Lactation Cookies – A Beautiful Mess

As some of our readers know, I just welcomed our second son, Hugo, into our family this summer. And just like with my first son I’m back to nursing for a while. While I love the bonding and the health benefits breastfeeding provides, I must admit that I am one of those women who struggles with milk production. So I thought I would share this recipe for lactation cookies that I make for myself often and have also made for new mom friends before. They are delicious, packed with helpful ingredients and super easy to make.

While I love this lactation cookie recipe, I also want to put it out there to always consult with your doctor or lactation consultant for anything specific to your body and also as the source for medical advice. This is just a cookie recipe that I feel helps my milk production, so I’m happy to share it in case it’s helpful to you. And if you’re a new mom reading this who can’t breastfeed or chose not to, I am of the mindset that fed is best and formula is an amazing invention that I too use with my babies.

Related: Interested in past posts from our dietitian contributors? Read What Should Be My Baby’s First Food, Nutrition for Your Menstrual Cycle, or How Much Water Should We Really Be Drinking.

Ingredients

• Oats
• Brewer’s Yeast Powder
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Butter
• Granulated white sugar
• Brown sugar
• Eggs
• Milk
• Vanilla extract
• Walnuts
• Dark chocolate chips

If you or your baby have a sensitivity to milk, you can easily substitute it for any milk alternative you like (oat, soy, etc.).

I also highly recommend toasting the walnuts but it’s optional.

Directions

In a medium size bowl, stir together the dry ingredients: oats, brewer’s yeast, flour, baking soda and salt.

In a larger bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugars. Then stir in the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until just combined.

Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until a dough forms. Then stir in the walnuts and chocolate chips.

Spoon the cookie onto a prepared baking sheet covered with parchment paper or a baking mat. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 8-10 minutes. I like to bake these for 8 minutes, which results in a very soft center. They almost feel like protein balls, but if you bake for a few more minutes the edges will get crispy and the centers more like a muffin. Up to you on the texture!

You can also freeze the cookie dough into balls and bake these in small batches as needed. Or even give the frozen dough to friends who are expecting or just had a baby.

Ingredients that may help breast milk production

• Oats – A healthy whole grain that is also a great source of plant-based protein. You can eat oats all sorts of ways too, not just these lactation cookies. Try overnight oats for a quick and easy breakfast.
• Brewer’s Yeast Powder – This ingredient can help increase milk supply and you can use it in other baking recipes or even other foods like smoothies.
• Walnuts – High in omega-3 and healthy fats. Add walnuts to other meals, like yogurt or even stir-fries.

More Cookie Recipes

While these lactation cookies are, well, cookies, they are lower in sugar than your average cookie as they are meant to be enjoyed more often to potentially help increase milk supply levels. If you are looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, try these.