Lactation Cookies
When my sister came out of labour I asked her what food she would like, she said “lactation cookies”. So I came home, pulled out all of my jars of healthy ingredients and created the most delicious and nourishing biscuit.
They turned out to be such a crowd favourite within our family and friend circle, that I decided to design them to cater the needs of non-lactating people. So I omitted the Brewer’s yeast. Feel free to add it if you are lactating.
What are lactaction cookies?
Lactation cookies contain galactagogues which are substances that can increase milk production. These include oats, flaxseeds, Brewer’s yeast, fenugreek and garlic. They are also packed with nutrients such as nuts, seeds, olive oil or macadamia oil.
Do lactation cookies work?
There is some evidence to support the claim that certain galactagogues can help increase milk production in breastfeeding mothers. However, they definitely won’t make or break your breastfeeding success! The reason I recommend them for a post-labour snack is because they are nutrient dense and loaded with healthy fats. Considering breastfeeding women need between 2000-2100 additional kilojoules per day and often have at least one arm occupied at all times - a hands-free snack like these cookies are a perfect way to get in those extra nutrients!
INGREDIENTS
Makes 20 prep + cook time 45 mins
7/8 cup wholemeal flour (a smidge less than 1 cup!)
1 cup rolled oats
1 tbsp Brewer’s yeast (omit if not making for lactaction)
1 cup walnuts (or almonds)
1/4 cup LSA (ground linseed, sunflower seeds and almonds)
2 heaped tbsp chia seeds
1/2 cup coconut sugar (loosely packed)*
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
100g dark chocolate, finely chopped into small chunks (or choc chips)
Wet ingredients:
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil*
2 eggs
METHOD
Preheat oven to 175° C fan-forced. Line a large sheet pan with non-stick baking paper.
Place oats, nuts, LSA and seeds in a food processor and blitz until finely ground. The finer the better as it creates a better cookie texture.
Place ground ingredients in a large mixing bowl with flour, Brewer’s yeast (if using), baking powder and salt; mix to combine.
In another large bowl crack in your eggs and whisk well. Add olive oil and coconut sugar and mix well to combine.
Create a well in dry ingredients and pour wet batter gradually into the well, mixing to combine; fold in dark chocolate bits. The batter will be sticky and dense.
Use an ice cream scoop to scoop out heaped tbsp of batter and roll into balls; place on baking tray 2 cm apart; press cookies down slightly using 3 fingers.
Place in oven to bake for 10-12 mins or until edges begin to golden. Allow to cool. Keep in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 10 days.
GEORGIE’S TIPS
Make these lactation cookies: Add 2 tbsp of Brewer’s yeast (bought at some large chain supermarkets and health food shops).
There is very minimal sugar added to these cookies. You can omit the sugar if you are following a sugar - free diet for health reasons. Or reduce the sugar to 1/4 cup to reduce it even further.
SWAPS
Swap walnuts for almonds, brazil nut, pecans, macadamia nuts - whatever you have!
Swap olive oil for macadamia oil.
