Lactation Cookies
Last Updated on August 15, 2020 by Annie
These dairy free lactation cookies made with flax meal, wheat germ, oatmeal, and brewer’s yeast can help boost your milk supply!
My first batch of lactation cookies were for a colleague I taught with a few years ago. Knowing my affinity for making cookies, she asked if I had heard of or made them before. I hadn’t. After a short round of research, I stumbled upon All Recipe’s version of Lactation Cookies. Once I hunted down some of the less common ingredients, I baked a batch and hoped for the best.
After seeing the zeal with which nursing mothers consumed these cookies, I modified the recipe to be more similar to my Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Why can’t a lactation cookie also be addictively delicious? After two years of making these cookies, I still didn’t understand how these cookies encouraged lactation. Here are a few things I have since learned.
What are Lactation Cookies?
Lactation cookies use ingredients thought to stimulate and increase the flow of production of breastmilk in nursing mothers. The most common of which include wheat germ, ground flax meal, brewer’s yeast, and oatmeal.
What makes Lactation Cookies work?
While I personally cannot attest to the benefits of lactation cookies, I have anecdotal success stories from a number of nursing moms about the positive flow in milk production following cookie consumption. There are 4 ingredients in this recipe many lactation consultants recommend to clients to increase milk supply.
Wheat germ- The key ingredient here is zinc, which is believed to boost your immune system as well as prevent cracked nipples and postpartum depression.
Ground flax meal- Made from ground flaxseeds, this contains phytoestrogens (AKA dietary estrogens) which are structurally similar to estrogen produced by the body and have the potential to have effects similar to estrogen.
Brewer’s yeast– Packed with iron, protein, and vitamin B this superfood is a galactagogue – Greek for a substance that promotes lactation.
Oatmeal- Another ingredient high in iron helping to promote the production of breast milk.
Additional benefit of Lactation Cookies
Aside from the obvious, increased milk supply, there might be another notable side effect…regular bowel movements! Yay digestion!! Many of these lactation inducing ingredients are high in fiber and improve regularity.
Where can I find these ingredients?
While many of the ingredients are readily available at your local grocery store, Brewer’s Yeast tends to take some time to hunt down.
Most health food stores like GNC and the Vitamin Shoppe stock brewer’s yeast. It is also available on Amazon if you are able to wait 1-2 days for delivery.
Why make Lactation Cookies Dairy Free?
A diet high in dairy is thought to cause or contribute to gassiness and fussiness in babies. It is important to note that simply eating a lactose-free diet will not solve this problem. This is not due to lactose intolerance as breast milk contains lactose, but rather due to difficulty digesting cow milk proteins (primarily whey and casein).
If you think your baby might be struggling to digest this protein, speak to your medical provider to determine if going dairy free would be the right decision for you and your baby.
Pro-Tips
-Let the vegan butter come to room temperature.
–Soak the ground flax meal in ¼ cup of water for 10 minutes to activate the flax.
-Once you have stirred the oats into the dough, make sure you allow the dough to rest 30 minutes. This helps set the dough as well as moisten the oats.
–Roll ALL of the dough into balls at the beginning, freeze the balls and store in an airtight container until you are ready to bake.
Dairy Free Changes
-Swap butter for a vegan or plant based butter.
-Use vegan or dairy free chocolate chips such as Enjoy Life.
Make these delicious dairy free lactation cookies?!? Share your creation on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy so I can share your life after dairy adventures!
Other recipes with Lactation Ingredients!
Oatmeal Pancakes- These delicious and dairy free pancakes are packed with oatmeal!
If you are interested in learning a bit more about increasing lactation or going dairy free while breastfeeding, here are a few articles you may want to read:
Kelly Mom- Food Sensitivity
La Leche League International- Cow’s Milk Protein Intolerance
Motherly- 9 Natural Ways to Boost your Milk Supply
A quick disclaimer: All content and information on this website is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice of any kind. Although we strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute for any kind of medical advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a medical professional regarding your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any medical-related decisions.
Lactation Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. Flaxseed Meal
- ¼ c. Water
- 1 c. Vegan Butter Softened
- 1 c. Sugar
- ¼ c. Brown Sugar
- ¼ c. Sugar in the Raw
- 3 Egg Yolks
- 2 tsp Vanilla
- 2 c. Flour
- ¼ c. Brewer's Yeast
- 1 Tbsp. Wheat Germ
- 1 tsp. Baking Soda
- ½ tsp. Salt
- ½ tsp. Cream of Tartar
- 2½ c. Oats
- 1 bag Dairy Free Chocolate Chips
- Flaky Sea Salt to top
Instructions
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In a small bowl, stir together flaxseed meal and water. Set aside.
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In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat together butter and sugars, about 3 minutes.
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Add the egg yolks, vanilla, and the flaxseed meal soaked in water. Mix until combined.
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In a medium bowl stir together flour, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar.
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Gradually add the flour mixture into the standing mixer, about ¼ cup at a time. Mix until combined.
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With the mixer on low, slowly add the oats and chocolate chips until well mixed.
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Allow dough to rest about 30 minutes.
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When you are ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Scoop and ball the dough into about 1 tablespoon sized balls. Sprinkle the dough with flaky sea salt and bake for 10 minutes.
Recipe Notes
If you do not have sugar in the raw you can use an additional ¼ cup of brown sugar instead.
If you do not have Cream of Tarter sub it with ¾ tsp of Baking Powder.
You can ball the dough and freeze it. Simply roll and freeze the dough. When you are ready to bake, remove from freezer, put on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, sprinkle with flaky sea salt and bake for 10 minutes.