 TBSP of water. let sit for five minutes = 1 egg. and the good ol’ applesauce instead of butter works wonders too!
I’m with ya on the hangry thing! Having not been one for early-day eating ever before (or midnight snacks, for that matter), it’s been a postpartum adjustment for sure. Even 5 months in, I can never have enough quick snacks on hand. Trying these out soon!
oh man, so even at 5 months i’m still going to be starving?! ha.
Oh yeah! I think as long as you are exclusively breastfeeding, the hunger will be crazy. The feedings slow down a bit in frequency, but yeah, still hungry all the time.
These look delicious. Question – is brewers yeast different from dry active yeast?
Yes they are different. Brewers yeast has the stuff in it that will help you produce milk. It’s harder to find…but I ordered a run on Amazon for around 10 bucks.
yes yes, ditto – amazon is a great idea, i ended up getting some at whole foods and it was a lot more expensive. jessica, do you by chance know if nutritional yeast has the same benefits? i keep finding conflicting thoughts.
I don’t know about it’s value for breastfeeding but be warned, nutritional yeast tastes cheesy so you don’t want to use it in something sweet like this (I know this from experience…blech! )
The two have different elements…found the following explanation on livestrong.com:
Nutritional yeast offers substantial amounts of niacin, folic acid, zinc, selenium and thiamine. Manufacturers often fortify nutritional yeast with vitamin B-12. For vegans, this is an essential addition because they are susceptible to B-12 deficiency since the vitamin is usually found only in animal-derived products. Nutritional yeast also offers a number of essential amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Brewer’s yeast offers an array of B-complex vitamins, selenium and protein, but it’s also rich in chromium, a trace mineral that regulates blood sugar levels. Brewer’s yeast does not provide vitamin B-12, while nutritional yeast does not provide chromium. Vegans looking for a B-12 supplement should stick to nutritional yeast rather than brewer’s yeast.
The nutritional yeast has a lot of the same stuff per the lady at whole foods but it has the cheesy flavor. My friends actually put this on popcorn and it tastes awesome. It may be another method for new moms that isn’t a cookie (I haven’t tried it and am not breastfeeding, so its just a guess.).
Also I just made these (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lactation-Cookies/) for my sister and had my husband try them to determine if they had a weird after taste or anything. He said they tasted like a cookie. I took that as reassuring since he likes cookies. :)
Also apparently brewers yeast can be bitter so you should get the kind made with beets. This apparently takes away the bitterness.
Wholefoods had brewers yeast in the vitamin section for $16.99 for 1lb. I made the recipe above and this (http://onepartsunshine.com/baby-shower-gift-idea-lactation-cookie-mix-in-a-jar/) for my sister to use.
Warning: nutritional yeast is NOT the same as brewer’s yeast. Nutritional yeast does taste cheesy, and it is nutritional, but it does not increase breastmilk supply. You must use BREWER’S yeast.
You can often find Brewers yeast in the bulk section of any grocery store with a natural foods section, and it end up being pretty cheap! I’ve never paid for it packaged, way too expensive!
I’m currently tandem nursing my 2yo and 4 week old. I feel like I’m always hungry and thirsty!! Will be trying these. Only thing I need is to make them dairy free…both my babes have a dairy sensitivity. Could I replace all butter with coconut oil?
i’m not sure how it will turn out if you do ALL coconut oil, but i have made regular chocolate chip cookies successfully with coconut oil! if that doesn’t work, i’m wondering if you could try half vegan butter/half coconut oil.
I can confirm that vegan butter in place of the dairy butter works fine. made these this afternoon and used the same amount of coconut oil as your recipe and just subbed equal amounts vegan butter for the dairy butter. Worked like a charm!
nice!!! thanks girl!
I just made a half batch of these with just coconut oil and they turned out great! I used just one whole egg instead of the 1 egg and 1 egg yolk. They did spread out more than the butter/coconut oil recipe, but I found that those actually did not spread out at all after being frozen so these spread out nicely and are still fluffy. They don’t have that buttery goodness of the original recipe, but I will take it! I had made them (well my sister had made them for me) per the recipe before the baby arrived and i froze them and just ran out yesterday…they are amazing! My little one may be sensitive to dairy though so now i am trying to cut it out completely and I’m so thankful to still have some delicious dairy free cookies to eat! Thank you so much for the recipe!!!
I wish I knew about lactation cookies when I was nursing! I always felt like I needed that extra boost of calories and you’re right, if it wasn’t quick the hanger set in. There were many nights of glass of milk and oreos to get me through till morning. = )
I used to make and inhale these cookies 8 years ago!!! There have been variations on this theme floating around I think from La Leche League for years, but the flax, the brewers yeast, oats, omg I can taste them now :) I too would wake up physically spent and drained, like I had just run 2 marathons in my sleep, from every calorie being sucked right out of me all.night.long. Hunger like never in my life. I totally get it and could pound down 4 or 6 of these in the morning, no problem :)
Thank you for the memories and for doing this post and for always keeping it real!!!
omg you probably have the BEST recipe!! if so, email me one!! a vegan one??
Anyone know where to get brewer’s yeast in Canada?
Can only find 1 large tub of it on Amazon
So, what is a “lactation cookie?” I’m not a mom and certainly don’t know the lingo. Are these a thing? Or are they something you’ve created? My assumption is that it’s a healthier take on something that’s still calorie dense so you can get through breast feeding?
lactation cookies contain ingredients that help boost milk supply in breastfeeding moms! notably, the brewers yeasts and oats, more recently i’ve read that the flax and coconut oil help as well. but definitely the brewers yeast, women have been using that for years. as for the whole cookie part, i think it’s just a way to deliver the otherwise not-as-tasty ingredients (the yeast is super bitter), haha. i didn’t create the idea, they’ve been around for years, but did create this recipe after trying a bunch over the last few weeks!
Haha got it. Motherhood is just a whole other world to me! Thanks!
haha girl… you’re telling me. same here up until 10 weeks ago!
I have made a recipe similar to this and omitted the eggs by following the substitution ratio on the side of the flaxseed meal bag. So essentially just added more flaxseed to it. They were very good and I thought of doing it for all recipes that call for eggs.
good to know!! thanks!
Perfect timing on this, I have a 5 week old. Eating is just so hard sometimes, especially when the little guy is nursing for hours & I only have one hand
Yes! thank you for posting this!!! I have had the ingredients for lactation cookies in my pantry for two months and had yet to find the time to make them. I’m glad I didn’t make them with a different recipe cause I’m sure yours will be the best!! Now if I can only find ten minutes to make these without a wiggling baby in my arms… ;-)
Damn I just made a batch of lactation cookies yesterday, but will try your recipe next. This was the recipe I used: http://www.bellybelly.com.au/breastfeeding/lactation-cookies#.VO6ISSkazCQ except I replaced the flour with coconut meal & added chocolate chunks & toasted coconut. With the last batch I added powdered ginger instead of cinnamon & dark brown sugar. Love how adaptable they are (and great excuse to eat cookies!!)
OMG. I am loving the thickness of these. It is going to be weird when I make these as a non-preggo person or mom. :)
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I’m pregnant and I didn’t even know this was a thing?! Sometimes I feel a little behind with all this pregnancy stuff. One thing that made me feel better was the fact that you mentioned in a previous post that you didn’t really buy much for the baby until right before his birth. I’m halfway along and haven’t really bought anything yet either! Eeeek. I’ll have to try these out in a few months :)
shannon! do not worry at all. i truly didn’t buy a THING up until 30ish weeks – we ended up buying a crib and glider (still haven’t even used the crib yet) and at 36+ weeks i bought the bassinest that he sleeps in now. we did have a baby shower and got gifts which is what we’ve used and are mostly the things in my favorites. i didn’t know anything about babies before even though all of my friends already have them. i promise, it does start to come naturally.
THANK YOU! I don’t know anything about babies either, so I’m glad you say it does come naturally. All the info just seems overwhelming and the amount of research just to pick out a stroller is insane. Love your favorites lists – so helpful!!
These look awesome! My kids are 21, 15, & 5 but I want some. Do you have a recipe for non lactation cookies that are thick like these?!
i think these are probably the closest! http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/06/chewy-chocolate-chip-oatmeal-cookies/
I am really excited about trying these, thank you for sharing. My daughter is almost 4 months and I am trying to increase my milk supply because I have been having to supplement since she was 1 month old. Hopefully I am not too late to increase it?
brittany – i’ve had an oversupply of milk for most of max’s life so i am by no means an expert nor do i know anything as i’m so new at this, but here are some things that i really feel helped me:
1. coconut water, the good stuff! and lots of it.
2. tons of water, at least a gallon a day (this hasn’t been too difficult since i’m so thirsty from nursing) – if i have caffeine, i drink even more.
3. coconut oil (mixed in with oatmeal, smoothies, etc)
4. popcorn! this is nuts but i swear by it. i started eating it as an easy snack and noticed every night that i did, i had a ridiculous amount of milk. if i eat an entire home-popped bowl, i have TONS the next few hours. not sure if this is legit but i don’t know what else it could be. you could also put the coconut oil on the popcorn!
5. the rolled oats, in any form. i was actually eating regular oatmeal chocolate chip cookies the first few weeks and i believe it helped.
6. the brewers yeast for sure. it is super bitter but i’ve heard that people have sprinkled it on popcorn.
7. omegas/DHA – a little extra that what i normally take.
again, i have no idea if this stuff REALLY helps and every body is different, but i wanted to pass it along. i’ve also heard that drinking beer once a day helps a lot – but it’s the same idea as the brewers yeast.
Jessica, thank you so much for this! I am most definitely going to be taking your advice and trying different remedies- especially the yummy popcorn! :) I appreciate it very much!! Have a blessed one! :)
What if I used brown sugar instead of some of the white? Would that make a softer, moister cookie?
i tried both – the brown sugar didn’t really change the texture at all! so you can use either.
I made these the other night and I have to say they are absolutely delicious! My husband has been eating them because they taste so good. I’ve had a really tough time making enough milk for my almost two month old so along with supplementing, I’ve been trying every trick in the book to help my supply (special tea, vitamins, oatmeal, carrots, beer and anything else that I’ve googled will help). Not sure if these cookies have made a difference in my supply yet but I will keep making and eating them,…you know, for research.
I am also saving this recipe to use as a gift for any friends that I know will be nursing.
I finally made these today…the flavor is really good! The only variation from the recipe is that I used steel cut oats instead of old fashioned rolled…and because of this they are a little extra gritty/crunchy. Also, for whatever reason the batch made like 52 cookies (I hand rolled about 1-inch cookies)!
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I can’t tell you what a huge fan of this recipe I am. I am due literally any minute and I already have a batch of these in the freezer and I think I’m gonna make some more today to throw in there. These are #1 some of the best cookies I have ever tasted in my life and #2 I have been profusely leaking colostrum in the middle of the night the last few days I”ve snuck one from my stash. Can’t wait to have this little guy and have an excuse to eat more cookies! Baby Sam’s gotta have some mamma milk!
ahhh so exciting Em!! THANK YOU!! congrats and come back and tell me about your little babe!
I made them today, followed instructions to the letter and are really good. For the first time, they look exactly as the pictures, so a big success. They taste as something familiar and they are really tasty! My husband tried them also so thumbs up from him too! I will definitely make them again and pass the recipe to my fellow breastfeeding moms!
i’m so glad you like them carmilla!! thanks!
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I tell you this was the BEST weight Loss program……nursing! I did it until my girls were about 18 months.
Could you sub whole wheat flour? Sorry if that’s been asked already.
i wouldn’t do ALL whole wheat flour – they will be way too dry and gritty. you can maybe try 50/50 with all-purpose! there are some further notes on this below the recipe. :)
This post makes me miss nursing SOOO much! My youngest is 3 1/2 years old and I nursed her until she was 2 years and two months :) It is such a wonderful bonding experience. I am so happy for you that it is going well! Savor every sweet moment :)
Made these the other day without the brewer’s yeast (the Internet said to avoid if fighting thrush) and they are so good!
Oh, glad you mentioned that! I may have thrush (I’m not convinced that’s what this is) so I better avoid the yeast! Wonder if the cookies will still help without it…
Hi, Jessica! In the ingredients, where it says soda, is that baking soda? I’m picking up the ingredients to make these today! So excited to try them!
oh yes! fixed it!
I’ve been on doctor-ordered modified bed rest for the past two weeks (ugh), and they sliiiiiightly lifted the restrictions today. Celebrating today by making a batch or two of these to freeze for whenever baby girl decides to make her appearance!
I think every breastfeeding mom makes lactation cookies at some point. I made a low fat version and so I figured I could make a new batch every week. I was still eating lots of other calories in other ways. And I also believe that they work, brewer’s yeast is the magic ingredient. Easier eating these than a beer in my opinion. :) My low-fat lactation cookies: http://www.thebakingexchange.com/2014/03/30/stillkekse/
I made these the other night (I have a 10 week old and pumping at work), and while I haven’t noticed a huge difference in output, they certainly haven’t hurt. :) They are soooo yummy! I overbaked one batch so I learned quickly not to leave them in the oven for an extra 3-4 minutes (oops!). I took some to another new mom last night and she raved about them as well. Thanks and hope all is well with you and your little one!
I can’t wait to make these. I have a 2.5 week old and although my milk supply is fine, eating cookies for “medical reasons” sounds fantastic! ;-) I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading about Max and your motherhood experience – thanks for sharing! Quick question, is cane sugar the same thing as evaporated cane juice sugar? I have a bag of evaporated cane juice sugar from Trader Joe’s and the crystals are bigger than regular sugar. I just want to make sure I don’t use the incorrect kind and end up wasting all the ingredients. TIA!
I made this recipe and ate the whole thing in a week. Thanks for the excuse to drown myself in cookies.
Baked these this morning. They taste great, but the first batch didn’t spread at all. They came out as hard little balls. With the next batch I flattened the dough balls a bit with the bottom of a glass before putting them in the oven & they turned out great.
Not sure if this will replace my go-to lactation cookie recipe, the results remain to be seen, but a tasty cookie none the less.
I just made these with oat flour, and they turned out great! Thanks for sharing. I just had baby #5 last week:)
I just made these tonight while my husband held our 5 week old daughter. I used 1 stick of butter and 1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce, and added 1/4 cup of finely chopped almonds, 1/4 c. of shredded coconut, and used 3/4 c. of mini semi-sweet chips and 3/4 c. of white choc. chips. These are delicious! I used a 1 inch scoop and got about 45 cookies. I will definitely be keeping these around to snack on.
These are fantastic! I made them last night, with a few slight modifications. I used all whole wheat flour (King Arthur White Whole Wheat), and added about 1/2 cup of unsweetened apple sauce to combat the dryness associated with whole wheat flour. I also used 1 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Even with these modifications, the cookies came out delicious! I used a tablespoon measure to scoop the dough, and baked up 15 cookies last night. The remainder of the dough was scooped and frozen according the the suggestions here. I ended up with a full gallon ziplock freezer bag full of formed, frozen, raw cookie dough. Looking forward to cooking these up a few at a time once my little one appears (any day now). Thanks for a great recipe!
Tasty but super dry! I followed the directions and ingredients to the T but for some reason mine definitely do not look like the picture. I think next time I’ll decrease the sugar and add milk?
I had the same problem! They had a sandy texture, but tasted good. I’m gonna try increasing the fat & maybe making cookie bars instead. I think they might turn out chewier that way.
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When I’ not up for baking, I order Oat Mama granola bars. They are more nutritious and way better-tasting than cookies.
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