Lactation Cookies (Oatmeal Chocolate Chip)
Bake up a special treat for the breastfeeding mothers in your life. Full of milk-boosting galactagogues, these lower-sugar easy homemade Lactation Cookies are delicious and beneficial! Don’t take it from me – take it from all the reviews stating this is the best lactation cookie recipe!

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Seven years ago, I shared this post for a lactation cookie recipe. I had been making them for friends and then started making them by request for other mothers in my neighborhood. Since I was baking so many batches, I thought I’d share the recipe – and had no idea that it would soon become one of the all-time most popular recipes on Bunsen Burner Bakery.
But I guess it makes sense because even if only a small subset of you are actually lactating, we all probably know someone who is. A friend, a family member, or a coworker. Your sister or niece or daughter. A neighbor, another mother in your child’s preschool class, a friend from the gym.
And thus, this recipe grew and grew – and it is high time for an update! New photos, new helpful tips, but the same great recipe that has been made tens of thousands of times and has over 800 5-star reviews.
While my own breastfeeding journies are over (once combined nursing and pumping with an undersupply, once exclusively pumping with a slight oversupply), I vividly remember all the challenges and struggles.
So here’s a virtual high five to all my fellow lactating mamas — whether your experience was wonderful and you nursed for 2 years, or your experience was challenging and ended after 2 weeks — you did a great job. You are awesome.
So why not celebrate your breastfeeding friends by baking them a batch of these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies? New moms deserve a treat.

Galactagogues = Helping Milk Production
What exactly ARE lactation cookies anyway (and do they even work)? Lactation cookies are full of galactagogues. Some people swear they work; others say no way.
Kitchen Chemistry
Galactagogues are substances that help increase mammalian milk production. Galactagogues can be synthetic prescription medications or natural food substances.
Common galactagogues include oatmeal, fenugreek, brewer’s yeast, marshmallow root, blessed thistle, alfalfa leaves, fennel, and goat’s rue. I took all of these in combination for months to boost my supply, in addition to “power hour” pumping sessions, pumping in the middle of the night, and nursing as frequently as I could on weekends.
Most women, however, don’t have quite as big of an issue with supply as I did. Lactation cookies include some of the aforementioned galactagogues in smaller doses, with the goal of adding a little supply boost.
My issue with most lactation cookie recipes is that they are really just… cookies. An oatmeal chocolate chip cookie batter with 1 tablespoon of flaxseed divided among 2 dozen cookies is really just a cookie. Breastfeeding hanger is REAL, so if you want a cookie, have a cookie!
But if we’re going to convince ourselves that it’s a beneficial cookie, don’t we want it to be overflowing with galactagogues? But inversely – we still want it to taste good, right? If it’s not enjoyable to eat, why bother?
After baking over two dozen test trials, I finally settled on what I’m declaring to be the BEST lactation cookies! It has less sugar than my typical oatmeal cookie recipe (but it’s still a cookie – definitely not a health food!).
I’ve packed it full with as much oatmeal, brewer’s yeast, and flaxseed as possible without severely impacting flavor. And of course, I added a few chocolate chips because… obviously.

Lactation Cookie Recipe Ingredients
Most of the ingredients are what you’d find in normal chocolate chip cookies: butter, sugar, flour, eggs, etc.
Let’s talk about what makes these lactation cookies — and where to find some of these ingredients!
- Oats: Oats contain iron, which can help increase milk supply. Use old-fashioned rolled oats, not instant oatmeal.
- Flaxseed: Flaxseed contains both omega-3 fatty acids and phytoestrogens which are thought to boost milk production. Flaxseed can be purchased as whole seeds or pre-ground; you can grind whole seeds yourself in a coffee grinder but I just buy the already ground flaxseed.
- Brewer’s yeast: Brewer’s yeast is one of the most widely known galactagogues, containing iron, zinc, complex B vitamins, and magnesium. Brewer’s yeast is not the same as baker’s yeast. Brewer’s yeast can be purchased at some health food stores, but I purchase mine directly from Amazon.
Step by Step Instructions
- Prep your ingredients. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Measure out all your ingredients. This is especially important when working with sticky ingredients like flaxseed meal and brewer’s yeast.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.


- Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the oatmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, flaxseed, and brewer’s yeast. This ensures that the brewer’s yeast and flaxseed meal are evenly distributed, so you get the full benefit in every bite.


- Bring It All Together: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Fold in the almond butter and chocolate chips. The dough will be thick, so don’t be afraid to use a little muscle!



- Scoop and Bake: Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded dough balls onto your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown but the centers are still soft. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.


How Many Lactation Cookies Should You Eat?
This is a common question I am asked a lot. The answer is that there is no real answer.
Lactation cookies are just that… cookies! It’s not a regulated FDA medication with a set dosage. Not every woman responds to galactagogues, and those who do respond differently. Women have different needs when it comes to increasing supply; some are looking to boost one or two ounces per day, while some are hoping to up by 10 ounces.
My advice is to start with one or two and see if it helps. I will say, however, that I had a friend eat a dozen all at once and then say she pumped 11 oz more than ever before the next day!

Other Ways to Make More Milk
Let’s start with: I am not a lactation consultant. But I do have lots of experience building my own supply, so I’ll share. I get a lot of questions on this post about non-cookie ways to make more milk.
- Nurse or pump often. Milk production is supply and demand based; the more you remove milk, the more milk your body thinks it needs to make.
- Fully drain your breast each time. Leaving a little milk behind gives your body the memo that it doesn’t need to make enough. If you’re pumping at work with a great supply, you can get away with a 15 minute pump session. But if you’re really looking to boost your supply, keep pumping.
- Power pump a few times a week. Power pumping mimics a cluster feeding session. Pump for 10-20 minutes, rest 10 minutes, pump another 10 minutes, rest 10 minutes, pump another 10 minutes.
- Feed or pump in the wee hours of the morning. This one stinks, but your body produces the most milk in the middle of the night. I could pump 3x more milk at 4:30am than I can at noon, or 6pm, or midnight.
- Spend time with your baby! Skin to skin contact is really played up in the hospital, but the benefits extend well after you come home. Trying to boost your supply? Hold your baby as much as possible. Do skin to skin. If you’re pumping, pump while holding your baby.

Common Questions about Lactation Cookies
Absolutely! The chocolate chips just add flavor and can be substituted with chopped nuts, shredded coconut, or dried fruit (like cherries, cranberries, blueberries, or raisins).
These cookies freeze perfectly. Once cooled, transfer to a freezer-safe airtight bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
No! Don’t worry, dads – there’s nothing harmful about eating these cookies if you’re not lactating, aside from having to tell your wife you ate all her cookies. It’s a good thing you have this lactation cookie recipe now so you can bake her more.
I purchase my brewer’s yeast and ground flaxseed directly from Amazon for easy delivery, but you can usually find one or both at health food stores as well.
Looking for an allergy friendly lactation cookie made without dairy, soy, eggs, nuts, or gluten? Check out my Allergy Friendly (Vegan, Gluten-Free) Lactation Cookie recipe!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies
Bake up a special treat for the breastfeeding mothers in your life. Full of milk-boosting galactagogues, these lower-sugar Lactation Cookies are delicious and beneficial!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 grams) butter, room temperature
- 1 cup (213 grams) brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup (99 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) all purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 1/3 cup brewer’s yeast
- 2 tablespoons almond butter (substitute in peanut butter or leave out altogether)
- 3 cups (267 grams) old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups (255 grams) chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F. Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
- Using a mixer, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla.
- Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, flaxseed, and brewer’s yeast. Add this to the mixing bowl and beat until just combined.
- Add the almond butter (optional) and oatmeal, mixing again until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Drop 1.5 tablespoons of dough onto the lined cookie sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown. Cookies will puff up a bit in the oven; if you prefer flatter cookies, press down on the top of each cookie with the underside of a spatula. Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store cookies in an air-tight container for up to a week; cookies will keep frozen for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Brewer's yeast is not the same as baker's yeast! Brewer's yeast can be purchased at some health food stores or directly from Amazon.
- Lactation cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week or frozen in a an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Lactation cookies are not an FDA regulated food; there is no "serving size" or guideline for how many to eat. Start with 2 or 3 a day and see if it helps your supply!
- Remember - you're doing an awesome job!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 208Total Fat: 9.4gCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 4.5g

This recipe was originally posted on August 4, 2016 and republished with updated pictures and helpful tips on August 4, 2022.
This is such a great idea that I have been hearing more and more about lately from girlfriends. I am going to have to try these for all the new moms that I know! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, J! These are easy to make gluten free and the new moms in your life would be so appreciative.
So many women I know have problems as a new mom breastfeeding…. thanks for bringing some awareness and a yummy cookie for me to share when needed!
Thanks, Michele! Awareness is always a good thing – I can’t imagine how much harder it must be if someone thinks she’s alone in her struggles.
A couple years ago, I went to visit my BFF when she had her second baby. Her sister happened to also have just had a baby, her first, and was having a hard time with her supply. I was there for a week and decided to bake some lactation cookies for her and, surprisingly, wound up with a pretty decent cookie using lots of brewer’s yeast without compromising taste too much. Who knows if they REALLY worked, but after eating several of my cookies, she was able to pump more than she had been!
Oh, and really great point about breastfeeding not REALLY being free. Although I am so grateful that insurance paid for my pump and I haven’t had to spend money on supplements, I will definitely be in that “lonely” category when I go back to work in 3 weeks. I’ve been in the pumping room at work. It’s got a lock on the door, a comfy chair, and a small refrigerator. But it’s still a lonely little room with brick walls, no window, and on the opposite side of the building from where I work. In a hallway that only has 2 offices and whose occupants are rarely inside them. Plus, I’ll be taking 2 maybe 3 extra breaks to get the pumping done, meaning pausing my experiments and lab work which is stressful and can be time consuming.
All this to say– you rock for this recipe (and for the DELISH samples!! xoxo) and all moms rock, BF or not. This is hard work. Add BF to the equation and I wonder why the world doesn’t have more women walking around with superhero capes on all the time.
Just saw this comment – sorry I missed it, Lynn! Yes, the pumping and science-ing is SO hard. I felt like I couldn’t do half of the experiments I needed to get done the 10 months I pumped at work, because they just took too long. No, I can’t walk to another building, spend 6 hours running one experiment without a break, and still pump enough the rest of the day. Sorry, can’t go to the all-day grant meeting unless arrangements are made for a pumping location. By the end, I had to prioritize science first, and my pumping definitely tanked.
It’s a different rant for a different day, but it KILLS me that postdoc grants are applicable for only X number of years since you start your postdoc, and the only “additional time” you get are the exact number of days you were on maternity leave. So many women I know stop breastfeeding when they go back to work, because they realize they can’t keep up the experiments they need to get their own grants and pump at the same time. Having tried myself – it’s absolutely true.
I am definitely bookmarking these, as I am 6 months pregnant. Thanks for sharing!
Congratulations, Dannii! Definitely keep lactation cookies in the back of your mind should you need them. Enjoy the wild ride! 🙂
How many should you have a day?
Lactation cookies aren’t like vitamins, with a set number to take in a day. Everyone reacts differently, and everyone is looking for different results — some people just want an extra ounce or two as a boost, or are looking to maintain supply if baby is on a bit of a nursing strike; some people are hoping to increase milk production by many ounces. Start with 2 or 3 cookies a day and you can always try adding in a few more.
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Is that 2 tsps of vanilla essence
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
I made these for my SIL and she’s a big fan! I got just shy of 3 dozen cookies and vacuum sealed them in 4 batches so she could freeze some for later. Thanks so much for sharing!
So glad to hear that, Ashley! Such a good idea to give them pre-sealed for freezing!!
I made these tonight and they are delicious, let’s see if they help! My baby is 5 months old and I’m EBF but my frozen stash for when I’m at work is slowly dwindling… trying to find things to help me pump more milk!
Good luck, Alyssa! Worrying about not having enough milk is SO stressful, so I hope these help!!
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Just made a second batch of these! They are amazing and I noticed with my first batch an increase in my supply 🙂
Side note I froze a dozen from the first batch and went from freezer to oven not a good idea. So if you freeze bring to room temp before baking!
Thank you so much for sharing it’s now a monthly staple in my baking
Oh good, I’m so glad to hear that they helped your supply!! And thanks for your tip on bringing to temperature before baking – I’ve frozen them after baking, but never tried to bake the dough so this is super helpful!
Can anyone weigh in on baking with quick cook oats vs. old-fashioned rolled out? I have a mega-pack of GF quick cook oats in the house anyway, and would prefer not to have to track down separate oats for baking. But I NEVER do oatmeal cookies so have no idea the impact that would have!
Thanks!
Hi Megan! There won’t be a big difference in taste between using quick cook oats and old fashioned oats, but there is a difference in texture. Quick cooking oats will be much softer than the rolled oats, and the cookies tend to spread a bit more and be flatter (and thus not as fluffy and chewy). If they spread too much, you can try baking them in muffin tins which will at least keep them round and an even size!
Thank you! I found your recipe in Google.
I’ll definitely make these cookies.
I came across this when I was looking for lactation cookie recipes. This seems to be the best one! Thanks for bringing awareness about this issue. Most people think it’s easy and don’t realize the struggle or the stress behind it. I loved the idea of baking these for breast feeding moms. It would definitely be a thoughtful gift.
Thanks, N! I definitely agree that the struggles are widely understood by the general public – I’m really glad I had friends to pave the way before me who gave me realistic expectations, and hope I can “pay it forward” by sharing some of my own journey!
Just baked a double batch for myself as I am just going back to work with a 3 month old! I’m hopeful! Their delicious, my 5 year old LOVES them
I hope your transition back to work is smooth!! I am quite sure my 3 year old will love these too, when I make a batch for myself before I return to work as well. 🙂
How many do you recommend to eat? Should we see results within a few hours from eating a couple?
Hi Celey — Since these are cookies, not an actual medical product, there’s not really a good answer. Things that affect how many you should eat or when to see results include your size (if you weigh 100 pounds vs 200 pounds, for example), whether you have an undersupply or a normal supply, what other galacatogues you may already be taking, etc. It’s so different for everyone, so I’d just suggest starting with 1 or 2 at a time and see if you get a boost in your supply, and if not, add in another. Good luck!!
I only have whole grain flax seed. Can I substitute it for the ground one?
Honestly, I don’t even know what whole grain flax seed is! I am a big fan of kitchen experimenting, so I’d vote to go ahead and give it a try!
You can grind your flax seeds in a coffee grinder
I’m 6 months pregnant and made a batch of these for my friends who just had a baby three weeks ago. I added 1.5 Tbs ground fenugreek and 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and they came out pretty tasty (also added a bit more nut butter to compensate for flavor and added dry ingredients). Thanks for posting this recipe. I plan on making myself a couple batches and sticking them in the freezer before I go into labor.
How long should the dough last in the freezer if I wanted to prep these beforehand?
Hi Marissa — If you wrap the dough well in plastic wrap and then store it in a freezer bag, the dough will last for several months. You’ll want to bring the dough up to room temperature again before baking.
Hi Julie, thanks for sharing the receipt. I’ve been looking to bake my own since I’m home on maternity leave. I wanted to know where I can buy the brewers yeast? I’m having a hard time looking for it. I keep running into the pills. Any suggestestions would be appreciated! I also want to add fenugreek and cinnamon as someone suggested they did. Any suggestions where I can also get fenugreek?
Thanks
Hi Lisa – Congratulations on the new baby! I buy my brewers yeast powder from Amazon, but nutritional supplement stores like GNC also carry it. Fenugreek and cinnamon are a little harder — I’d just add them in with caution. Cinnamon can affect *some* (but certainly not all) babies GI systems, making them gassy and fussier. Fenugreek can also decrease supply in *some* (but certainly not all) women, despite boosting supply in others. If you’ve already been taking fenugreek and are one of the women it helps, great! (Although it definitely has a strong flavor, so it will alter the taste of the cookies.) But just be aware that it may decrease your supply — the only way to tell is trial and error. Personally when I was battling low supply, I took capsule form of all the supplements and tracked how much I could pump at work, adding in one new supplement every 2 weeks so I could get a good feel for whether it increased or decreased my supply. Good luck!!!
Thank you for this recipe! Would you mind sharing what brand of brewer’s yeast you purchase? There are so many random options and I’d like to make sure I use the correct ingredients. Thank you!!
Hi Gloria! I use the NOW brand brewers yeast, which I purchase from Amazon. https://amzn.to/2nWQ8JK
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Can you leave out the brewers yeast?
Hi Laura — Brewers yeast is one of the important galactagogues, so the milk-making properties of the cookies may decrease without it. But there’s nothing necessary about it for the structure of the cookie, so if you’re unable to consume yeast, you can leave it out and the cookies will still turn out just fine!
I made these but forgot to add the brewers yeast lol (mom brain) will they still work? I’m thinking they will since they have the oats and flaxseed. Lmk your thoughts. Thanks!
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Due to no help and low finances I didn’t survive but 4 days breastfeeding! 🙁 Very devastated over my loss of breastfeading!
It is hard! But I am determined to get the support I need and find some help for the next baby I have!
I am gonna save this recipe and hopefully I will get to use it! Thanks for sharing!
Hi, thanks for sharing this recipe! I can’t have flax, if I eliminate it, do you think it will change the effectiveness or consistency of the cookie?
Hi Barb, Flaxseed does help a little, but the brewer’s yeast and oats are the man heavy-hitters when it comes to lactation, so you can certainly try leaving it out. It won’t affect the final consistency or flavor of the cookie!
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Can the oatmeal be made into a powder, then added? I don’t like extra lumps and bumps in my cookies.
Hi Jennifer – I’ve never tried it like this; it may make the cookies too dry if the oatmeal is ground up (acting like doubling the flour). You may need to add extra egg or other liquid if the dough is too dry.
Can you substitute the oats out for regular oatmeal? Cause I have a ton of it and was hoping i could use it for these cookies?
Hi Xena — I’m not sure what “regular” oatmeal is. This uses just plain standard oatmeal, so what I’d consider to be regular oatmeal. Do you mean the instant oatmeal packets?
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These cookies ade delicious!! I am breastfeeding a 3 month old and my supply is slow!! I am hoping these will help. I substituted the brewers yeast with regular yeast and only did half of what the recipe called for. Will this make a big difference? They taste fine but taste is not what im looking for. I want to make more milk! I will post again in a few days 🙂
Hi Ruby! Regular yeast and brewers yeast work differently, so you’ll want to use brewer’s yeast in the cookies. Nothing at all dangerous/troublesome about normal yeast, but it won’t have the milk-boosting effect you’re looking for. Good luck with your breastfeeding journey!
Hi. Can I substitute almond flour for regular unbleached flour?
Hi Stacie — Almond flour doesn’t have the same hydration and binding as regular flour, so I wouldn’t do a full substitution. I’d start with replacing 1/3 of the all purpose flour with almond flour, and if the cookies still hold together and the texture is right, try half and half for the next batch.
Hi Julie. I could not find brewers yeast anywhere and really want to make these. Can I use nutritional yeast? Does it have any of the same galactagogues? If not I’ll order it online but I have nutritional yeast in the cupboard and would love to try them today 🙂
Hi Autumn — Unfortunately, brewers yeast is NOT the same as nutritional yeast (which is not a galactagogue at all). I’m not sure where you are located, but sometimes you can find powdered brewers yeast at Whole Foods or other supplement stores if that might get it to you faster than ordering online! Good luck!!
I used Chia Seeds instead of Flax, but my cookies didn’t seem to bind together very well. I baked them for 12 minutes. Should I try baking them longer or do you think it’s because I used chia instead of flax?
Hmm, I’m not sure! I’ve never substituted chia seeds instead of flax, but flax seeds do definitely contribute to the binding properties, so this may be why they don’t hold together as well. You could always try adding an extra egg to your batter if you want to use chia seeds instead.
Making these cookies once I get the brewer’s yeast from Amazon next Monday. Is the butter salted or unsalted?
You’ll want to use unsalted butter. Hope the lactation cookies work for you!
These cookies not only taste absolutely delicious, they really work to help me increase my milk supply! I’ve made these 3 times in like 1 week because my husband thinks they’re delicious too! I definitely recommend using the peanut butter or almond butter. It pairs so well with the yeast. The yeast flavor almost makes these more rich tasting. I love these! My morning pump session has doubled in the time I have started eating these; helping me to relax more about going back to work! Thank you so much for this recipe!
So glad they are working for you, Danielle! Good luck with your transition back to work, and awesome job with the pumping. 🙂
Hey I tried the recipe but for some reasons my cookies never melted out of the balls when I added them to the oven, do you know what would cause this?
Just wanted you to know I made a batch of these and then pumped a record 10 ounces!
Hello! I was wondering if I can substitute butter with coconut oil and if so, would the quantity stay the same?
Thank you!
Hi Genevive! Coconut oil has a much lower melting temperature, so the cookies will not hold their shape – they will become very flat and the dough will run like cake batter. If you want to use coconut oil, I’d try baking them in muffin tins so the cookies come out round-ish with some height, instead of thin and flat like a pancake!
These cookies are amazing! They taste so good and have helped my supply tremendously! Thank you for sharing!!
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Can anyone tell what happens to the properties of these cookies if I freeze them already baked or freeze the dough?
I want to make sure they’re still effective once de thawed. Thanks!
Freezing won’t alter the properties of the galactagogues any more than baking them does!
I love your cookies and ate them all the time with my last baby but this one has a dairy sensitivity so I can’t have the butter. I saw you don’t recommend using coconut oil as a substitute. Is there anything you do recommend using? I sooo want another batch of these cookies?!
Hi Liz! You can use coconut oil, you just can’t bake them on a cookie sheet, because they’ll spread too much. Options are either to use a dairy-free butter substitute, like margarine, or bake them in muffin tins, which will yield a thicker, slightly chewier cookie, but still have a cookie shape. If you use coconut oil on a cookie sheet, they’ll spread super super thin and flat and get very crunchy, since the coconut oil has such a low melting temperature. You can see how the muffin tin works in my allergy-friendly lactation cookie recipe, here: https://www.bunsenburnerbakery.com/lactation-cookies-allergy-friendly-vegan-gf/
My little guy has a dairy sensitivity as well. I ended up using 1 cup of coconut oil and the cookies came out fine. They didn’t spread out, just stayed in a ball which I didn’t mind. I had to really pack the batter tightly to place on the cookie sheet though. I baked them closer to 15 minutes.
Just had my little girl in August and Iove these so much! They help with supply and if your like me, help with a sweet tooth! Instead of chocolate chips I added butterscotch chips and they turned put amazing!!! Thank you so much for the recipe!
Butterscotch chips sounds like such a good addition. Congrats on the new arrival, Lisa!
Do I have to make all 36 at once then freeze them? Or can I make a dozen then keep the dough in the fridge or freezer?
You can keep the dough in the freezer! I would only keep in in the fridge for 48-72 hours before making the cookies, but you can freeze the dough for up to 3 months before making the cookies!
Thank you for this recipe! I just finished eating 3 of these cookies and they were great. My 2 year old even took one. I will update if these cookies work for me, as nothing has helped my supply. I have an almost 3 week old who is demanding and I often find myself not having enough for her and have to use formula. I tried Mother’s Milk tea and feel like it actually decreased my supply!! I had problems with my first so I’m determined this time around
I hope they help! Some of the commonly used herbs like fenugreek (no idea what is in Mother’s Milk tea) can decrease supply in some women, which is why it’s generally recommended to not start taking them until your supply regulates sometime after 12-16 weeks postpartum. (Everything in these cookies should be safe to start taking right away and should not decrease supply.) Good luck!!!
So my first daughter wouldn’t latch and I had to exclusively pump,so after I had my second daughter I was over the moon when I would actually be able to nurse and have the bond I felt I missed out on with her sister! However, I started worrying that I wasn’t making enough milk after about 7 weeks,so I decided to try these. They were super easy to make and my four year old loved helping make them (and even ate one!). We had to drive to four different stores to find brewer’s yeast (and it wasn’t debittered, so that may have attributed to the taste)…but it was well worth it! The cookies are alright,mine were really dry but they could taste like dog food for all I care BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY HELPED! I’m actually having to pump to get the extra milk out in between feedings! Thank you so so much for this recipe,and I love how it’s easily customizable as well and doesn’t contain a bazillion obscure ingredients!These were a life saver and I’m only eating two a day but will definitely make more!
I’m so glad they’ve helped, Steph! I wrote this post many years ago after only having my first, but I’ve since had a second child who had quite a few oral motor issues, so I had to exclusively pump for her, so I’ve been on both sides of the roller coaster. I pumped a LOT with my son because I had low supply, so I thought I was prepared, but OMG EPing was SO MUCH MORE WORK. But instead of the undersupply I had the first time around, I had an oversupply! I’m glad you’re able to get the nursing experience you wanted this time around and I hope you have a successful and fulfilling journey!
I recently made these and wanted to love them. The only problem was that they tasted overwhelmingly of brewers yeast! I only ate a couple. Has anyone else has this problem?? Maybe because I didn’t add any nut butter??
Hmmm, sorry to hear you felt that way, Katie! I’ve made them with and without nut butter and never felt like the brewers yeast was the overpowering flavor, but everyone’s taste buds are more or less sensitive, and maybe yours are more sensitive while breastfeeding? (I can’t stomach any peanut butter while lactating – the flavor is way too overpowering for reasons I can’t explain – so maybe brewers yeast is like that for you?) Sorry they didn’t work out for you!
I’m not a HUGE fan of oatmeal and I’ve been trying to find recipes that incorporate brewers yeast and flaxseed but do not have oatmeal. I cannot find anything! I’m wondering if I leave out the oatmeal, would I need to adjust the amount of any other ingredients? Do you happen to have any other recipes to help increase supply that aren’t oatmeal cookies? Maybe sugar or peanut butter cookies? Brownies?
Hi Cassie! You’re probably finding oatmeal in all the recipes because oatmeal is a galactagogue as well – so since it also provides a milk-making boost, and most people don’t mind oatmeal in cookies, it’s usually added in there as well. Without the oatmeal, the dough will be too soft, so add in an extra 1.5 cups of flour (so 3 cups of flour total) and check the cookies a little earlier, maybe around 8 minutes instead of 10 minutes to see if they’re done.
If the texture of the oats is bothering you, you could try using oat flour instead of regular white flour so you are still getting the benefits of the oats. I used both oats and oat flour in my cookies and they were still really good
Julie, thank you so much for taking the time to craft this amazing recipe! It is fabulous, and I’m sure having two or three cookies a day is keeping my supply up. Since starting on them I’ve rarely had one of those times when I feel ‘empty’ and my eight-month-old boy fusses.
I’ve done a range of substitutes and they come out great every time! I’ve switched half a cup of the white flour with wholemeal, a half a cup of whole flax instead of half a cup of oats, halved the choc chips (I went dark) and added a some chopped dried apricots and candied ginger.
I still love the original recipe (with lots of milk choc chips) but also love that it’s a great base recipe that can be tweaked for variety. Wonderful!
Do you add choc chips to combat some of the taste from the brewers yeast? I made them without choc chips and the taste of beer from the yeast is almost overwhelming.. it tingles the back of my throat. Are they supposed to have that taste?
I’ve never made them without chocolate chips so it’s possible the chocolate masks the taste. In the chocolate version, they taste very similar to regular chocolate chip cookies! I’ve had so many friends say their husbands ate half the batch and had no idea they weren’t just a normal cookie.
Instead of just chocolate chips I also added coconut and pecans (up to the 1 1/2 cup recommendation for chocolate chips). Mm! So good!
Ooooh coconut and pecans sound like such delicious additions!
This recipe is awesome. I don’t even like oatmeal cookies much to begin with, I’m a regular chocolate chip cookie gal, so with the addition of flax seed and brewer’s yeast I had low expectations for whether I would actually like the taste of these cookies. But they are delicious! I don’t eat nuts so I used sunflower seed butter instead of a nut butter and I really like how they came out!
I’m so glad you like these, Maia!!
Is there a way to make these cookies with the brewers yeast but for them not to taste like beer? I hate the taste of beer and it made me so sick.
I’m sorry you can taste the brewers yeast! I’m not sure what else can mask the flavor – I’m guessing your EXTRA sensitive to the taste, since so many of these other reviews comment on how they don’t taste the brewers yeast at all!
I bought “Mommy Knows Best” brand brewers yeast which smells very light of yeast (not beer) and you can’t taste it. It says it’s been debittered. I add cinnamon as well and that helps tone down the yeast taste. But with this new yeast brand I can’t even taste the yeast at all so the cinnamon may not need to be added!!
Can I substitute steel cut oats for rolled oats?
Hi Emily — I’ve never tried baking with steel cut oats in cookies, so unfortunately I can’t give a direct answer. Maybe if you grind them up in a food processor first? If you try, let me know how it worked out!
Well, they taste great!! I feel like they’re fairly healthy too for a cookie. I didn’t have the brewers yeast in time, and I used 1c whole wheat flour and only 1/2C white flour. I was also going to reduce the sugar, but it looked like it was already reduced some, so I let it go and followed the recipe. Yum!! These are really delicious, hold their shape well when baking. And thank you fot the freezer tip! I got 55 cookies!!!
I’m so glad you liked these, Jessica!
I lovedddd these cookies and think they did help with my supply somewhat. My baby is now 13 months old and I’m trying to wean. Do I simply take out brewers yeast and flax seed? Do I need to replace them with something? Thanks so much!
Hi Jessie — congrats on completing your breastfeeding journey! If you want to keep making the cookies without the galactagogues, then yes, you can just eliminate the brewers yeast and flax seeds!
Do you know then nutritional information for these?
Hi Lauren — the nutrition information is listed right on the bottom of the recipe card.
I made these vegan with vegan butter an flaxseed eggs – even more flaxseed! They turned out amazing and I will absolutely be making them again!
The only change I made was using whole grain oat flour instead of regular flour. Very delicious, I only just made them today so I’m not sure of the effectiveness yet but the whole family has been enjoying them
Hi Julie!!
Just made these for my sweet neighbor, but they came out really hard on the outside! Are they supposed to be that way?
I added hemp seeds to it, so maybe they pulled too much moisture? Either way, they taste AMAZING, and hopefully they work for her, I know I will for sure be trying them for my next bb! Love the honesty of your post! BF is so super hard, and I’ve found feeding your baby is the best how ever a mama chooses. Support is best!
I haven’t had these turn out hard before – I’d guess it’s either the hemp seeds, or slightly overbaking. You can always try adding a little more moisture next time; maybe an additional egg yolk? I’m so glad they tasted good, and it’s so kind of you to make these for your neighbor – we need all the support we can get!
I loved these, and still do! My husband was also a big fan 😀 I’m vegan so I just used flax “eggs” (so even more flax!) and they taste great 🙂 they do fall apart a bit, but cookie crumble is amazing, too!
These cookies are DELICIOUS. Seriously some of the best cookies I’ve ever made. I’m 38 weeks pregnant so I decided to take a stab at some lactation cookies and I’m so happy I came across this recipe. My husband even had 3 last night and asked “so when do I start lactating?” 🙂 Great recipe.
Congratulations on your upcoming arrival! Wishing you a happy delivery experience and I hope the cookies help with milk production!
I’ve made theses many, many times. They’re my absolute favorite and I’ve sent the recipe to at least 5 other milk making mamas who have made and loved them as well. My only change is a personal preference of more peanut butter just because I love it so much and it doesn’t change the cookies except maybe make them a little softer in the centers. I’ve literally eaten a whole batch in 4 days when I was at the peak of my breastfeeding journey. Make them! It’s worth it!
Emilee, I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed them so much (and keep sharing the recipe!). More peanut butter sounds DELICIOUS!
Baked these tonight for my daughter who lives 723 miles away. She said she would like some lactation cookies. They are delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I bought some of those Munchkin brand Milk Makers cookies, and (when I remember to eat them) they seem to have helped me, so I went looking for a more cost-effective substitute and came across this recipe. Since I already have most of the ingredients (galactogogues aside lol) I figure I’ll give it a shot! I’ll update after I make them! My baby is 4 months and I’m producing just barely enough, but a really busy season is coming up in my office (tax time!) and I’d like to produce a bit more to have even a small freezer stash for him.
Update!
Finally made them. Only substitutes were peanut butter instead of almond, and butterscotch chips instead of chocolate. They taste fantastic!
Currently making these and they are turning out wonderfully. I did omit almond/peanut butter as recipe stated I could and they smell and taste wonderful 😀 I’m making these for my sister to drop off today.
Also wanted to include kind an Old-wives tale if any BF Mama’s are reading this- my sister’s lactation consultant told her other Mamas are swearing by blue Gatorade to help with supply- but didnt specify which blue flavor. The Lactation consultant didn’t see any harm in passing along the info to my sis as it would help her stay hydrated.
I liked these cookies cuz of all the great ingredients. However the brewers yeast just really threw it off. It tasted sour and odd even though it was debittered. I tired adding cinnamon powder and honey to mask it but no luck. I wish I had made the batch with less yeast instead of the called for amount. Maybe next time.
Hi!! I just made these with everything listed besides the peanut or almond butter. It came out a little too sweet for my taste. Is it alright to use less sugar and brown sugar?
Thoughts on freezing the dough? Would it last longer than freezing already baked cookies? And also nothing better than a fresh baked cookie!!
Hi Danielle – Freezing the dough will work fine! I’d scoop it into individual cookie portions, freeze these individually on a cookie sheet, and then transfer to a freezer-safe storage bag. Add a minute or two to the baking time if baking from frozen.
My batter turned out very dry because I reduced the sugar and ended up using smaller eggs. The cookies, as a result, are very dry. How do I fix this?
Hi Christina – Reducing the sugar or using small eggs will result in dry cookies. The sugar should not be reduced further in the recipe compared to what is written.
Tasty recipe! Successfully made it with coconut oil if anyone’s wondering. Melted the oil first, then added the brown sugar, eggs and vanilla (skipped the white sugar). Finished with the dry ingredients.
Made it exactly as the recipe calls for and they turned out so good! I usually buy the expensive lactation cookies at the store but wanted to save money. I’ll be making this recipe weekly from now on!
These taste amazing but I will say they don’t taste “lower sugar” to me! I found them extremely sweet, and I have a wicked sweet tooth. Next time will try them with 3/4 cup brown sugar and see if that helps.
These are tasty, thanks! Just a note about recipe yield: I made half batch and started with a 1.5T scoop …and would have gotten close to 3 dozen small (23g) cookies just like that! I yielded 16 3T scoop (all 45g) out of a half batch of the recipe, which is about the size of my normal chocolate chip cookies.
These are my favorite lactation cookies, both compared to store-bought and homemade and they have really helped my supply. However, forming three dozen cookies takes too much time with a new baby, so today I decided to make them into bars. Made as directed and spread in a 13 x 9 pan and added 10 minutes onto the baking time – game changer! These were just as good as the cookies and much quicker to make, cut, and set aside for later. You could even make them thinner if you wanted to use a 13 x 9 pan and maybe a bread pan for the excess. These are a staple and I’m so glad this recipe is available!
This is an amazing tip, Lyza – thank you for sharing and I hope others see this and use it!
I can’t thank you enough for putting the ingredients in grams! So many bloggers don’t do that and it’s such a pain trying to convert everything over. I know the recipe is gonna be perfect every time when I see it in grams. So thank you, thank you, thank you!
You’re welcome, Mariah! I always bake by weight with a scale and use grams, especially with baking because a cup of flour can vary so much based on how you scoop the flour. I’ve slowly been going back and testing my oldest (10+ years old!) posts to make sure they all use the proper gram measurements as well.