Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies
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These Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies are just what a nursing mama needs. They are packed with nutrient-dense ingredients to give a new mom the boost of energy they need. Made with rolled oats, flax egg, coconut sugar, seeds, brewer’s yeast, and dark chocolate chips. These nourishing lactation cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and refined-sugar free. Vegan friendly!
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies
As a nursing mother I have personally been through the ups and downs of breastfeeding. I nursed my daughter for 11 months and currently nursing my 5 month old son. Breastfeeding my babies was something that I always wanted to accomplish and was very important to me. I been very lucky to be able to nurse both of my kids for long periods of time and to be able to produce a decent milk supply.
When I had my daughter I did a lot of research on breastfeeding and breastmilk. I took a lactation class when I was pregnant where I learned a lot about nursing. It made me very confident in being able to nurse my daughter once I gave birth. With my son it was a little different. He came 10 weeks early so for the first 2 weeks I had to rely on exclusively pumping to get my milk supply to come in. Then slowly going from pumping to exclusively breastfeeding as my son was ready and able to feed from the breast.
As a new mom and new at breastfeeding I made a lot of mistakes; you can read about these here, and learned from them. With all this I can say I have tried different things to make sure I had a great milk supply and kept it for as long as I could. Lactation Cookies made with nutrient-dense foods was one of them!
What are Lactation Cookies?
Lactation cookies are a treat made with nutrient-dense ingredients to nourish nursing moms. These ingredients include those known as galactagogues that are said to boost milk supply. Which is why lactation cookies are intentionally made for nursing mothers.
What are Galactagogues?
Galactagogues is a substance said to promote lactation in humans as well as other animals. They can be used to increase milk supply for nursing mothers. Galactagogues are usually plant-based and found in many nourishing foods. The fact that they increase milk supply hasn’t been scientifically proven; however many mothers have found galactagogues foods have improved their milk supply while nursing. Myself included.
What foods are Galactagogues?
- Oatmeal and other wholegrains
- Dark Leafy Greens– Baby Spinach, Kale, Arugula, Swiss Chard
- Raw Nuts– Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts, Macadamia
- Seed– Hemp, Chia, Flax
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
- Spices and Herbs– Fennel Seeds, Ginger, Garlic, Anise Seeds, Turmeric
- Papaya
- Brewer’s Yeast
What is Brewer’s Yeast?
Brewer’s Yeast is an ingredient used in the production of beer and bread. It comes from a one-cell fungus; Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. It has a bitter taste and it’s promoted as a nutritional supplement. Brewer’s Yeast is known to be a rich source of chromium, protein, selenium, potassium, iron, zinc and magnesium. It’s said to work as a probiotic, boost energy and immune system. As well as increasing milk supply for nursing mothers.
Allergy-Friendly Cookies:
These Lactation Cookies are allergy-friendly as they are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free. They are also refined-sugar free. These cookies are safe with any mamas that may have any of these food allergies. Also, they are safe for your baby. As you probably know, any foods you eat get transferred over to your baby through your breastmilk. Sometimes babies may develop a reaction to certain foods you may eat and they consume through your breastmilk.
Other ways to help boost your milk supply:
Breastmilk is produced on a supply and demand basis. Ultimately the best way to boost your milk supply is by putting your baby to your breast every time they are hungry. Especially when they are going through growth spurts.
Prolactin, the hormone that is responsible for the production of milk, is said to be at its highest levels during the night time. So sticking to those overnight feedings is a must too. Particularly during the first few weeks and months after your baby’s birth. I know it’s hard and you’re so tired, but hang in there mama! You got this!
In addition to sticking and being strict with those feeding schedules, there are other factors that say to help boost the production of breastmilk. Many of these being:
- Pumping– Worked for me big time with both babies. Particularly my preemie since I had to rely on exclusively pumping the first 2 weeks before he was ready to drink from the breast.
- Mother’s Tea– Took it with my first and definitely noticed a boost in my supply after it slowed down a bit when I went back to work and after getting back on my cycle 4 moths postpartum.
- Drink a lot of water– Nursing burns at least 500 calories a day. It also makes you very thirsty. Drinking a lot of water on a daily basis is a must!
- Healthy and nutrient-dense diet– Don’t skip any meals!
- Keep taking prenatal vitamins- These will ensure you are taking in enough nutrients and your baby will benefit from these too.
What you need to make these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies:
Ingredients:
- Gluten-Free Rolled Oats
- Flax Meal
- Water
- Refined Coconut Oil
- Hemp Hearts
- Chia Seeds
- Pink Salt
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla Extract
- Baking Powder
- Brewer’s Yeast
- Coconut Sugar
- Dark Chocolate Morsels
Equipment:
- Large Baking Sheet Pan
- Parchment Paper
- Small Mixing Bowl
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Cooling Rack
How to make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies:
- In a small mixing bowl, combine flax meal and water. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes while you prep all the other ingredients. This will make flax eggs.
- Preheat oven at 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, coconut sugar, hemp hearts, chia seeds, brewer’s yeast, cinnamon, pink salt, and baking powder. Whisk together well making sure all the ingredients are well combined together. Especially the brewer’s yeast with the oats and rest of ingredients.
- Once dry ingredients are combined, pour in coconut oil, vanilla extract and flax eggs. Stir together with a spatula making sure all ingredients are well combined once again. The oats should have a wet look to them.
- Fold in dark chocolate morsels. You can reserve some chips to add to the top of the cookies before baking if you wish. If not fold all chips in at this point.
- Using a trigger release ice cream scooper, scoop out mixture and place on baking sheet pan. Use the back of ice cream scooper to press down on ball to form a cookie. Repeat with the rest of the oat mixture leaving enough space between each cookie.
- Bake cookies for 18 minutes. Remove from oven and let cookies cool for 10 minutes. Use a spatula to transfer cookies onto a cooling rack. Allow them to cool for another 10 minutes. Enjoy as a delicious breakfast or snack! Keep any leftover cookies in the fridge for up to 5-7 days or freeze for up to 1-2 months.
Tips and Substitutions:
- Preheat oven and use an oven safe thermometer– this will ensure your oven is the correct temperature.
- Line baking sheet pan with parchment paper- It will prevent cookies from sticking to the pan.
- Leave enough space between each cookie on baking sheet pan- Cookies may spread a bit while baking in the oven. If you leave them too close to each other, they may end up sticking together.
- Allow cookies to cool-off on cooling rack- They will get more firm this way as they cool down evenly on cooling rack.
- Substitute for flax egg- Use 4 eggs if you don’t need cookies to be vegan. Or 2 ripe bananas.
- Substitute for coconut oil- Use unsalted butter if you don’t need cookies to be dairy-free and/or vegan. Avocado oil is a great substitute as well.
- No coconut sugar?- Best substitute is maple sugar or brown sugar.
How to store your Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies:
The best way to store your lactation cookies is in the fridge in an air-tight container. They can be kept in the fridge for 5-7 days.
Can Lactation Cookies be frozen?
Lactation cookies are freezer friendly. Place them in a freezer friendly container, silicone bag or freezer bag. I like to place a piece of parchment paper in between each cookie to prevent them from sticking together. You can keep frozen for 1-2 months.
Did you like this Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies recipe? You may like these other lactation friendly recipes too:
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies
These Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies are just what a nursing mama needs. They are packed with nutrient-dense ingredients to give a new mom the boost of energy they need. Made with rolled oats, flax egg, coconut sugar, seeds, brewer's yeast, and dark chocolate chips. These nourishing lactation cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and refined-sugar free. Vegan friendly!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup flax meal
- 2/3 cup water
- 2 cups rolled oats (gluten-free)
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 2 tbsp hemp hearts
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/4 cup brewer's yeast
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp pink salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup refined coconut oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate morsels
Instructions
In a small mixing bowl, combine flax meal and water. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes while you prep all the other ingredients. This will make flax eggs.
Preheat oven at 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, coconut sugar, hemp hearts, chia seeds, brewer's yeast, cinnamon, pink salt, and baking powder. Whisk together well making sure all the ingredients are well combined together. Especially the brewer's yeast with the oats and rest of ingredients.
Once dry ingredients are combined, pour in coconut oil, vanilla extract and flax eggs. Stir together with a spatula making sure all ingredients are well combined once again. The oats should have a wet look to them.
Fold in dark chocolate morsels. You can reserve some chips to add to the top of the cookies before baking if you wish. If not fold all chips in at this point.
Using a trigger release ice cream scooper, scoop out mixture and place on baking sheet pan. Use the back of ice cream scooper to press down on ball to form a cookie. Repeat with the rest of the oat mixture leaving enough space between each cookie.
Bake cookies for 18 minutes. Remove from oven and let cookies cool for 10 minutes. Use a spatula to transfer cookies onto a cooling rack. Allow them to cool for another 10 minutes. Enjoy as a delicious breakfast or snack! Keep any leftover cookies in the fridge for up to 5-7 days or freeze for up to 1-2 months.
Recipe Notes
Tips and Substitutions:
- Preheat oven and use an oven safe thermometer– this will ensure your oven is the correct temperature.
- Line baking sheet pan with parchment paper- It will prevent cookies from sticking to the pan.
- Leave enough space between each cookie on baking sheet pan- Cookies may spread a bit while baking in the oven. If you leave them too close to each other, they may end up sticking together.
- Allow cookies to cool-off on cooling rack- They will get more firm this way as they cool down evenly on cooling rack.
- Substitute for flax egg- Use 4 eggs if you don’t need cookies to be vegan. Or 2 ripe bananas.
- Substitute for coconut oil- Use unsalted butter if you don’t need cookies to be dairy-free and/or vegan. Avocado oil is a great substitute as well.
- No coconut sugar?- Best substitute is maple sugar or brown sugar.
*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.
**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used.
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.
