Dairy Free Lactation Cookies
Dairy free lactation cookies, made with coconut oil. Packed with oats, brewers yeast, flax seed and hemp seed that will increase your milk supply while breastfeeding. Or, just a delicious and healthy chocolate chip oatmeal cookie if you’re not nursing!
Ok nursing mamas, these lactation cookies are for you.
After my 6 week postpartum check up, my doctor cleared me for exercise. After all that time I spent on hospital bedrest, and then having extremely limited mobility while recovering from my c section (ouch!), I was excited to be able to go outside with Josh strapped to my chest for long walks in the sunshine.
We go for an hour walk every day around the neighborhood. I do 3 laps up what I lovingly refer to as “hell hill” – a very steep and long street that leaves me breathless and sweating, even in the middle of January. The walking has been so therapeutic for me. I love getting out of the house, getting my heart rate going, and seeing all the people stop and smile as they sneak a peak at little Josh. He is just so dang cute!
A few days after I started exercising, I noticed a decrease in my milk supply. Eeek! I didn’t want to give up my walks, so I started researching ways to boost it naturally. Mother’s Milk Tea and lactation cookies were the biggest recommendations.
I was skeptical about whether or not lactation cookies would really work. If anything, I thought it was just a great excuse to eat more cookies. And with all the extra calories my body is burning while breastfeeding, I’ll take all the cookies I can get. I am craving sweets, and feel way more hungry than I ever did pregnant.
I needed a dairy free lactation cookie, since Josh has acid reflux and eating dairy provokes it. I tried a few different versions. Some that used shortening (ick), some that used Earth Balance vegan “butter”. As much as I love Earth Balance on toast or when scrambling eggs, I don’t like the taste it gives to baked goods.
I experimented with my own version, and wanted to try one that used all coconut oil since I love the subtle flavor and sweetness of coconut oil. Plus, coconut oil has great health benefits. After a few tries, I finally perfected the BEST dairy free lactation cookies made with coconut oil. They are also packed with oats, brewers yeast, flax seed, and hemp seed, which are all nutrient dense and will naturally boost your milk production.
These dairy free lactation cookies are delicious! Shawn is obsessed with him. When he saw them on the counter and ate one, he proclaimed them the best chocolate chip cookies he’s ever had. I told him they are actually lactation cookies, and he stopped mid-chew.
“Are these going to make me lactate Nat?”
I wanted to trick him and tell him yes. Ha! But no, they’re just nutrient dense and can be enjoyed by all.
These cookies have crispy edges, and have a semi soft interior. They’re not dense hockey pucks like other lactation cookie recipes I tried. The oats give them a delicious chew, and the coconut oil gives it a light and pillowy texture, along with giving them a subtle sweet coconut flavor. You do not taste the brewers yeast, flax seeds or hemp seeds at all. And of course the chocolate chips are delicious. I use Trader Joe’s or Kirkland semi-sweet chocolate chips, which are naturally dairy free.
But even better than tasting great? They really do work! I noticed within a few hours that my milk production was back up to what it was before exercising. Josh was back to being a full and happy baby.
And all thanks to eating cookies! I also started eating oatmeal every morning for breakfast and adding a tablespoon of flax seed and hemp seed to it after I heat it up which I think also helps.
Glad to have a happily fed baby once again!
And if you don’t have time to make your own, or want even more lactation boosting snacks, check out these dairy free lactation granola bars from Oat Mama!
Dairy Free Lactation Cookies
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats, NOT quick cooking oats
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons brewers yeast
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon ground hemp seed
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup virgin coconut oil, room temperature (not melted)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup dairy free semi-sweet chocolate chips, I prefer Trader Joe's or Kirkland brands, both are dairy free
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees with the oven rack in the upper and lower third. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium size bowl, combine the oats, flour, brewers yeast, flaxseed, hemp seed, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine. Set aside.
- Using your stand mixer (or in a large bowl with a hand mixer) beat the coconut oil, granulated sugar and brown sugar over medium high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat another minute until combined. Turn the speed down to low, and slowly add the dry ingredients. Beat until combined. Add the chocolate chips and beat briefly until just combined.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 days.
- Using a medium size cookie scoop (1.5 tablespoons), scoop the cookie dough onto the cookie sheets, 12 per sheet. Will make exactly 24 cookies.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the cookies are just starting to turn golden on the edges. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before eating. Will keep in an airtight container for 1 week.
Notes
121 Comments on “Dairy Free Lactation Cookies”
I made these after my last baby and I’m coming back to prepare some for the freezer for baby #2! Any advice on how to sub some of the flour to make them a little less carbs. I have gestational diabetes and don’t want to overdue it postpartum. Planning to sub some sugar with monk fruit. Thanks for all of your recipes, Natalie!
Congratulations on your upcoming baby #2 Taylor! That is fantastic. The lactation cookies were a godsend for me with both my boys. I have been baking with almond flour a lot lately and I think that would be an excellent substitute for the regular flour. I haven’t recipe tested it, but I bet it would work just fine.
I never leave reviews or comments on anything but my god these cookies are delicious! I’m having a hard time limiting the amount I eat in a single day haha. I’ve tried a few different recipes for lactation cookies but these are the best by far! Thank you!
Yeah! I am so glad you liked my lactation cookies Alex! Even better that you rarely leave reviews. I am so happy you left a review for me. I agree, it is hard to limit the number of cookies a day. They are so yummy!
So I don’t know if I did something wrong but I made my cookie batter the night before and put them in the fridge overnight. I am trying to scoop them out and it is a crumbly mess and they won’t form very well. I’m usually pretty good at following a recipe but I think I might have missed something. Any suggestions?
Gosh I am so sorry your cookies aren’t forming well Crissy. I am racking my brain to think of what could have happened. I wonder if the batter needs a little bit more coconut oil. Also if the dough is too cold it can get crumbly. Sometimes forming the cookies the warmth of your hand will warm them up and they will stick together a little better. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Fingers crossed they turn out fantastic!
This recipe isn’t great :( The cookies just melted into one big cookie and became so crumbly (like others have said) despite following the recipe exactly and putting in the fridge for an hour prior to cooking. 39 weeks pregnant, tired, and so disappointed I tripled the recipe! I’d look for something else out there!
I tried to make these….
I hit the ‘2x’ to make double the batch, and unfortunately my first sheet of these literally spread out to the entire sheet. Thin, flat, not cookies.
I thought maybe it was due to not refrigerating them for long enough, so I put the rest of the dough back in for a full 24 hrs, tried it out again, and same thing! They spread out thin and flat….grrr.
Any ideas what went wrong for me?
Thanks
Hi Kim – Well shoot! I am so bummed these didn’t turn out for you. First I would double check the size of the cookie. They should be no more that 1.5 tablespoons. You could even try making them a little smaller at about 1 tablespoon. Another thought is maybe your baking powder or baking soda is past it’s shelf life. I learned the hard way to only keep them in my pantry for 6 months, then I toss them and buy new. I hope this helps. I know how frustrating it is when a recipe doesn’t turn out well.
These were yummy, cut back on the sugar though and still found them a little sweet. I wonder if banana or maple syrup might be super yummy. You can make lactation baked good anything!!!
So glad you like them! And yes, you can definitely cut back on the sugar. Even using coconut sugar!
Hello! I am so excited to try this recipe. It looks delicious. I do have a question; I was not able to find ground hemp seed but rather hulled hemp seed. I’d this okay to use? Or should I use hemp seed powder? Thank you!
Yes! Hulled works too! Great source of protein and Omega’s!
Instead of an egg, I made a flax egg by adding 3 tbs water to the tbs of flax seed to make them vegan. Turned out great. Now I just hope they work!
Oh that is so good to know! That would make these vegan! Glad to hear a flax egg works as a substitute!
Hi, my cookies are crumbly and crispy and look almost like granola. I used 1 and 1/2 cups rolled oats as stated and my coconut oil was solid at room temp and hard after refrigeration. Your photos of the cookies don’t look like they have the same amount of oats mine did- were your oats chopped? They taste good but I don’t know what I did wrong. Thanks!
Oh darn! Sorry yours didn’t turn out! I use the organic old fashioned rolled oats from trader joe’s. They’re not cut, they’re the big flat kind. Glad they still taste good!
Mine was crumbly when i took it out of the fridge. I used my hands to form balls, so my body heat softened them up. Baked perfectly
Glad they turned out! Thanks Jordan! You’re sharing such great tips!
I remember loving this recipe while breastfeeding and wanted to make some for a friend who just had a baby. Would it work to sub a gf flour blend or whole wheat for the all purpose? What about subbing honey for the sugar? I’m not much of a baker so I never know what things will affect the end result…
Aw! What a great friend you are! Yes, any GF flour blend will work as a substitution. Yes, you can sub honey too! Just use the same amount as the recipe calls for with your substitutions.
These lactation cookies are amazing. They work sooo well. In fact, too well!! I had to ration myself which was hard to to because all I wanted to do was stuff my face with them! I’ve recommended them to a few of my friends who are struggling with low supply starting out and they are huge fans as well. Even my husband says these are his new favorite cookie. Once I assured him he wouldn’t start lactating he was happy to dig in. He even requested them for Christmas this year! Thanks for sharing!
Yeah! I’m so glad you like them! They really do work. And hey, you’re a new momma, I think you deserve a few extra cookies : ) Thank you so much for making my recipe and letting me know you liked it! Means the world! Congrats on your baby! You’re doing great Momma!
Thank you very much for sharing this recipe! When I had to go dairy-free I was really struggling with my milk supply. This was very helpful. Thanks!
I really hope this helps Brandi! You’re doing great momma!
What if I don’t have brewers yeast? I am wanting to make these and I looked around town, no one carries brewers yeast. I know I can order online but what if I left it out?
Brewers yeast is what boosts the milk supply! You can leave it out, will still by yummy cookies. I’d replace the brewers yeast with flour. Otherwise, order online for the full lactation boosting benefits.
If you need a milk boost in a jif, try a stout beer like Guinness!
These are amazing!!! I rarely ever comment on blogs but felt it necessary :) Thanks for the great recipe. I’ll probably make them even when I’m no longer nursing!
I’m so glad you liked them Kelsey! This made my day! Means so much you took the time to let me know you liked my recipe. I have a new little one too (2 months old), and am enjoying these cookies on the regular again. I make them when I’m not nursing too, ha! I just replace the nutritional yeast with flour.
Thank you for this recipe! My supply just dropped and I’ve been so down…. I am dairy free and soy free for my little guy, and I am allergic to wheat, gluten, and corn. Would almond flour be a good substitution for the all purpose flour?
So glad you found my recipe! I really hope these cookies help, they help me a ton when my supply needs a boost. I’m due with my 2nd in the next 2 weeks, so these cookies are going to be back in the rotation very soon!
My favorite gluten free flour blend is by King Arthur Flour, this one: https://amzn.to/2tcoriz
It doesn’t have gluten, wheat or corn so hopefully it will work with your diet.
Also, eat a lot of oatmeal! When I needed a supply boost I had these overnight oats for breakfast and noticed a huge difference: https://www.tasteslovely.com/vanilla-almond-overnight-oatmeal-with-blueberries/
Any recommendations for no oats? I am gluten free but also allergic to oats. :(
Hmmmm, you have me a little stumped. Maybe brown rice flour?
The first time I made these they spread out extremely thin and the thin crispy edges made them a mess to eat. They were still delicious though, so I devoured them embarrassingly fast giving me the opportunity to make another batch with some changes.
The second time around I only used 3/4 cup of coconut oil and upped the flour to 1 cup, and the oats to 1 3/4 cup and they came out perfect.
I’m about to have baby #2 and will be needing these cookies for sure! Can’t wait to start making them again. Glad you found a ratio that worked perfectly for you. Best of luck with your little one and keeping your milk supply up. You’re doing great momma!
Thank you and congratulations! I had my second on May 3rd. :)
Congratulations Maggie! I’m due with my second on June 29! So soon! It just get’s easier with 2, right? *wink* Hahaha! Hope you love the cookies and they help your milk supply as much as they help mine!
These are awesome. I used sprouted flour instead of regular and coconut sugar instead of white and brown regular. I ate a lot of these the first few days my little one arrived and she gained her birth weight back in a week. I did start over producing a bit so I backed off the cookies and got back to optimal production. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!!!
Yea! I am so glad you liked them Emily! And over producing is a great excuse to get a real big freezer stash going ;-)
Just made these. In oven as I type ;) My son has ACID REFLUX as well. But I couldn’t find dairy free chocolate chips at walmart! :( I’ve been trying hard to cut out dairy but it’s more of a challenge then I thought. Any tips?!
Cutting out dairy and really acidic foods helped my baby a ton. We also put him on baby Zantac. He still has issues with dairy. When he eats dairy, he has really loose stools and throws up sometimes. I think it gives him heartburn. So no dairy for us! I transitioned him to my homemade almond milk when I weaned him off breastmilk. He loves it! No issues at all. Just make sure you baby doesn’t have a nut allergy first.
And I have a TON of dairy free recipes for you! https://www.tasteslovely.com/category/recipes/dairy-free/
Best of luck momma! You’re doing great!
Are the flax and hemp seed necessary or can I leave them out? Thanks!
Not necessary, you can leave them out if you don’t have any on hand and want to make the cookies right away. But if you can, get them! Adds tons of nutrients!
Thanks so much for these! I am dairy free for my little one right now, and at the 7 month mark my supply started to go down. I made these (with nutritional yeast) and my supply boosted! Thanks so much, just made another batch.
Delish cookies……. My son is allergic to eggs, so i replace it with some coconut milk. I find that every time i make them, some cookies go missing. Lol