It only took me FIVE BABIES to discover the magic of lactation cookies, but I have arrived! Lactation cookies are the perfect breastfeeding snack, and they are a guilt-free way to eat cookies. Hard to feel bad about an extra dessert or seven when it’s helping you feed your baby, you know?
I tried this recipe, loved it, and then decided to make it my own. So, without further ado (because those recipe blogs with 5,000 words before the recipe! DRIVE! ME! CRAZY!), here’s my perfect lactation cookie recipe:
Perfect Lactation Cookies
- 3 Tbsp flax seed (key for making milk)
- 1/3 c water
- 1 cup browned butter (BROWN YOUR BUTTER. IT IS AMAZEBALLS).
- 1.5 cups brown sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 Tbsp cinnamon
- ¼ cup brewer’s yeast (also a galactagogue)
- 2 cup flour
- 2.5 cup rolled oats (another key lactation food)
- 1 cup raisins (obviously 2 cups of chocolate chips would be better, but for some reason, my babies can’t tolerate chocolate– it’s tragic)
- 1 cup shredded coconut (coconut is controversial– if you hate it, skip it. Maybe throw in some more raisins?)
- Preheat oven to 350. Line 3 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix flax seed in water, set aside.
- Brown the butter by melting it in a light-colored pan until it turns brown and smells nutty.
- Combine butter and sugar in mixer. Add egg yolk, vanilla, almond, and flax sludge. Mix.
- Add baking soda, cinnamon, yeast, and flour. Mix until combined. (most people would tell you to, like, sift these together in a separate bowl first, but I just throw them in one at a time usually while the mixer is still running.)
- Add oats, raisins, and coconuts.
- Drop onto prepared cookie sheets. Cook for 7-9 mins.
Devour. Maybe with a cup of lactation tea? (while I do love Mother’s Milk tea, I am a firm milk-and-cookies basically always)
I am not going to lie to you: I make lactation cookies weekly. I like the original recipe I linked above, this one, and one more: eliminate the raisins and coconut and add a cup of peanut butter– so, so good!
Other breastfeeding hacks besides tea and cookies:
- Drink at least 12 ounces of water every time you nurse the baby. It can be hard to remember to take care of yourself, so use the strategy of pairing to make sure both of you stay hydrated.
- Do not watch the clock. As long as your baby is peeing and pooping and sleeping (sort of), they are probably getting enough milk. Frequent feedings are fine and don’t mean your milk supply is low. Feed on demand because breastfeeding is all about supply and demand.
- Newborns loooove the football hold, which is a great way to get a deeper latch.
- Nipple cream is your BFF.
- These bras are great.
- This breast pump is amazing– affordable, so easy to use, and incredibly convenient. You just stick it on one side and leave it there to catch the let down and any drips while your baby eats on the other side. I also adore a plain old single hand pump. You can use on one side while your baby eats on the other. Both of these are such a quick and unobtrusive way to build a stash.
- Ask for help! Your friends, your baby’s doctor, a lactation consultant, your local La Leche League, the interwebs— all of these resources are there for you.
Since I am writing this WHILE NURSING (because I do just about everything WHILE NURSING these days), I am deep in the breastfeeding trenches. Give me all of your best hacks in the comments, please. I’d love to hear your tips, tricks– and even recipes– for making breastfeeding your baby as simple and enjoyable as possible.
