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Lactation Cookies

Don’t let the name fool you…these easy Lactation Cookies, aka Breastfeeding Cookies are an amazing oatmeal cookie, packed with healthy ingredients that are supposed to help nursing moms increase their milk supply…BUT my whole family enjoys them for their healthy benefits as well as just being a delicious cookie recipe!

If name of these cookies scares you a little you should try my Classic Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies instead!

Lactation Cookies Are Delicious Oatmeal Cookies With Added Health Benefits!

Like I said above, don’t let the name of these cookies scare you! You won’t spontaneously start lactating if you have one (eww). I am not nursing nor pregnant and I make these all the time.

I did start making these cookies years back when I WAS nursing, but have never thought to share the recipe. But since I do get frequent requests for a Lactation Cookie recipe from you guys whether it be via email or Instagram DM, and figured why not?

PLUS, they’re just a good cookie all around. And if you’re looking to pack a little bit of nutrition into a cookie, this is a fantastic recipe…just call them Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and your husband won’t know the difference 😉

Breastfeeding Cookies on cooling rack

Why Are They Called Lactation Cookies?

I first heard of Lactation or Breastfeeding Cookies a long time ago, and I am assuming they’ve been around longer than that. But when I was nursing, the thought of these sparked my interest, because any reason to eat a cookie and I am IN!

I’m No Scientist

Let me start my saying I am not a nutritionist, nor do I have any background in the science, but in my research I found that paired with a well rounded, nutritious diet, and plenty of hydration these cookies are full of producing ingredients like:

  • Oats: Contain saponins (an immune-stimulating compound that may help increase levels of prolactin) which is a key hormone for milk production, along with fiber and antioxidants.
  • Flax Seed Meal: Contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which are essential for developing a baby’s immune system and also known to prevent allergies.
  • Brewer’s Yeast: This is the ingredient I don’t know much about, but it’s in every Breastfeeding Cookie recipe I came across. It does, however, have tons of B vitamins, which are good for everyone!

AND I added some extra nutrition-boosting ingredients to mine:

  • Walnuts: Contain antioxidants and Omega-3s
  • Raisins: Contains iron, fiber, and antioxidants
  • Coconut: High in copper and iron, manganese, and antioxidant
Oatmeal Lactation Cookies

These Easy Oatmeal Cookies Are Actually For Everyone!

I will tell you from personal experience that if you do make these for your family, just call them Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies…because that is essentially what they are. The SECOND you try and give your husband a “Lactation Cookie” he will turn and walk away. Trust me, it’s happened in my house.

But since these cookies are loaded with healthy bits, I make them for my kids a lot and they never know the difference. They are truly soft, flavor packed cookies that you will get a little boost knowing they have some more added nutrition than a regular cookie.

Here Are Some More Oatmeal Cookies You Will Enjoy:

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Lactation Cookies stacked with chocolate chips

Lactation Cookies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 12 reviews
  • Author: Shelly
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 36 cookies 1x
  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Dessert

Description

These easy oatmeal cookies are filled with all sorts of goodness! They’re called “Lactation” Cookies because they help new moms boost their milk supply, but we make them a lot as a snack for the whole family!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 tablespoons flax seed meal
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 cup butter, room temperature (or coconut oil in it’s solid state)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup Brewer’s Yeast or Nutritional Yeast
  • 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 cups Old Fashioned Oats
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
  • 3/4 cup raisins

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Mix flax seed meal with water in a small bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. Mixture will get thick and gelatinous.
  3. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for 2 minutes on medium speed. Add in the flax mixture, egg yolks, vanilla, baking soda, salt, and yeast. Mix until combined and smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
  4. Turn the mixer to low and add in the flour, mixing until just incorporated. With mixer still on low add in the oats until just combined.
  5. Stir in the chocolate chips, walnuts, coconut, and raisins until evenly distributed.
  6. Using a medium (2- tablespoon) sized cookie scoop, portion the dough out and place on prepared cookie sheet 2- inches apart.
  7. Bake for 9-10 minutes, or until the edges are golden.
  8. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Store airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 175
  • Sugar: 14 g
  • Sodium: 157.1 mg
  • Fat: 7.4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 24.4 g
  • Protein: 3.6 g
  • Cholesterol: 15.5 mg

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26 comments on “Lactation Cookies”

  1. Don’t be put off by the name, it’s a really great, mistake-proof recipe. The yeast and flax seed aren’t noticeable in the cookie. I’m not a fan of raisins so I substituted them out with pecans, and was very pleased with the results.






  2. The only lactation cookies I make. They are so good. I believe it also helped to increase my milk supply. I gave birth a month ago. Now baking my 2nd batch. I add more shredded coconut. It’s so addictive! Thanks for sharing this treasure.






  3. I got this for a niece who is a new nursing mom and is exhausted and not eating enough. I’m the family expert baker! Honestly, I don’t usually even like raisins in my cookies, but these are so yummy that I loved them. I skipped the parchment paper, used a cookie scoop, and a dark non-stick baking pan and they came out wonderfully! They make 48 doing this and don’t have whatever problem people seem to be having with not spreading or baking evenly. They are probably dangerously delicious to have around for us none nursing moms. I’m pretty sure they could replace my regular oatmeal cookie recipe! TY for all the creativity and effort to do this! ❤️❤️❤️






  4. These were wonderful! They had the nice side effect of lactation as well as laxative? Or maybe that’s just the flax seed. Still delicious! Thank you for the recipe!






  5. I was just wondering how many cookies you should eat for it to start working? I’m going to attempt baking these this week!!

  6. How much should the dough spread/flatten during baking? This is my 2nd time making them and they seem to remain pretty thick in the center and not spread very far. I’m trying a smaller scoop scoop this time as well as using a silicone baking mat instead of parchment paper to see if I get better results.

    1. hey spread as much as the pictures show 🙂 If they are a little thicker than you prefer you can reduce the amount of flour by 2 tablespoons!

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