Before I had Sidney, I knew I wanted to breastfeed so I set out on a quest to make the best lactation cookie recipe so I could set aside a stash in the freezer. I heard tales of women having supply issues, so I thought, why not make a really freakin’ good, healthy cookie that helps with milk production!
It took me a couple tries, but now I can confidently say that these lactation cookies are the BEST! They taste like chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and are both vegan and gluten free so ALL mamas can have them. Bonus: I even include the option of making them thick or thin for a truly customizable cookie.
I made these cookies time and time again while breastfeeding Sidney, and have loved coming back to them while breastfeeding Viggo. Honestly, they’re an amazing treat whether your breastfeeding or not, so bake a batch or two and enjoy!
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What are lactation cookies?
Some of you might be wondering what makes these cookies “lactation” cookies. It’s all about the milk-boosting ingredients which have been known to help increase breastmilk supply, including:
- Flaxseed meal: flaxseeds contain phytoestrogens that can help boost breast milk production.
- Whole oats: oats contain iron which is known to have a positive effect on breast milk supply. This lactation cookie recipe uses both rolled oats and oat flour for double the oat love.
- Brewer’s yeast: this nutritional supplement is high in complex b vitamins, protein and selenium, which are all nutrients new moms need. Please note that not all brewer’s yeast is gluten free, so if you are GF be sure to check the label. The one I have linked is gluten free!
Ingredients in these homemade lactation cookies
Along with the nutritious ingredients above that make these perfect for nursing mama’s, you’ll also need:
- Coconut sugar: we’re naturally sweetening these lactation cookies with coconut sugar — making them the perfect treat.
- Coconut oil: a little coconut oil gives the cookies the perfect amount of moisture.
- Flavor boosts: you’ll also be adding vanilla extract and cinnamon for a warm, cozy flavor.
- Dark chocolate chips: who doesn’t love a little chocolate in their cookies? Feel free to use dairy free chocolate chips if you need to.
- To top: I like to sprinkle a little fancy sea salt on top for that sweet & salty combo.
Customize them, mama
These vegan and gluten free lactation cookies are one of the best snacks to grab and nourish you, especially while glued to the couch breastfeeding (my current reality!). One of the best parts about these lactation cookies is that they are easily customizable. Here are some suggestions to make them your own:
- Make them with almond flour: I’ve successfully made these with almond flour instead of oat flour! Here’s how to do it: use 1 2/3 cup fine blanched almond flour (instead of oat flour) and 1 cup of oats (instead of 3/4 cup oats). You’ll need to bake these just a few minutes longer, and they’ll be softer, but they will be delicious!
- Add in additional healthy fats: feel free to add in ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Add in coconut: adding ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut is delicious and adds a unique texture. If you do, I suggest reducing the oat flour to 1 ½ cups total.
- Mix up the add-ins: feel free to use chocolate chunks instead of chips, or use any type of chocolate chip you’d like. You can also add in dried cherries, dried cranberries or dried blueberries!
Make your own oat flour for cookies
You can easily make your own gluten free oat flour by simply placing gluten free oats into a blender and blending/pulsing until they’re smooth and resemble a fine flour. This is probably the cheapest option. For this recipe, you’ll most likely need 1 2/3 cups of gluten free rolled oats to make the same amount of oat flour. Always measure the oat flour to ensure the proper amount called for in the recipe and check out my tutorial with all of my best tips & tricks.
How to make lactation cookies without brewer’s yeast
I realize that not everyone is likely to have brewer’s yeast in their pantry, therefore I’m including a few options for making these cookies without brewer’s yeast. You only need to pick one of these options to replace the brewer’s yeast in this recipe:
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup oat flour
- Or 1/2 cup fine blanched almond flour
Storing & freezing tips
These easy lactation cookies are the perfect treat to freeze for later and enjoy whenever you need a snack or sweet treat.
- To store the lactation cookies: feel free to keep these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- To freeze the lactation cookies: make sure the cookies are completely cooled, and then transfer them to an airtight container lined with wax or parchment paper or freezer-safe bag before storing them in the freezer for up to 2 months. I like to place them in a single layer to avoid any cookies breaking. Once ready to eat, simply thaw out at room temperature and enjoy! Alternatively, learn how to freeze the dough with these tips & tricks!
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If you make these lactation cookies, be sure to tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram. We’d also love if you would leave a comment below and rate the recipe. We appreciate you! xo.
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
The Best Lactation Cookies (for nursing mamas!)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup flaxseed meal
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 2/3 cups oat flour, gluten free if desired*
- ¾ cup old fashioned rolled oats, gluten free if desired
- ¼ cup brewer’s yeast** (get the debittered kind if possible)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips, dairy free if desired
- Maldon sea salt, for sprinkling the tops of the cookies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, mix together flaxseed meal and water; let it sit for 5 minutes while you get all your other ingredients ready.
- After 5 minutes the ‘flaxegg’ will be ready and you can add in the coconut sugar, melted and cooled coconut oil, and vanilla extract to the bowl; whisk together until smooth and well combined.
- Next add in the oat flour, rolled oats, brewer’s yeast, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Mix until well combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Use a medium cookie scoop and place dough on a prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. You should get about 20 cookies. If you want thicker cookies, leave as is. If you want slightly thinner cookies, very gently push ONLY the top of the cookie down a bit. Don’t over flatten.
- Bake cookies for 10-13 minutes until edges are just slightly golden brown around the edges. Once cookies come out of the oven, sprinkle the tops with fancy sea salt.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes before removing and transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling. Leaving them on the baking sheet will help them settle up, harden and hold together. Makes 20 cookies.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on February 11, 2020, and republished on May 3, 2021.
266 comments
Cannot WAIT to try these. As if AK couldn’t get any better. Outdoing yourself, mama!! 👏🏻🙌🏻❤️
The best!! Thanks, Annie! Hope you love them 🙂
You are doing amazing work! Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipes. I think the combination of this Lactation cookies and Domperidone had the best effect. Until I started the domperidone my baby may well have fed on blood from a stone. We tried the skin-to-skin, the constant feeding, the teas, the massages, but basically my milk never came in in sufficient quantity. Just as I was about to quit, a friend suggested domperidone (So happy ❤️ I found “Make24milk” 😊 in Google and got Dom). I was able to stop the domperidone after a while and supply held more or less steady.
So happy you’re loving these! And thank you for sharing your story 🙂 Every mama is different and I’m glad you found something that worked for you!
I used 3/4 cup Lakanto Sweetener + 1/4 cup brown sugar and Lily’s Dark Chocolate Chips and I loved how they turned out!
I’m glad that worked out well!
Absolutely delicious! I made these prior to my due date and stored in the freezer. They are the perfect middle of the night breastfeeding treat! I just take them out of the freezer and let them sit out for about 5 minutes, or if I’m not wanting to wait (breastfeeding makes you very hungry!) I’ll pop them in the microwave for 6-7 seconds and they are perfect! I have been eating these since the day I came home with bebe and my milk supply has been strong. Hubby is convinced it’s because I eat these cookies everyday! Thanks for the recipe!
These cookies are AMAZING! Even picky husband approved! Not only were they the tastiest lactation treats,, but I felt they helped maintain my supply much better than other lactation treats I’ve made. They are awesome to have when you need a late night snack after feedings on your way to bed! I didn’t have coconut sugar, so I did use brown sugar which I thought tasted awesome. I also added extra chocolate chips because #chocolate! Thank you again, Monique for yet another amazing 5 star recipe in my book!
Love that! So happy you found these, Megan. The perfect snack or healthy treat!
These are so delicious! As a new mama with a love for oat flour, these have been a wonderful snack while I’m nursing my baby girl and trying to stay on top of hunger while pumping at work. I was wondering, do you have any advice for how to make lactation energy bites using similar ingredients? Most of the recipes I’ve seen use dates and I’d rather not mess with that or with protein powder.
So happy you love them! Feel free to try my peanut butter energy bites: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/protein-peanut-butter-energy-bites/ they contain flax and oats, and you can easily add in some brewers yeast instead of protein powder (I would do 1/4 cup brewer’s yeast)
Hello! I was wondering if you could use steel cut oatmeal instead of rolled oats?
I wouldn’t recommend it, as steel cut oats won’t fully cook in the cookies, sorry!
These are the most delicious lactation cookies I’ve ever tried! Super easy to make and even my toddler likes them 🙌🏼
So happy you both love them! Such a great, nourishing treat 🙂
These are fantastic!!!!! Taste amazing and really upped my supply! Love all your recipes I’ve tried!
Amazing!! So happy to hear that, Haley 🙂
These are SO good. I made a batch pre-baby and basically survived on them for the first week (and then have enjoyed them in addition to a more rounded diet for the next while!). I don’t have any data to compare with, but my supply was super strong from the get-go, and it definitely could have been due to these!
Amazing! So happy to hear that, Heather 🙂
These are delicious! I made these for a friend who is due in a week. I made them exactly as written with the exception of the sugar (I used half granulated sugar and half brown sugar because I didn’t have coconut sugar on hand). They turned out great regardless, although they spread a bit more and turned less brown than seen in the recipe pictures. Would highly recommend this recipe!
Perfect! I hope she loves them!
These Are so delicious! The old lactation cookie recipe I followed called for lots of sugar and butter and tasted very similar to this. I can’t believe how good these are and I love the healthier ingredients. They definitely gave my supply a boost. Thank you for this great recipe!
Delicious and nourishing! So glad you loved them!
I wanted to add that I froze about 12 raw cookie balls in an airtight container and baked them a week later and they were just as good as when I baked the fresh batch. I found it was best to let the cookies thaw on the cookie sheet while the oven preheats. Thanks again!
Perfect! And great tips 🙂
These were really easy to make! I did sub out a few ingredients. I didn’t have coconut sugar so I used light brown sugar instead. I also used almond flour instead of oat flour and followed the measurements provided for the substitution. They tasted awesome freshly baked. (chewy in the center and slightly crispy edges) However, I stored them in a tupperware and the next day they were kind of moist and chewy and falling apart so I was a little disappointed. I did find that they worked well to up my supply though! Maybe I’ll try oat flour next time..
I do mention in the post that the cookies will be softer when using almond flour. Sorry to hear they didn’t hold up together as well for you the second day. Perhaps try baking them for a bit longer next time when using almond flour. I’m glad they helped up your supply!
I tried these with oat flour instead and they were still pretty soft and crumbly. 🙁 Maybe the longer bake time will help. I like the flavor so it’s enough to keep me motivated to try again.
I haven’t had that issue and I make these with oat flour all the time 🙂 try again or yes, bake a bit longer to keep them held together better!
I’m making these for a new Mama and wondering about freezing dough balls for her to bake versus baking cookies and then freezing as you noted above. Which do you recommend? Thank you!!
Either will work well! I personally love to bake and then freeze.
As a mama on the verge of having my newest, I’m here looking for recipes to make ahead. I’d suggest since you’re making for a mama to be, please do her the favor and bake them ahead of time and she can pull them out as needed, or she may resort to eating them raw! Lol. New days of motherhood take every ounce of energy just to survive 😉 It’s so nice of you to make them for her. It’s awesome to keep new mamas dead healthfully!
Ooops! FED healthfully!
So delicious !
Glad you liked them!
Yum yum yum! I followed the recipe exactly. I would eat these even if I wasn’t breastfeeding!
Absolutely! Such a great treat 🙂
Ok so I made 3 changes…I used butter instead of coconut oil (I’m out apparently!), drip espresso instead of water (trying to mask that brewers yeast flavor), and I used a whole cup of dark chocolate chips. I’m only commenting because in tweaking the recipe out of necessity with the butter these came out EXACTLY Like laceys! So bizarre how they baked up but laceys happen to be like my all time favorite cookies so if there are any other Lacey fans out there, here you go!
So interesting! I’m glad they worked out and you like them that way 🙂
SO GOOD!! Even my boyfriend liked them! I didn’t have brewer’s yeast so did the extra oat flour. Ordered some on amazon and will add it next time. Would adding collagen to this recipe throw it off? I notice a lot of recipes say adding collagen is optional so I’m guessing it wouldn’t affect it much?
Thank you again!
So glad you loved them! You could likely add a scoop of collagen, although FYI it hasn’t been proven that collagen maintains its benefits when baked. Maybe try removing 1/4 cup oat flour and adding collagen instead? Or you could try in addition! up to you
Wow! I just made these for my sister who just had a baby last week- I tried one, and now I’m kicking myself for not making a batch for myself! Delicious!
Amazing! I hope she loves them, too 🙂
Obsessed with these cookies. I couldn’t fit all of the cookies on my two sheet pans, so I made no-bake cookie balls with the extra dough. SO GOOD. These are also great straight out of the freezer.
Love it!! So happy you enjoyed!
My batch spread, but I blame the altitude. While it was still warm and a little tacky I rolled them up! Once the roll is cool ill slice😊 It still tastes yummy!
Perfect way to save them! Glad they tasted great 🙂
Very tasty but I would reduce the sugar next time. Found it very sweet.
Let me know how it goes!
I have all these ingredients except the sugar. I do have maple syrup and bananas.. do you think I could sub either to sweeten the cookies or no?
I think that maple syrup would work well. Maybe just a bit less that what’s called for of sugar though!
Made these twice now for a couple of my nursing mama friends and they are delicious. Mine spread a more than what I wanted both times and didn’t quite have the form of those pictured and I followed the recipe to a T. Any thoughts, could I chill the dough for a bit to firm up the coconut oil and dough?
That’s so strange as these are pretty thick. Perhaps it was a measurement issue, but next time you could try adding a bit more oat flour.
Hi these look really good! Can I use plain flour instead? I don’t have oat flour or almond flour. What would the measurement be for plain flour?
Hi! Unfortunately I wouldn’t recommend regular, all purpose flour in these because the texture will change a lot. Sorry!
These cookies are SO GOOD. I was buying my own lactation cookies, and decided to try making these. These will now be a staple in my breastfeeding journey!
So happy you found these ones! The perfect snack or treat for upping supply 🙂
Tried these and gosh are they yummy! The coconut flavor by using the oil and sugar really stands out just enough! They have a wonderful chocolate color too!
Absolutely! The perfect treat or snack 🙂
Hi! Is there a brand of brewers yeast you can recommend that works best with the recipe? Thank you!
Yes! It’s linked within the blog post and in the “shop the post” widget underneath the recipe.
These are amazing! I would eat these as regular cookies.
Absolutely! Such a great treat or snack 🙂
I decided to make these for my pregnant almost 2 months ago and she’s hooked. I have started making 2 batches at a time or else she will eat 1 batch in 2 days. Also she has been breastfeeding and she believes it has helped her low milk supply. I am actually making a new batch right now. I also think they taste delicious and so does my other sister. Totally recommend these for any skilled baker because im only 13 and these are quite easy to make.
sorry i meant pregnant sister
So happy to hear that, Larissa! I’m glad your sister is loving them 🙂 the perfect treat or snack!
Hello! Can I substitute egg for the flax and water if I don’t have it on hand?
Hi! Yes, you can substitute an egg, but I would add a little more flour!
These are so delicious!! I used almond flour as the Brewer’s yeast replacement (didn’t have any on hand) and they are seriously delicious. Thank you for coming up with this recipe!
Also made oat flour dor the first time, as outlined above! You do such a great job of addressing any questions that may come up.
Perfect! So happy you enjoyed 🙂 always trying to be as helpful as possible!
hi, can i replace coconut sugar with normal sugar?
Brown sugar will work!
the first time i made these they were amazing – soft, chewy and more-ish. i’ve made them twice since and for some reason they are way more round and dont have the same soft chewy taste. i’m not sure what i’ve been doing differently. Next time i’ll try and flatten the tops more as i’ve been doing it very gently. I used the almond flour variation. Mix it really well as I find if you don’t, choc chips end up stuck at the bottom of the bowl and then the ratio is off. Definitely recommend these. I bake then freeze and take one out each night for PM feeds.
Strange, the recipe hasn’t changed at all! Have you changed the brands of ingredients you used at all?
Hi Monique! Looking forward to making these. I head back to work next week and want to be sure to keep up my supply for my little bebe! I do not have any coconut oil, would it be ok to use the same amount of melted butter? Thank you!
These will be perfect! And yes, melted butter will work well 🙂
Alright! I made tons of mods to this, each batch a new adjustment. First. I made the original recipe, with suggested substitutions, using cane sugar, almond flour and coconut shreds (swapped out coconut sugar, no oat flour or brewers yeast). They were super tasty but were very crumbly even though I baked them for about 25 minutes. Second time. tried less cane sugar because I thought they were toooo sweet. made them more crumbly (as expected). Third time. finally went to Target and got coconut sugar. Still crumbly and too sweet. Fourth time. added a few spoonfuls of peanut butter (about 1/4c) to the melted butter and stirred it in. Less crumbly! Ha! Less tasty. Boo. Fifth time. Dropped the cinnamon, added a little more peanut butter (a tablespoon-ish more than 1/4c) AND extra salt (about 1/2tsp, my pb was not salted/sweetened). Still baking for 25 minutes. Not crumbly! Tasty! Crispy! Brilliant!
And that’s how I’ve made them 3 or 4 times now. Yum.
I tried making them as a big bar and as little bars the center was always crumbly and fall apart. Cookies is the best shape, even if it takes more time.
Now. To a vital question. Did these up my milk output. Let’s discuss. I never used brewers yeast and that is touted as a big dang milk production deal. I did not have an explosion of milk production when I started eating these cookies. Whenever I don’t drink enough water (150-180oz is my daily goal) the days following my supply goes down, no matter how many cookies I eat. I will say, that skipping a meal makes my supply go down and these cookies keep that from happening when I snack on them (even if I can’t get to my meal before a pump). So that is good. ALSO, will say, it’s really great having cookies at 4:30am, makes pumping suck less.
One additional thing I wanna say. This recipe has a ton of ingredients. And making it weekly is a (tasty, delectable) beast. I’ve “shortened” the process by measuring a second batch of the dry ingredients for “later”. I will probably try making a double batch and freezing half the dough next (baking a single batch takes up my whole oven, so baking a double batch isn’t gonna happen).
I’m glad you found some swaps that worked out well! And agreed about the snacks while pumping 🙂 the perfect treat!
Very detailed explanation and alternatives given. I love it that this recipe uses oatmeal flour and explained how to grind your own which is super easy. I dont have cocunut oil on hand so used half butter and half conola (half way pouring remember that I could have used butter). I made double the portion. They turned out to be delicious and soft and chewy. My daughter who just delivered and nursing gave high mark! This recipe is a keeper even for those of us who are not breast feeding.
Perfect! So happy to hear that 🙂
I have made three batches of these in the past 3 weeks. They are delicious and I like that there’s really nothing bad in them. I eat them for breakfast, or as a midnight snack while I’m up pumping! This recipe is very forgiving and I don’t really measure very carefully. They have come out different each time as a result, but they are always the perfect combination of crispy and chewy. I keep them in the freezer and they only need a minute or two to defrost before you can dig in! I have used almond flour when I ran out of oatmeal flour, and I like to have fun with the mix-ins- I have used chopped peanuts and pecans in addition to the oats and chocolate chips. All delicious! Thanks for this recipe! I was spending a fortune on lactation cookies before so it is nice to make my own and know what’s in them!
Amazing! So glad you can customize them well 🙂 perfect snack or treat (and yes, much cheaper homemade!)
I made it! Very crunchy and stored it in airtight container. The next day, the texture no longer crunchy. Is it that is the real texture? Appreciate your reply🙏
They will soften up a bit when stored, but if you want to keep them on the crispier side feel free to wrap them in paper towel before placing in a container 🙂
I am three days postpartum and I feel my milk coming on. I made these cookies in advance, froze them, and took them out when I was in labor. Been eating them twice a day since giving birth and they are delicious! Only substation was brown sugar instead of coconut sugar. I ground my own oat flour and flax meal. It was more effort but so worth it!
Amazing! So glad you had these on-hand!
I’m obsessed with these cookies. I made them tonight so I can’t yet speak to their efficacy for milk production but they’re delicious. I made them with almond flour instead of oat flour as noted below the recipe and my husband and I both gobbled up 2 cookies as soon as they cooked. They’re very special and very delicious. Hopefully they also he’ll boost my milk supply for my 6 month baby going through a growth spurt!
Amazing! So glad they’re a hit 🙂 I hope they help with your milk supply, too!
Really great recipe! I wish I had known about it the first time I was pregnant. I didn’t have the gluten-free flour mixture so I used all almond flour as you suggested, and I did cut the amount of sugar in half. But these cookies came out great and will be on stand-by in the freezer for when baby boy arrives in 6 short weeks!
Thanks for sharing!
Jess
Perfect! So glad you love them. Perfect for baby!
These are the best. I make a batch every few weeks and they’re perfect every time. I love them straight out of the freezer! Thanks for a great recipe.
So happy to hear that! Love them straight from the freezer, too 🙂
I’m very hopeful for these cookies, but I just mixed up my batter and I’m seeing that there are nowhere near enough wet ingredients in this recipe for the amount of dry ingredients. I had to add two eggs and 3/4c almond milk to get this to mix into a batter like consistency.
Maybe I’m missing something??
That’s very strange. I’ve never had anyone with this issue. Next time I would simply add more coconut oil and make sure you are not packing any of your ingredients. I’m not sure what went wrong but 3/4 cup of almond milk would have made this more like muffins than cookies! I think something may have been wrong with your measurements.
I loved the recipe, cookies turn out amazing. Both my daughters loved the cookies. I followed the original recipe except added 1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut. Whiled my girls loved it, I found them to be too sweet for me. I will definitely make again but probably with a 3/4 cup of coconut sugar.
I’m glad they were a hit! Let me know how they go reducing the sugar a bit, too.
So delicious! I keep a bag of these in the freezer as a sweet treat that helps my milk supply!
Love that! Perfect treat 🙂
I made these when I was breastfeeding but EVERYONE enjoyed them!! I no longer BF but these are still my go to cookie when I am pretending cookies for breakfast are a thing.
The best!! Glad you loved them!
I made this recipe + stashed the cookies in the freezer while I was late in my pregnancy, anticipating a need for healthy and delicious snacks while nursing the babe. I am SO glad I made these! I made them as written and they’re wonderfully flavorful and absolutely delicious. My husband loved them, too.
So happy to hear that! Such a great treat or snack (breast feeding or not!)
This recipe is awesome! I love how it has the most brewers yeast out of all of the lactation cookies I’ve tried, they are gluten free, high protein and dairy free – yet the taste was still delicious. The yield is smaller than I would expect but that seems like a good thing as when i was BF’ing, I’d go through a batch in a day or 2 (almost all by myself). Almost because my husband also liked these cookies and would sneak one here and there.
Absolutely! Glad you love them!
These are so great to have on hand when you get hit with a sweet tooth craving/are starving while nursing! I’ve made them multiple times since having my baby back in January. They come together in one bowl and even my three year old helps out! The only subs I make are using 4 tablespoons of coconut oil (I buy the Trader Joe’s individual packets because my husband doesn’t like coconut..sad!) and I use 1/2 cup coconut sugar and 1/2 brown sugar! Thank you for another wonderful recipe!
So happy to hear that! Such a great, nourishing treat 🙂
Perfect! So glad you found these ones 🙂
Not only did these lactation cookies work really well but they also tasted amazing! I followed the exact recipe and they turned out perfectly.
So happy to hear that!
I have been breastfeeding for almost 8 months and haven’t really had any supply issues… but I always keep these cookies stocked in my freezer because they are just so tasty! (They also freeze really well). I was pleasantly surprised that they were not bitter at all because of the brewer’s yeast. I use brown sugar instead of coconut sugar and they turn out perfectly every time!
Such a great snack or treat! Glad you love them 🙂
These cookies are delicious. I made them as written for a breastfeeding friend (keeping a few). Next time I might add some dried fruit to contrast the slight bitterness from the brewer’s yeast. I’ll be making these again!
So happy to hear that! And dried fruit would be delicious in these.
Love these cookies! I store them in the freezer to hide them from my non-lactating family members. They taste just as good straight out of the freezer! And love the addition of the salt on top, although it never sticks post-baking for me so I started sprinkling it on before baking instead.
The best treat! Glad you love them 🙂
These were so good. I just made them tonight so I’m not sure how much they’ve improved my supply yet, but I would make these for anyone! They are one of my favourite cookies now.
So happy to hear that!
WOW. I’ve tried 5 lactation cookies recipes and these are by FAR the best!!! I reduced the coconut sugar by just a bit since I ran out and they were great. This is the recipe I’ll keep making!! (My husband has already eaten 3 today, ha!)
So happy to hear that!!
I made these lactation cookies for my daughter who has celiac disease and is currently nursing her newborn. She said that they were so delicious and perfect for a middle of the night snack while she’s nursing! My husband snuck one and thought they were so good! Had to hide them from him! LOL Very easy to make. I put the batter in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before baking ( a habit I do with all my cookie baking).
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂
I’ve made these twice, and I think I’m doing something wrong. They taste delicious, but they spread like crazy and don’t rise at all. They are flatter than pancakes, except where the chocolate chips are, of course. The only substitution I made was regular sugar instead of coconut sugar. Any suggestions to make mine turn out like yours? Thanks!
That doesn’t seem right. Are you using store bought or homemade oat flour? Are you letting the flaxegg sit before using in the recipe? Are you measuring everything out correctly, including the coconut oil? I also assume you are using coconut oil that’s solid at room temp and then melted? Let me know!
I was nervous to try Brewer’s yeast (anything that has to be “debittered” to be less awful sounds… dubious) but I was really pleasantly surprised by these. I added about a 1/4 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut as well to the batter and they’re great! Not sure if they’re helping with supply or not yet (only made them yesterday) but I’ll certainly take the excuse to munch on cookies all week!
So glad you gave these a try! Such a great snack or treat 🙂
So excited to make these! Can this recipe be doubled or tripled?
yes that should work just fine!
I think I regret making these. I just took them out of the oven five minutes ago and have already eaten two.. and I keep walking past the cooling wire rack, eyeing the cookies. Help!
They’re so good! I was a little hesitant by the time I was folding in the chocolate chips because the dough seemed pretty dry. But they turned out great! I also love that my toddler who has an egg allergy can have one – I hate telling her she can’t try a bite of something I’m eating when she’s interested, so it’s a bonus for me.
Second daughter is only 3 weeks old so I’m sure I’ll be making these again.. yum!
Oh, adding that I made the recipe exactly as posted, but I put 1/3 cup of “normal” chocolate chips and 1/3 cup of Hu chocolate gems!
So glad these were a hit! I love keeping these for quick and easy snacks and treats, too 🙂
These cookies are delicious! I made them in my last few weeks of pregnancy with intentions of freezing them and having them at the ready once baby was born. Needless to say, I and my husband ate them all before baby arrived because they were so tasty. I couldn’t find brewers yeast so I subbed almond flower as Monique suggested. Highly recommend these cookies whether you’re lactating or not!
Perfect! Such a great treat or snack any time 🙂
Favorite lactation cookies!
I’m so glad!
These are amazing! Me husband said for sure one of the best choc chip cookies he’s had. Vegan or not!
Oops… not these cookies! I meant to rate the vegan chocolate chip. Had a good laugh accidentally posting that my husband loves the lactation cookie 🤣
Haha still delicious!! 🙂
Can I use regular sugar or brown sugar instead of coconut sugar. What is the benefit of using coconut sugar?
Yes brown sugar will work! Coconut sugar is just a good option for keeping them refined sugar free.
These cookies are delicious, whether you’re lactating or not! Not going to lie, I had to fight my husband for a few of these.
Haha they’re too good!! Glad you liked them 🙂
These are so delicious! I swapped the chocolate for walnuts and blueberries. The base is a good neutral for different add-ins. My next batch is going to be cherry almond!
Perfect! Love that!!
Gave birth about three weeks ago to my first daughter and have been trying things to help my milk supply, while I don’t know if these impacted my supply or not I know they are packed with nutrients and delicious! One thing I found with my cookies was that they were a little crumbly and fell apart pretty easily, other than that great! Also I used white chocolate instead of dark !
Congrats!! These are the perfect snack or treat. Try refrigerating the dough a bit before baking – that should help!
I made these lactation cookies for my daughter who is nursing and also has celiac disease! She loved them ( and so did my husband! LOL). I am making her more as part of your Mother’s Day gift. Thanks for sharing this great recipe which is also easy to make!
Perfect! Such a great gift 🙂
Hi Monique, can the coconut sugar be subbed out for granulated (or brown?) and the coconut oil for olive oil? I have a coconut allergy 🙁
Thanks!
Never mind! looked at earlier comments and got my answer 🙂
Perfect! Enjoy!
These cookies are amazing!!! Just made a batch today and ate two in a row. I have been following Monique for years now, and her recipes have yet to disappoint. I did have to add about a tbs more of oat flour and a touch more of oats. I don’t think I had the right consistency for my flax egg. Nonetheless, it was delicious! Thanks, Monique!
So happy to hear that! I’m glad those little swaps worked out well, too 🙂
I love this site
I’m so glad!
Made these with the almond flour substitute instructins. These were good!! I’m not vegan but i didn’t really want to use los of butter or eggs and i had extra almond flour around!!!
Had to make some substitutions and also added a couple extras. Still came out delicious. I subbed brown sugar bc I ran out of coconut sugar.
Added 1-2 tblsp of wheat germ, chia seeds and brewers yeast ( not 1/4 cup as in the instructions). Used 1 cup chocolate chips.
Baked at 350 for around 13 min, let the cookies set on the sheet for like 2 min then moved them.
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed!
Can the lactation cookies be frozen prior to baking?
I think that’ll work just fine! Just scoop the batter into a container lined with parchment for easy removal before baking 🙂
These are the best! I always follow your idea to add In chopped pecans & they are such a tasty treat while pumping. My supply took a dip while we were getting my son’s tongue tie & nursing troubles sorted out & I feel like these really helped get me back on track. I have a question though, if I’m all out of coconut oil what fat would you sub in its place? Or should I just make a grocery order? lol 🤪
So happy to hear that you’ve loved them and that they’ve helped you get back on track! I haven’t tried them with anything but coconut oil so I’d recommend ordering some more 🙂
Hi. Can’t i skip brewer yeast in this recipe?
Hi, there! I’d recommend replacing it with one of the following: 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, 1/4 cup oat flour, or 1/2 cup fine blanched almond flour 🙂
I never leave reviews but these cookies are something to leave a review about. I was having a hard time producing enough milk for my baby as she started to grow I was so frustrated and ready to give up breastfeeding, until I made these cookies. I had one the night I made them and I woke up the next morning with so much milk, I was so excited! Needless to say these cookies work and are great!
WOW, that is so amazing to hear, Liberty! I’m thrilled that these are working well for you and your babe 🙂 ❤️
Hello! The cookies looks so yummy and I’m trying to make this recipe for my sister who’s going to be breastfeeding soon. We don’t really go by cups here so just wanted to know what’s 1 cup in grams for your recipe?
Hi, Jacq! 1 cup of which ingredient? I’d recommend googling it to figure out the conversion, as I don’t measure in grams, sorry!
O M G! These are SO good! I was hesitant to make them because I’ve never had good luck with flax egg but wow. This recipe is perfect! I’m on my second batch. The first batch I made to recipe but this time around I used avocado oil instead of coconut oil and added unsweetened shredded coconut. YUM! Even my husband has been sneaking them because they are so delicious haha. I’m producing a good amount of milk, can’t say for sure it’s with help to the cookies but it could be! Thanks for this delicious recipe Monique!
Amazing!! So happy you (and your husband!) are loving these, Jessica 🙂
These are great cookies. I make triple batches and freeze them til I need them. The one thing I noticed is the flax egg. It calls for a 2:1 ratio of water to flax. Normally flax eggs use a 3:1. If you change the ratio, left to sit for 15 minutes before use. When preparing the flax egg in this way, the cookies become much more soft snd tender, and can be portioned using a cookie scoop.
Thanks for the tip, Mandy! So happy you’re loving them 🙂
How many do you suggest eating in a day?
however many you’d like! 🙂
Would you be able to freeze the dough to bake later?
Definitely! Just scoop the dough into balls and put them in a container (I like lining mine with parchment paper), cover tightly, and freeze. Then bake until the edges are golden and the centers are set 🙂
These are my favorite lactation cookies! I make them every two weeks and I feel like they really help maintain my supply. So delicious!
I’m so happy to hear that, Kelsey! Glad you’re loving them ❤️
Hi! I love all your recipes. I make your healthy banana bread on repeat and love it each time. I tried this lactation cookies twice and found the texture of cookies extremely sticky and chewy. The dough was also very very hard to work with. Not sure if I am doing anything wrong, since I am following the recipe as is.
Hi! So strange as these are really popular. I haven’t had the dough be hard to work with. Are you using homemade or store bought oat flour?
I’ve never made a flax egg before. I made these for a friend today and they didn’t spread (granted, I did not press them down). I baked them closer to 20 minutes to make sure the interior was done. This taste fine, but they are still in a ball shape! Consistency was also crazy hard to mix. I ended up adding some almond milk to be able to incorporate the dry ingredients in fully.
I’m thinking it was my flax egg that was the issue. How many eggs can I use instead or is that bad? I’d also like to add additional flax meal if I use poultry eggs so I can keep the nutritional goodness from the flax! Thank you!
ahh sorry to hear that. Next time be sure to push them down a bit before baking. Also make sure you are measuring all ingredients precisely. Next time could try 1 egg + 2 tablespoon flax + 3 tablespoons water.
I’m a first time mom and my little one is 2 weeks old. I just made these and they are FANTASTIC!
Omg huge congrats!! You go mama. I’m happy you’re loving these ❤️
I wish I could upload a picture. They completely flattened out into one giant paper thin Florentine😭..
I made it for a friend who just had a baby (plus a few extra for myself of course), and it tastes DELICIOUS but just not pretty. I’m still going to deliver the sorry things since I know she’ll still appreciate the effort. I couldn’t find brewer’s yeast so I subbed more oat flour. I used brown coconut sugar since that’s all I could find. I didn’t think I flattened them too much but maybe I did?!? Any idea what went wrong?
this is so strange, I’ve never had anyone comment about them being flat! Next time maybe try sticking to the recipe. I can’t imagine it would make a big difference but that’s the only thing I can think of!
These lactation cookies are amazing!! I’ve made them three times now – twice as cookies and once as bars. They are nourishing and delicious – exactly what I want in a lactation cookie.
So delicious!
Great cookie recipe! I’ve made it many times, always substituting the brewer’s yeast for more oats.
I think I’m on my 10th batch of these babies I love them so much! I also add chia seeds and hemp hearts and they still taste amazing!!
I have made a double batch of these cookies every few weeks throughout my BF journey! They are delicious!! Not sure if they are helping me produce more milk, but mentally I feel better about my supply when I start my day with one of these cookies!
Just delicious!! Love them
Yay!! So happy you do 🙂
I love these cookies! I’ve made them twice now. I only use 2/3 cup coconut sugar and find they are still plenty sweet. I gave up dairy recently to help with my little one’s acid reflux, and didn’t have dairy free chocolate chips on hand, so I subbed unsweetened shredded coconut for the chocolate chips and they’re still great! Thank you for another great recipe!
I’m so happy you enjoyed them! Great call on the shredded coconut 🙂
The lactation cookie comes out not crispy. It is soft. First time trying, so is this correct?
They’re supposed to be chewy! Did you enjoy them?
Hi, can i substitute coconut oil (solid and then melted) with cooking coconut oil? Thanks for your help
Hi! Not exactly sure what you mean but if it’s regular coconut oil, sure!
Piles of dirt. Waste of time and money!
It’s probably my own fault. I tried the recipe twice and they came out horrible both times.
Hmmm did you follow the ingredients/instructions precisely? Can you explain what wasn’t good about them?
I just makes these and they taste like beer! What did I do wrong??
Uh oh! Sounds like it was the type of brewer’s yeast you used. What brand was it?
OMG, these cookies are soooo good. I made them for a friend who just became a mum and obviously had to try one (or a couple more), too.
I substituted the coconut sugar with brown sugar, but otherwise followed the recipe. Love it!
Hi I just made these and oh my goodness they are sooo delicious!! I had a question, how many should you eat in a day? Thanks!
So happy you love them! That’s totally up to you — feel free to check out the nutrition facts at the bottom of the recipe 🙂
I found this recipe to be so delicious! I had tried another lactation cookie and had to throw the batch out, I’m so glad I found this. I’ve noticed an increase in my supply when eating them. I couldn’t have asked for a better recipe.
Oh YAY I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks so much, Kristen 🙂
I haven’t made this yet, but am excited to! Question, do you think it’d be okay to use Bob Red Mill’s 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour? And if so, any adjustments to measurement? Thank you!!
I haven’t tested it so I can’t be sure, but it might work! Sorry I can’t be more helpful. Let me know if you try it 🙂
Healthy ingredients but it doesn’t taste good.
Sorry you didn’t love them! Can you explain what you didn’t enjoy about the flavor?
I love this recipe!! I make it all the time 🙂 I may have dedicated a shelf in my pantry for all the ingredients I need for this recipe. 😋🍪 If anyone is nervous to try brewers yeast, don’t worry if you get the debittered kind, it won’t affect (effect? I always forget the rule about that lol)the taste. 100⭐s
I love these and now make them for all my breastfeeding mommas ♥️
Aw I’m so happy to hear that, Ashley!! Thank you! ❤️
Wow. These are DELICIOUS. I’m writing this review as I eat my freshly baked cookies. Do they work? I’m not sure yet, but they taste so good. I didn’t have any coconut sugar so I used old fashioned brown sugar instead. 10/10 would recommend. I’ve tried a few milk boosting recipes and so far this one taste the best! Happy I found this recipe 🙂
Ahh I’m SO glad you’re loving them!! I’m so happy you found this one, too 🥰 Thanks, mama.
I made these according to the recipe, except I cut the sugar in half (diabetes runs in my family). They were good, not sure if they have helped with my milk production but they do make a good snack. They kind of reminded me of No Bake Chocolate cookies. So I omitted the cinnamon, added 2TB of cocoa powder and 1/4 cup of peanut butter (I used creamy honey roasted because thats all I had and still 1/2 the sugar of the original). Everything else the same.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for sharing all those additions. Sounds delish 🙂
Delicious! I recently found out I need to be dairy free while nursing and these cookies were the perfect thing to help me have a tasty treat around. I used the almond flour instead of brewer’s yeast and dairy free chocolate with hazelnuts. So nice to have oats, chia and flaxseed in this recipe.
I did not like these at all. Felt like I was eating dog food if I’m completely honest. I followed the recipe exactly, but after tasting the first batch I tried adding even more chocolate chips to mask the terrible taste, which helped a little bit, but I still ended up tossing out most of them. I really don’t see how anyone could enjoy eating these…
So sorry you didn’t love these, Jen! Did you use debittered brewer’s yeast? And do you normally like the taste of flaxseed meal?
These are phenomenal. I made two batches one with dark chocolate chips and the other with white chocolate chips and I’m obsessed. Wondering if there’s any tips on doubling or tripling the recipe. I’m assuming it Would be fine but with the flax egg and the baking soda wanted to see if you had any thoughts.
Also wondering how many is recommended to eat per day etc
SO glad you’re loving these, Sarah!! Love the idea of white chocolate chips. And I think it should be fine to double or triple everything!
In terms of recommended number of cookies per day, I’d ask your doctor 🙂 Sorry I can’t be sure!
Loved these! I’m a mama to be in august 2022 with my first and I want to breast feed. I remember Monique talking about making these so I searched her site and here they were. I didn’t have the yeast, so I upped my oat flour and I also added in some coconut because I love it. These were super easy to make, I ended up making about 30-35 and they tasted amazing! The chewy texture is my fav. I actually stored them in the fridge because the warmth of my house and the coconut oil was making them too soft for my liking and they are perfect.
Aw thanks so much for the review, Bailey! I’m so happy you loved them. And huge congrats to you!! Sending lots of love ❤️
I just finished making these for my sister who had a baby a week ago. I’m planning on giving them to her the day after I bake them. Should they be kept at room temperature or in the fridge? I saw a lot of posts about freezing them, but so I need to do that immediately? Can’t wait to try them! Thank you!
Hi! You definitely don’t need to freeze them right away (that’s just an option!) I’d recommend keeping them in an airtight container at room temp for up to 5 days.
I have made this several times. The recipient is very consistent. I was wondering though, my dough always turns out super sticky. Is it supposed to? I am using homemade oat flour. Thanks!
That’s just the nature of the dough with all of the wholesome ingredients 🙂 Glad they turn out well!
LOVE THESE!!!!! Thank you!!! Perfect snack for when I need a little something which now that I’m breastfeeding is always!
One note – the batter is sticky, if you let it sit a few mins before scooping it’s much easier to work with 🙂
I found it hard to stir and the batter felt gummy. I would probably not repeat this recipe.
Hi! Thanks for your feedback. Did your dough look similar to mine in the photo above?
Hello! I was wondering if I could substitute the coconut oil for avocado oil. I have high cholesterol and love making these cookies; they always turn out great! Thanks for the help!
I’m not sure where to find the instructions on how to freeze these cookies. I have made them several times over the last two years. My daughter is pregnant again and having another baby I would like to make the dough ahead of time and just freeze them in balls but not sure if I can do this. Can you advise?
Absolutely! Just make the cookies as is, form into balls and put in to airtight container. Enjoy!
Best recipe I’ve found for lactation cookies!!
So easy to make dairy free/vegan and taste so good. I make them and freeze them so I can just pull out 2 every day as a healthy snack. Have probably made these a dozen times this year 🤍
Love that! So glad you found this recipe!
Hi, not sure what i did wrong but mine came out really soft and not crunchy at all. Although I followed the recipe exactly. Any tips?
I made these cookies for my sister after she had my niece and she loved them! I, too, love them despite the fact that I’m NOT breastfeeding and I have no kids 😂. They’re just delicious!
Wondering what is the point of adding the sugar to the wet ingredients and then adding the rest of the dry ingredients… would it be possible to just do all of the dry ingredients at once?
I’m wondering if I can make shelf stable jar mixes where you only need to add the water, oil, and vanilla.
Do you think they would cook the same if I cut the coconut sugar in half for a less sweet cookie? (Thank you in advance!)
Sure! That should be fine. Enjoy!
This works magic! Taste so good too!
Aw this makes me so happy to hear, glad you’re loving these cookies, Jeannie ❤️
I’m a beginner at baking cookies and this recipe is easy to follow! Taste great but my cookies turns out chewy rather than crunchy though. How can I make them more crunchy?
I’m glad this recipe was easy for you! These are meant to be chewier because of the oatmeal, but feel free to bake them a bit longer to give them more crunch (as long as they don’t burn).
Can I freeze the dough to cook later? Trying to make a big batch for postpartum! (Not using brewers yeast)
Yes, absolutely! Check out my best tips for freezing cookie dough here 🙂
I made these for a friend and she loved it! Ate a few right away and said it helped with her supply. Delicious and effective – what more could you ask for? Thanks for the great recipe.
So happy to hear that!!
Hi Monique! I’m making these for my SIL who is expecting TWINS! I have everything except the brewer’s yeast…curious if you have a preferred sub of the three offered??
Hi! Amazing! I like all of them, so it just depends on what’s accessible to you 🙂 The coconut will add extra flavor, but the oat or almond flour are very easy. Oat flour is probably the easiest option because you’ll already be adding it to the recipe 🙂
I’ve tried several different lactation cookie recipes and this one is FAR AND AWAY the best. They are so moist and delicious and I really don’t mind the brewers yeast in here (in fact I added a bit more than the recipe calls for). 10 of 10!
So glad you found this one! I still make them all the time 🙂
I have made these several times, following the recipe as is and also with almond flour instead of oat, They are soo good and great to make extras of so I can freeze and have on hand for a quick snack or dessert. Perfect for busy nursing moms!
So happy to hear that!
Hi there,
Can you swap the coconut sugar for honey or maple syrup? If so what quantities would you suggest?
Hi! I haven’t tested it, but I think maple syrup should work. I’d suggest using a bit less than 1 cup.
These are amazing! So delicious.
Glad you enjoyed!
I love these cookies! Made them multiple times for myself and I always make a batch for new nursing mommas. I like to add cranberries or dried cherries to add some chewiness.
So happy to hear that!
Can you use chickpea flour ?
I haven’t tried it! Let me know if you do 🙂