Ok- I admit this may be the weirdest cookie I’ve posted on The Baker Chick. I am aware that this recipe may only be appealing to a very specific demographic, but rather than emailing the recipe out with all my notes scribbled in, I figured this is my blog and I’ll post breastfeeding cookies if I want to!! (Last week was breastfeeding awareness month so there ya go.)
A dear friend of mine has been working to up her milk supply and so I thought I’d bake her up a special batch of delicious, chewy, oatmeal, chocolate chip & butterscotch cookies that happen to have a few ingredients that help boost supply: Oatmeal, flax meal (easy to find,) and brewers yeast (harder to find but I bought a huge jar from Amazon.)
These cookies taste awesome and the extra ingredients don’t seem to make much of a difference flavor-wise. Of all the ways to help a new Mama boost her supply- this has to be the most delicious. I of course added some flaky sea salt on top which made them even better!
A funny story is that I posted on my local Mom’s group that I had a bunch of extra lactation cookies hanging around in case anyone needed some. Turns out lots of them did and 3 Mamas came over to pick them up- some even offering to pay me. (Black market lactation cookie business anyone?)
Now- I have to say that I don’t necessarily need any help in the milk-making department, but I did have 3 of these cookies and they definitely made a difference! I think they totally work. I have a new special gift to send my new nursing Mama friends. (Though if the new Dads like these cookies as much as Andy did I may need to send extras!)
And if you made it this far- here is a bonus baby picture! :D
When should you eat lactation cookies?
You should start making/eating lactation cookies as soon as baby is born! I suggest baking them ahead of time and keeping the dough frozen until ready to bake. Or better yet- bake the cookies and store them frozen. I love these straight out of the freezer.
They are perfect to establish a milk supply or to give your supply a boost whenever you need it.
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons flax seed meal
- 1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 egg plus 1 yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ¼ cup brewers yeast
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2½ cups old- fashioned oats
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup butterscotch chips
- Sea Salt for sprinkling (optional)
- In a small bowl stir together the flax and water. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and sugars until smooth. Add the egg, yolk and vanilla and beat on high until creamy. Stir in the flax mixture.
- Sprinkle the flour, brewers yeast, soda, powder, and salt over the butter mixture and mix on low speed until just incorporated. Fold in the oats, chocolate chips and butterscotch.
- Scoop dough into rounded mounds and place a cookie sheet. Use your fingers to flatten the rounds slightly. Sprinkle with sea salt.
- Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden.
Recipe adapted from: All Recipes
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
I don’t have kids, but I love you for posting these. Rock on mama!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
Go Audra!!!! Pinned as I’m expecting in November and last time I could have used some of these yummy cookies :)
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking says
These cookies are sooo good. I love the addition of the butterscotch! I definitely would recommend leaving out the word lactation when your husband asks what kind of cookies these are. It’s way funnier to wait until he has eaten ten then tell him they increase your milk supply.
Zainab @ Blahnik Baker says
No babies and just here for the cute baby pictures :)
Jessica says
I love this! I just had a baby 2 weeks ago and have lots of friends who are expecting or already welcomed their little one this year. I will definitely give these a try for my own personal stash and for other mama friends. What mama doesn’t love a sweet treat that helps with lactation too? :) those long nights call for some extra sugar! Congrats on your adorable baby!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
Add me to that list! Ha I’m all for cookies on the blackmarket from you;-)
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
I love that you shared these!! Can I eat some even if I don’t need to boost my supply? :)
tara says
Hahah this post is awesome. You should totally start an underground lactation cookie company :) I can’t wait to (one day) try these cookies out. They look delicious and what a fun excuse to eat cookies!
Annie @ Annie's City Kitchen says
Hey a cookie is still a cookie! I’d gladly eat it!
Hugo is such a little nugget!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
…..I want these cookies….but…I have no bambino yet….
hmmmmm. Pinning for future reference! lol
Emily @ Life on Food says
Haha, I think if I told my husband they were lactation cookies they would be all mine. And it would be wonderful!!
Cory says
If eating these meant I could put my toes in my mouth, I’d DO IT!
jessie (Bec's sis) says
Yum! thank you!
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
I have been reading about these kinds of cookies. I am so glad you posted!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
I definitely need to make these but will have to omit the name if I serve them to others haha.
Jess @ Sweet Menu says
Tehe these cookies look delicious! Love the butterscotch chips!
Meriem @ Culinary Couture says
Fenugreek is also really great to use in lactation cookies! These sound delicious, I’m sending them to all my breastfeeding friends!
Joanne says
Well now I know what to make for all the new soon-to-be mothers in my life! And there are quite a few.
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
LOVE that you posted these! I’ve heard of them but haven’t tried them yet — keeping them in mind for when I need a little boost in the supply (slash need a cookie ;)).
Alice // Hip Foodie Mom says
oh my gawd, I love these! I totally needed these when I was breastfeeding. My supply sucked and my Korean mom did everything humanly possible to try to make my milk production better. . but nothing seemed to work. and you don’t want to know what she was feeding me. . and Hugo is a doll!
Audra says
Thanks Alice :)
kate (domestikate) says
Audra, these look delicious! I tried a couple other recipes for lactation cookies a few months ago as a new mama and the results were just ok. I love butterscotch oatmeal cookies, I cant wait to give these a try!
rachel says
That’s so funny you posted these because my friend just made me some and sent them to me in the NICU with my 38 +3 week corrected preemie. Unfortunately my supply stinks and these aren’t helping BUT I’m hoping if I devour just a bunch at once it will make a difference! Thanks for bringing these to the light for everybody who doesn’t know about them!
bankingonkismet says
i’m not sure where I can find brewer’s yeast and i so badly want to make it this weekend. Is there any substitute I can use?
Super thanks!
Audra says
Brewers Yeast is essential for the “Lactation” aspect of these cookies… I got mine on Amazon!
Lisa says
Hi Audra – congratulations on Fiona! I had a baby girl Abby on March 21st. I’m hoping to make these cookies this weekend for myself and for my new Mom’s nursing group. I’m meeting them in Monday. :). What size cookie scoop should I use to bake? The really big one or the ‘tablespoon’ – medium’ sized one?
best lactation bars says
good site
Amanda says
Can’t comment on supply boost or not, but I’ve just finished baking a batch and eaten one. Delicious!!! Definitely going to be making more.
Ashley says
These also work really well as cookie bars if you don’t have the time or patience to take multiple trays out of the oven. I had them last time with my daughter and plan to make some later today, new baby willing.
Christine says
I LOVE these cookies! I had made sooo many batches and froze them for after baby came with my two kiddos! Any suggestions for a GF substitution of the AP flour? After my second kiddos I got diagnosed with hashimotos so gluten is not longer a friend of mine, sadly!
Audra says
Hey Christine! Have you tried the Bob’s Red Mill GF Flour blend?