Oatmeal Chocolate Lactation Cookies - full of oats, LSA & brewers yeast (and chocolate!) and the perfect snack for any new breastfeeding mama! Plus, I've included instructions for freezing the dough so you can have fresh cookies at a moments notice!
Ok so let's get straight into the weirdness that is this post. I have to admit, I never thought the words "lactation cookie" would be something I said, let alone wrote on here, but you know - strange things happen once you've had a baby!
But before we get into the recipe can I just say to all the breastfeeding mamas out there...you are doing an amazing job!! Breastfeeding is hard! I definitely thought that it was going to be easy and would come naturally and would be a beautiful experience. Ha! So naive.
A tiny baby who doesn't know what they are doing chomping on your nipples. Boobs so big that they feel like rocks. Waking up in a puddle of milk. Squirting your baby in the face multiple times a day. Tongue tie. Lip tie! Worrying that they are not getting enough to drink. Worrying that they are getting too much to drink! Feeding for what feels like hours for that little bundle to then power chuck your precious milk all over you, the couch and the carpet and then be hungry again immediately. HARD! And that's all before they start getting distracted when you're feeding in public and decide to start looking around while you sit there with your boobs out for the world to see. And we're not there yet but I have a feeling once teeth make an appearance it becomes a whole new ball game!
So whatever stage of this journey you are on - keep going! You're doing an awesome job. And if you could only breastfeed your baby for 1 day, 1 week or 1 month that's ok too. Because a fed baby is the best kind of baby, regardless of how it happens. And you can totally still eat these cookies 🙂
I'm picking that probably not too many of you reading are actually breastfeeding mamas, but maybe you know someone who is. A friend, workmate or sister who is about to, or has just had a baby and would love a treat. Lactation cookies would be the perfect new baby present to take around to someone. Especially when you tell her that she can eat these for breakfast or in the middle of the night when that crazy breastfeeding hunger hits. Not that they are health food, but come on! If you're breastfeeding, you are keeping a whole person alive! Not to mention that you are getting up multiple times a night to do it!! If this doesn't warrant eating cookies whenever you like, I don't know what does.
The key ingredients in here that are required for them to become lactation cookies, are oats, brewers yeast & linseed or flaxseed (they're the same thing). I actually used LSA (linseed, sunflower, almond) because why not get even more good stuff in there! I found LSA at the supermarket in the health food section and brewers yeast from Bin Inn (a bulk food store). You can also get LSA and flaxseed there.
The other key ingredient is chocolate. Goes without saying.
The best thing about these cookies is that you can bake half of them and freeze the rest of the dough. Just shape the dough into balls, lay them out on a small tray lined with baking paper and freeze them for a few hours before transferring them into a snaplock bag. When you are ready to bake them pull them out of the freezer and let them come to room temperature and then put them on an oven tray and bake. So easy!
Even though they are lactation cookies, they are still so delicious that no one will know they aren't just regular cookie, so as long as you are happy to share you don't even need to tell anyone what they are! Full disclosure - if you do tell your husband who has the maturity of a 5 year old that they are actually lactation cookies, be prepared for him to eat them and then pretend to squirt you in the face because he obviously grew boobs that became full of milk after eating these cookies. {face palm} So you know - tell husbands at your own risk.
I've been lucky enough to have an awesome supply of milk - so much so that Sadie gets hit in the face with a fire hydrant a couple of times a day, but even so I still found myself questioning my supply on more than one occasion. It's definitely something that comes with the territory. So I don't really know if lactation cookies work to increase your supply or how many cookies you actually have to eat for it to make a difference. But I don't think you will get any complaints from a new mum when you give her a batch of freshly baked lactation cookies with strict instructions to eat them all!
Oatmeal Chocolate Lactation Cookie
Ingredients
- 115 g butter softened
- ½ cup (100g) brown sugar
- ½ cup (105g) white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (105g) flour
- 1 ½ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup brewers yeast
- 2 tablespoon LSA or flaxseed/linseed
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 150 g dark chocolate chunks
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F and line a baking tray with baking paper or a Silpat liner.
- Cream butter and sugars using a stand or handheld mixer on high speed until creamy. Add egg and vanilla and beat on medium speed until combined.
- Add all remaining ingredients except the chocolate and mix on low speed until combined. Stir through the chocolate chunks.
- Using your hands, roll balls about 1 tablespoon in size and place on the prepared tray. No need to flatten the cookies. At this stage you can also freeze the cookie dough (see note 1)
- Bake for 12 minutes, until just starting to go golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the tray for 15 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week.
Notes
- To freeze the cookie dough balls, place the rolled balls in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with baking paper (or anything else that can go in the freezer). Freeze for a couple of hours, or until firm and then transfer to a snaplock bag and store in the freezer for 3 months. When you are ready to bake them, remove from the freezer and place directly on the tray you will bake them on, allow the dough balls to come to room temperature and bake according to instructions.
Lydia Macken says
Yum!! But I think I’ll cut back on the amount of brewers yeast next time as I can really taste it. (Not salty just strong) and it was purchased from bulk barn. So much cheaper than buying lactation cookies!
Ing says
The cookies were delicious until.....one day I purchased brewers yeast to add, and they are now salty as hell and nobody will touch them !!! Pretty gross 😵.
Are there different types of brewers yeast out there maybe ?
Laura says
I didn't think so but I've never found brewer's yeast to be salty - which brand did you use? I've always used the Bin Inn brand one with no problem at all!
Sowmya says
Hi, i have found the same too. I got the 'reducued bitterness' kind, in 'now' brand and yet they are quite bitter for smoothies and cookies. Can you suggest something to work with the bitter kind of brewers yeast?
Ta
Sarah says
I’ve been using this recipe for years. It’s amazing every time.
Cora Vallejos says
I made this for my daughter in law, and she likes them, not sure yet the effect on the milk supply, I have to try the cookies before giving it to her and it’s really yummy. Thank you for the recipes
Michelle says
If swapping the butter for coconut oil is it the same ratio. Grandson is allergic to dairy.
Laura says
Yes same ratio will work!
Carlos says
First time doing cookies, they ended up been delicious. My wife is loving them which was the whole idea, thanks
Jaimee says
Can you taste the brewers yeast in these?
Laura says
I can't say I do
Ing says
Yes you can as I have made it with and without the stuff. Unless not all brewers yeasts are created equal, the one I bought made it salty and very unpalatable. I'm just rating them for the lactation claims. Such a waste of a good batch.
Keely Quaid says
Love this recipe I bake it for all my friends and everyone always wants the recipe. I only put in half the sugar (coconut sugar) and have even swapped the flour sometimes for buckwheat or oat and they work great.
Sonya says
These are great. I made the recipe as you have it first and then my own variation. Both were great. The second I switched butter for coconut oil and creamed in the same way, brown rice flour instead of normal flour, coconut sugar instead of brown sugar, chopped apricots, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. With all the changes, still turned out so good, maybe even better (I like seedy baking 🙂). Thanks for recipe.
Ashley says
This is the recipe the lactation consultant in a NICU recommended to me after having my boy 11 weeks early. They are easy, adaptable, tasty and work! I add sultanas in with the chocolate, and do a white chocolate and apricot version too. Whenever I become a bit too indulgent with these cookies I definitely notice a difference to my supply - more so than any of the numerous teas / cookies / lattes / blends I have tried as I’ve struggled with a low supply. I never rate anything online but this recipe definitely deserves a 5/5!
Narissa says
I noticed that the recipe said not to flatten the biscuits on the tray. Do they flatten as they cook?
Laura says
Yes they do!
Claire says
These are the most yummiest cookies. I reduce the sugar a little bit and add a mix of whittakers 72% cocoa and creamy milk to mine. Everyone I serve them to love them and none of them have babies haha.
Robyn says
Just asking if you can use normal yeast
Laura says
Hi Robyn, no, normal yeast wouldn't work in these. If you can't find brewers yeast, you can just leave it out. It is included in this recipe as a galactagogue, not for the rising part 🙂
Mechelle says
Have me these so many times, everyone in my house loves them!! Thank you for the recipe
Ronda says
These definitely work. I made some for my daughter and her friend. Both young ladies were expressing milk by the end of the day, they were sold!! They now have a batch in the freezer and are pulling some out every couple of days to bake. They also tasted great. I added a teaspoon of ginger and extra chocolate!!
Perfect recipe, thank you.
Serenity Cooper says
These are such yummy cookies. I made BIG ones cause I can’t be stuffed with small sized ones and they worked out well. I also found my in-laws LOVED these cookies too. Tasty and can easily add more chocolate to them if you need to.
Majela Zeze Diamond says
Jennny! I have made these twice and they're so yummy. I dunno if they "work" but its the perfect excuse for no one else to touch them 😅
Laura says
Majela!!! 😀 Hahaha that's exactly how I feel about them too!