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My dear sweet husband asked if I could make cookies more often for the blog (or for general consumption).  About that same time, my daughter-in-law Callie asked if I had ever seen a recipe for Lactation Cookies.  Callie’s a brand new first time mom, working full-time and breastfeeding.  Our granddaughter Jayden (3 months old) is thriving and of course she’s a little doll!  Also, our daughter Allie is expecting a baby girl (any minute!) so I thought this would be a good time to make cookies that help promote a good milk supply for our breastfeeding family members.
First of all, these oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies are delicious and we loved them. Â In addition to being delicious, they’re pretty healthy without tasting healthy! Â I can’t tell you if my husband owned up to the fact that he had lactation cookies packed in his office lunch, but I bet those big strong professional co-worker guys would have loved them too.
The cookies are made with old fashioned oats, flaxseed meal and brewer’s yeast so they’re perfect for everybody in your family, young and old.
My baby (Allie) just turned 28 years old so it’s been a long time since I had to worry about things such as nursing.  Back then I don’t remember anybody mentioning cookies as a way to maintain a good milk supply.  Times have changed and we now have blogs, the internet, and immediate sources of information to help keep us on the right track.  As a result, it seems a little easier to find help when needed. Successful breastfeeding takes a big commitment from both parents;  they must work hard to eat right and the mom must stay hydrated, get plenty of rest and stay healthy.  This is especially important in the first few months or even weeks of nursing and can make a huge difference in the health of the baby.  And what grandmother wouldn’t want to help their grandchildren?
Therefore, in a round about away, I baked Jayden’s very first homemade cookie.  I hope she loves them as much as we do.  And please don’t let the name scare you away, these are just cookies – nothing weird or strange about ’em!
If you’re looking for a (sneaky) way to incorporate the health benefits of flaxseed, oats and Brewer’s yeast into your family’s diet, try making these cookies!
Don’t forget about the healthy antioxidants found in dark chocolate – bonus!
This is not that kind of blog, so I’ll skip over the fine points of breastfeeding, lactating, etc. Â But trust me when I say that these are the kind of cookies you can feel good about sharing with anyone in your family.
Most of all, if you know a new mom who is breastfeeding, a batch of these cookies would make a nice and thoughtful gift!
Dark Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons flaxseed meal, ground
- 3 tablespoons water
- 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 5 tablespoons brewers yeast
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons almond butter, optional
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla paste, or pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, not quick oats
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips, I used a 10-ounce package of Nestle Toll House Dark Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a small bowl combine the flaxseed meal and water. Set aside for 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl combine the flour, brewers yeast, soda and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the butter and almond butter together until light and creamy.
- Add the brown and granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape the sides of the mixing bowl and beat another 30 seconds.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, blending just until the yolk disappears.
- Add the vanilla and flaxseed paste and mix just until blended.
- Gradually add the flour mixture in 3 steps, mixing on low and scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- Fold in the oats and chocolate chips with a spatula.
- Scoop the dough into 1-inch rounds (using a cookie scoop if you have one) and bake on a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet for about 12 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Recipe Notes
- Recipe adapted from Milkin' Mamas Lactation Cookie Recipe and from How Sweet It Is
- To freeze the unbaked cookies, scoop the dough into 1-inch rounds and place on a baking sheet and freeze for about 2 hours. Place the frozen dough balls in an airtight container and freeze until needed. Add 1-2 minutes to baking time if frozen.
- You can substitute coconut oil for 1/4 of the butter if you have it.
- Brewer’s yeast can be found in larger grocery stores, health food store or natural food markets. Do not substitute regular baking yeast for the brewer’s yeast. If taking medications please check with your physician before adding this product to your diet.
Nutrition
So there you have it … a great way to show you care by gifting a batch of Dark Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies to a new family. Â Bake a few cookies and freeze the rest to bake when needed. Â Be sure to save a few for yourself too, this recipe makes a lot! Â Thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
Nicole
These sound so good can’t wait to make them. I do have one question though which is ho long can they last in the freezer?
Nicole
and how many a day do you recommend to be consumed.
Tricia Buice
Hi Nicole. You don’t have to eat any more than you would with a regular cookie. Both my daughter and daughter-in-law used to keep the dough balls frozen and bake 5 or 6 at a time. The whole family loves these cookies and I still make them even though nobody has babies that are breastfeeding. Enjoy!
Tricia Buice
Hello Nicole. The dough balls will keep if well sealed in a container for up to two months. Enjoy!
Elizabeth Perkins
These cookies are delicious and my daughter says they greatly improved her milk production. I will make them again and again. Thanks for the recipe.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Elizabeth. My whole family loves these cookies and I make them often, whether or not we have lactating mommas around! The guys all love them too. When we had new babies I would make the dough and freeze them into balls. That way my girls could bake a batch as needed with little or no effort 🙂 Fresh warm cookies anytime. Bravo!
Tabitha
I loved these so much when I was breastfeeding my first! Now I’m pregnant with #2 and I’ve recently discovered I have a weird gluten intolerance, so I’m avoiding gluten as much as I can (but not worried about cross-contamination situations). Any tips on how to easily make these GF but still as amazing as they are?! Otherwise I will probably just try them with whatever alternative flour I have on hand when the time comes and hope for the best. ?
Tricia Buice
Hi Tabitha. I would use a gluten-free flour blend in place of the AP flour. I just made a batch of these for our daughter who is due anyway. Good luck and congratulations!
Sonal
Hi Tricia,
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I am currently nursing my 6 month old daughter, and was looking for ways to promote lactation.
I read on another website that caffeine in chocolate can inhibit lactation, didyou put chocolate chips to make the cookies taste good?
Regards,
Sonal Jain
Tricia Buice
Hi Sonal – dark chocolate chips are rich in antioxidants and there really isn’t enough caffeine to affect breastfeeding. My daughter and daughter-in-law are both still nursing and can tell a noticeable difference in milk production when they have these to snack on. Neither has reported problems with the small amount of caffeine. But you are welcome to leave them out and I’m sure they will still be delicious. These cookies are great for anybody trying to put a little healthy in their treats. Good luck and thanks for the great question!
Becca
I am so glad I found this recipe. My sister is expecting her first baby on Sunday. I’m baking her some lactation cookies! I have been breastfeeding for 3 years( went from one baby to the next). I have made lactation smoothie and cookies. I never found a dark chocolate one. These look amazing. I might have to double the recipe so I can have my own stash 🙂
Tricia Buice
Hi Becca! Congratulations on the new niece or nephew! I cannot tell you how many batches I’ve made of these cookies. I have also made them leaving out the almond butter and adding 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. That’s probably my favorite version so far 🙂 Both my daughter and daughter-in-law love them and swear that it works. I also made some healthy banana muffins recently that are sugar free and have the same brewer’s yeast and ground flax seed that make these cookies so special. Good luck to your sister. I know she will love the gift of these cookies. It makes a big batch (64 or so small cookies) but be prepared to share. My son and son-in-law love them too – as well as my husband. Thanks for stopping by!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
These cookies look gorgeous! I think I will be making these for my co-worker 🙂
Susan
I sure could have used those about 30 years ago! 🙂 Since our daughter with the three sons is finished having children, maybe I’ll still get another chance to make these for the other daughter one day! They do look wonderful, Tricia.
Maggie
Wow, didn’t know those cookies have the magic power! Will need to share this recipe with my friends. Two of them are feeding and one will be due this September.
Tricia Buice
We have two in our family who are nursing so these were perfect right now. They are very delicious too – hope you enjoy!
Betty
I would have loved to have had these way back when….! I’m pretty sure I indulged in chocolate chip cookies, but I might have felt less guilt knowing that the cookies I was eating were actually good for me! (Truth be told, I probably felt very little guilt.) There’s no lactation going on around here, but these cookies sound great. I may have to try them without divulging their name. 🙂
handmade by amalia
Delicious and useful, what more could you ask of a cookie?
Amalia
xo
Tricia Buice
Haha Amalia – you are so right! We might as well get something deliciously healthy in our cookies. Thanks for stopping by!
Liz
I’m bummed this wasn’t a trend when my kids were infants. Had to giggle at the thought of your husband telling his workmates the name of these cookies….maybe it’s good nobody asked? They sound terrific!
Tricia Buice
Hi Liz – these are very good cookies and I can’t wait to make them again for my daughter. Thinking about adding some cinnamon next time. I wish they had been around when I had little ones. Have a nice weekend!
Dom
love an oaty cookie with chocolate… not sure about the name…
Tricia Buice
I know Dom – it is a funny name but a good cookie! You can make them and call it something else – I won’t tell!
cheri
Hi Tricia, how thoughtful are you to make these cookies for your family, something for everyone. Wiush I knew about these when I had my babies (who are now 32 and 36).
Tricia Buice
Me too Cheri – eating right is a balancing act while nursing. Have a wonderful weekend!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
My next door neighbor is expecting any day. Your cookies along with the recipe would be a nice gift to take to her.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Karen – I bet she will really appreciate it! They are good cookies all around – and I was thinking about adding a little cinnamon to the next batch. Thanks so much!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
What a great cookie recipe! I love brewers yeast!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Angie!
Sara
I definitely needed these cookies when I was nursing my twins, what a great idea!
Tricia Buice
You are a brave and dedicated woman to nurse twins. I had a neighbor that did that and she had two other children all under the age of 5. Dedication for sure! These cookies are great and I bet your girls would love them too. Thanks!
Abbe@This is How I Cook
Who knew? I might have even tried breastfeeding if I could have had these. They didn’t recommend it with twins way back when. But now if I could have had the beer like Sue suggested and then a cookie well, that may have worked. However taking off the pounds, I’m not so sure!
Tricia Buice
Haha Abbe – twins now that sounds like work. I have triplet nephews (who live very close to you) but I don’t believe she tried nursing all three. She would have been a milking machine! The cookies are great – so they’re a perfect way to sneak in some of the good stuff.
Becky Green
I NEVER KNEW there was such a thing! LOL WISH I had these with our first baby, years ago! They look SO YUMMY!!!! 😉 Thank you Tricia! 😀
Tricia Buice
These were new to me too Becky but after looking into it, they’re everywhere!
mimi
When I saw this post I laughed to myself thinking that just a couple years ago I wouldn’t have ever heard of lactation cookies! But my grandbaby is approaching 2 now and my daughter asked me about making them. Your recipe sounds yummy !
Tricia Buice
Interesting times Mimi! So glad I found out about these – they really are good for everybody.
Gerlinde/ Sunnycovechef
What a great idea and gift for your daughter – in – law and husband. Your cookies look delicious , maybe I should make some and take them on the plane . That way I don’t have to eat the horrible food they serve and if there is a a nursing mother I can share them.
Tricia Buice
I hate airplane / airport food too! These would be great to carry and they don’t crumble too easily. Happy travels Gerlinde 🙂
John/Kitchen Riffs
What an interesting recipe! Haven’t heard of these. But of course I have heard of cookies, and judging these just on basic cookie criteria, these look darn good. That they have another benefit is just a bonus. 🙂
Tricia Buice
These are good for everyone John – and you don’t have to tell them how they came about. I can’t wait to try them with cinnamon! Have a good day and thanks!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
When I was breastfeeding I remember they said to drink beer — I think this is a much better idea — what a fun a creative post, Tricia 🙂 They ought to hand these out to new mothers at the hospital!
Tricia Buice
Now that’s a great idea Sue! At least the written recipe would be a good handout 🙂 There are companies that will mail lactation cookies to you – but we’re not doing that if I can still bake them myself!
Monica
It’s almost 11 years now, and I certainly did not have any idea of lactation cookies when I could have used it very much then. I love how you said you’ve essentially baked Jayden’s first homemade cookies in a roundabout way. : ) What a great recipe for new moms – healthy yet delicious. Good for everyone, really!
Tricia Buice
I love the idea of the Brewer’s yeast because it’s so good for everything – and we’re going to put it in smoothies and sprinkle it on cereal too. Yeah!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners
Love all the healthy ingredients in these scrumptious cookies, Tricia! And I love learning new things about the wonderful benefits of food. Sharing!
Tricia Buice
This is one of those topics that doesn’t come up everyday – but it’s always good to know more 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
What a fabulous idea! And they look delicious, too. Too bad we didn’t have these back when we were feeding babies 😉
Tricia Buice
I hear you Jennifer – I wish I had known more 🙂 But we tried!
Chris Scheuer
I’m thinking of how many middle of the night chocolate chip cookie parties I missed out on since we didn’t know about lactation cookies back in the day! I love the idea of giving these as a gift to new moms!
Tricia Buice
Isn’t that the truth Chris! My daughter-in-law loved the gift of cookies – and I think most new moms would too! Thanks!