My kids love helping me in the kitchen and being able to teach them basic cooking skills is my favorite. I picture them in their own house knowing how to make spaghetti and meatballs or chocolate chunk cookies because we spent so much time doing them together when they were younger. These banana chocolate chip cookies are one of the recipes I know they will have memorized by the time they get their own place.

What Are Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies are a delicious breakfast or snack option that is packed with healthy nutrients like fiber, protein, and healthy fats. They are perfect for moms who need something filling to satisfy their hunger while nursing or anyone who just loves a good chocolate chip cookie! 

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious treat, these banana chocolate chip cookies are a great breakfast option, great for nursing moms, and easy to customize.

Looking for more lactation friendly recipes? Click here for a whole list of them!

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients 

Made with just a few simple ingredients, these cookies are easy to make and can be easily customized to your liking. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• Sugar– You will need both brown sugar and white sugar for this recipe. Use the measuring cup to scoop and pack your sugar.
• Butter– I used unsalted butter. Be sure to let the butter soften before using it in this recipe.
• Bananas– You will need about 2 medium-sized ripe bananas. Smash them up to make 1/2 a cup.
• Egg– Room temperature eggs work best when baking. Leave your egg out with the butter.
• Flour– Do not pack the flour. Instead, use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup and then level it off with a butter knife.
• Oats– You can use either quick oats or old-fashioned oats if you prefer chunkier cookies.
• Baking soda and powder– You will need both baking soda and baking powder. This is what makes your cookies rise.
• Vanilla– You can use pure vanilla extract or vanilla flavoring.
• Chocolate chips– I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you could use dark chocolate for more nutritional benefits. Dark chocolate is suggested for nursing moms!

How to Make Soft and Chewy Banana Cookies

This recipe is very simple and can be easily followed by anyone, even those with no baking experience. Here are the detailed instructions:

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Combine Butter and Sugar

In a large bowl combine butter and sugars. Beat on low with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Add Egg and Vanilla

Add the egg, vanilla and bananas. Mix on low until combined. Set aside.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate large bowl, combine sifted flour and baking soda, baking powder, salt, and oats. Whisk to combine.

Step 5: Combine Dry Ingredients and Wet Ingredients

Next, add the wet ingredients gradually to the dry ingredients. Add ½ or 1 cup at a time, beat on low until combined, and then continue with the next batch.

Step 6: Add Chocolate Chips

Fold in chocolate chips.

Step 7: Roll into Balls

Scoop 2 tablespoonfuls of dough and roll into balls. Then, arrange the cookie balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper at least 2 inches apart. Don’t press down!

Step 8: Bake the Cookies

Finally, bake the cookies for 11-13 minutes (the time varies due to different ovens).

Step 9: Let them Cool

Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

The cookies will have a quite soft center inside.

Once they cool down they will set well and the texture inside remains soft, with lots of banana flavor and buttery. Enjoy!

How Many Calories are in Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Depending on the size of your cookies and the other ingredients you choose to add, Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies can contain anywhere from 150 to 200 calories per cookie. This makes them a great treat or snack option that will keep you feeling satisfied without adding too many extra calories to your daily intake.

Are These Cookies Gluten-Free? 

No, these cookies are not gluten-free. If you want to make them gluten-free, you would need to use almond flour,  coconut flour, or another gluten-free flour. 

Are These Cookies Good for Breakfast?

Yes, these cookies are a great breakfast option! They are packed with fiber, and protein, and will keep you full until lunchtime. 

Lactation Friendly Cookies

These cookies are also great for nursing moms! The oats and chocolate chips (I suggest using dark chocolate) help to increase milk production, and the chocolate chips contain antioxidants that can help boost the immune system, as well as provide important nutrients like calcium and iron. I do suggest using dark chocolate and adding a tablespoon of ground flaxseed and Brewer’s yeast to the batter. This will create a powerful lactation cookie!

In addition, some research has found that consuming moderate amounts of dark chocolate may help increase breast milk production in nursing moms. If you are a nursing mother, you may want to try some of my other lactation-friendly cookies such as my No-Bake Lactation Energy Bites, or my Monster Lactation Cookies.

How to Store Leftovers

These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.

Can I Freeze Them? 

Yes, you can freeze these cookies. You can wrap them individually in plastic wrap and store them in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Other Cookies to Try

We love a good cookie in our house. Here are some other favorites to try:

• Starbucks Chocolate Chunk Cookies
• Espresso Cookies
• Double Chocolate Mint Crinkle Cookies
• Lemon Sugar Cookies

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yield: 16 cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 13 minutes

Total Time: 33 minutes

A soft and chewy cookie that is loaded with fiber, protein and healthy fats.

Print

Ingredients

• ½ cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 medium bananas)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 large egg
• 1 and ½ cup all purpose flour
• 2 cups quick oats or old fashioned oats for a more chunky cookie
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ - ¾ cup semi sweet chocolate chips (½ is usually enough but if you want to intensify banana chocolate flavor add 3/4 cup)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F.

In a large bowl combine butter and sugars. Beat on low with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and creamy.

Add egg, vanilla. Mix on low until combined. Set aside.

In a separate large bowl, combine sifted flour and baking soda, baking powder, salt, and oats. Whisk to combine and add to wet ingredients gradually. Add ½ or 1 cup at a time, beat on low until combined, and then continue with the next batch.

Mix until ingredients are almost combined.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Scoop 2 tablespoonfuls of dough and roll into balls.

Arrange the cookie balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper at least 2 inches apart. Don’t press down!

Bake for 11-13 minutes (the time varies due to different ovens).

The cookies will have a quite soft center inside. Once they cool down they will set well and the texture inside remains soft, lots of banana flavor and buttery.

Let cool in the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

Notes

Don’t substitute sugars. Both sugars should be used to get the best buttery and soft cookie. You can make these cookies only with white sugar, they will still taste good but there will be a
difference.

These cookies will refrigerate very well. Thaw and reheat in the oven. They taste very good when warm!

Did you make this recipe?

If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

Other lactation recipes to try:

I mentioned in the post that these banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies can easily be turned into a lactation cookie. You can also try some of my other lactation recipes here:

• Monster Lactation Cookies
• Lactation Brownies
• Pumpkin Lactation Bites
• Lactation Energy Bites

Did you make these cookies? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comments below. Want to make it later? Pin the image below to your favorite cookie board! THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!

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I think that there are 2 official signs of fall. The first is when Starbucks decides to release their fall menu at the end of August. That first sip of a pumpkin spice latte is the true sign that it’s fall. The second is when it’s “officially” fall according to the calendar. I go with the Starbucks schedule instead of the calendar.

Shortly after I had a pumpkin drink from the ‘bucks, I decided my lactation bites needed some fall flavor. My classic lactation bites are good, but these fall inspired pumpkin ones are even better!

What are pumpkin lactation bites?

Lactation bites are a healthy snack for nursing moms that can help increase their milk supply. They are packed with milk boosting ingredients, such as oats, flax and brewers yeast. All of the ingredients combine to create a no bake treat that is packed with necessary nutrients for new moms.

Even though they are called lactation bites, they are a healthy treat for the whole family. They are great in lunch boxes or for after school snacks. The same ingredients that help with lactation are also great for boosting energy for everyone. This pumpkin version takes a classic lactation cookie bite and adds some fall flavors. Lactation bites but make it fall.

Pumpkin lactation bite ingredients

The great thing about these lactation treats is that they are full of good-for-you ingredients, not only for new moms, but for everyone! These things are so good that the whole family will be snacking on them! To make these no bake lactation bites you will need:

• peanut butter
• honey
• pumpkin puree
• oats
• pumpkin pie spice
• chocolate chips
• pumpkin seeds
• flax seed
• brewers yeast

Peanut butter – You will want to use an unsweetened, creamy peanut butter for this recipe. The peanut butter acts as a binder along with the honey.

Honey – This will provide the sweetness to the pumpkin lactation bites. Any honey will work, but I always suggest getting local honey when possible.

Pumpkin puree – This can be found in the baking aisle. You only need 1/4 cup of this recipe, so I suggest saving the rest for other recipes that need pumpkin puree. I suggest trying my homemade pumpkin sauce or pumpkin cider!

Oats – Note you will need rolled oats and quick cook oats for this recipe.

Pumpkin pie spice – Make your own batch of homemade pumpkin pie spice and have it on hand for all your fall baking needs. Don’t want to make it? Grab a jar of it in the baking aisle!

Chocolate chips – Use your favorite chocolate chips in this recipe. Note from my lactation consultant – The higher the cacao content in the chocolate, the better it is for nursing moms. I always try to use dark chocolate, but feel free to use whatever you like.

Pumpkin seeds – These give the pumpkin bites a great crunch!

The following ingredients are what help increase milk production in nursing moms. The ingredients are healthy for anyone, but have a positive effort on milk supply. If you aren’t worry about lactation, feel free to omit them.

Flax seed – Ground flax seed mixes well into these pumpkin lactation bites. It has a slightly earthy taste on it’s own, but that is masked thanks to the honey, peanut butter and pumpkin.

Brewers yeast – You can find Brewers yeast at vitamin stores or on Amazon. It is one of the best ingredients to use to help with milk supply.

How to make fall lactation bites

One of the things that I love about these bites, is that they are no bake and super easy to make. Once you have gathered all your ingredients, you will also need to grab:

• a food processor
• large mixing bowl
• silicone spatula
• measuring cups and spoons

Step 1 Mix together the peanut butter, honey, pumpkin puree, rolled oats, and pumpkin pie spice in your food processor. You will want to pulse it on high a few times until everything is smooth and well combined.

Step 2 Add the dry ingredients Transfer the wet ingredients from the food processor to your large mixing bowl and combine it with the quick cooking oats, mini chocolate chips, and pumpkin seeds. Using your silicone spatula, stir to combine everything together.

Step 3 Form the bites Grab about a tablespoon of the “dough” and roll it in your hand to form a ball. You will want to press it together in your palm so that the pumpkin pie bite doesn’t fall apart. Place on a parchment paper lined baking tray and then in the fridge to harden.

How many lactation cookies should you eat in a day?

I suggest eating 2-3 lactation bites a day. The great thing about these lactation bites is that they are full of good for you ingredients, regardless of if you’re nursing or not. Lactation bites are a great way to help increase your milk supply, but diet, water and proper latch also play a huge role. I have a post full of breastfeeding tips that goes into more detail.

How long does it take for lactation cookie bites to work?

How long it takes for lactation cookies to work depends on the person. Some people are able to see results the same day while it may take a day or two for others. Don’t stress! As long as you are drinking plenty of water and listening to baby, you will do great. The lactation bites are an added milky bonus.

What drinks help with lactation?

There are a ton of drinks that will help with lactation. The key though, is to stay hydrated! Water is always a good choice but some other drinks that will help with milk supply are:

• coconut milk
• Starbucks pink drink
• Starbucks purple drink
• Body Armour
• Mother’s Milk tea
• lactation smoothies

Tips and tricks

The lactation bites are pretty simple to make, but I wanted to provide a few more tips to help you get the best results possible.

• Feel free to use crunchy peanut butter if you’d like a little more crunch.
• Pulse until all of your ingredients until they are smooth.
• You can use a tablespoon scoop to get evenly size bites.
• If you use your hands, coat them in olive oil before shaping the lactation bites.

How to store lactation bites

You will want to store your lactation bites in the fridge to keep them fresh. Place them in a Ziplock bag or Tupperware with a lid. They will stay fresh for up to a week in the fridge.

Can I freeze lactation bites?

You absolutely can! Place the finished bites directly in the freezer on the cookie sheet. Allow them to flash freeze for 1-2 hours. Remove them from the baking tray and put them in a plastic bag. Remove the air and place the bag with the frozen lactation bites in the freezer.

Can I make lactation bites in advance?

Yup! You sure can! The great thing about lactation bites is that you can make them in advance and store them in the freezer until you need them. I have made a batch of lactation bites during my final trimester to have on hand for after baby is born. They are a great snack and help get supply going those first few days.

Other lactation recipes to try

Lactation bites are great, but sometimes you want to switch it up a bit. Some other great lactation recipes to try are:

• The best lactation cookies
• PB&J lactation bites
• Lactation brownies
• Monster lactation cookies
• No bake lactation energy bites

Pumpkin lactation bites

Yield: 24 bites

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Make a milk boosting treat that is perfect for fall!

Print

Ingredients

• ¼ cup all natural creamy peanut butter
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup pumpkin puree
• ¾ cup rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• ¾ cup quick cook oats
• ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons roasted salted pumpkin seeds
• ¼ cup ground flax seed
• 2 tablespoons Brewers yeast

Instructions

1.     Add the peanut butter, honey, pumpkin puree, rolled oats, and pumpkin pie spice to a food processor. Pulse on high speed until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.

2.     Transfer the wet ingredients to a large bowl and add the quick cooking oats, mini chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds, ground flax and Brewers yeast. Stir to combine.

3.     Scoop out 1 tablespoon sized balls onto a parchment lined baking sheet and roll them into smooth balls.

4.     Transfer the oat balls to the fridge and chill them until they are full set-- about 1 hour.

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If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comments below.

Want to make it later? Pin the image below to your favorite food board!

Either way – THANK YOU for the support!

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M&M energy bites are great for snacks, too! I often take a batch of these to my son’s soccer games for him and his teammates to enjoy after a game. The kids don’t realize these are healthier than just plain candy, they just see the M&M’s and devour them. MOM WIN!

What are M&M Energy Bites?

M&M energy bites are delicious balls of protein consisting of oatmeal and peanut butter. They also have M&M’s to add the chocolate flavor that no one can resist. These M&M energy balls are a great source of protein and would make a great post workout snack!

These energy bites can easily be turned into lactation bites for nursing moms too! You can add Brewer’s yeast, chia seeds and flaxmeal to give them a milky boost. Check out my no-bake lactation bites recipe for amounts to add in.

Homemade Energy Bites Ingredients 

There doesn’t take much to make these amazing balls of awesomeness! Here are the few ingredients you’ll need to make your own M&M energy balls.

• old fashioned rolled oats
• peanut butter
• maple syrup
• m&ms
• cinnamon
• tsp salt

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites

These M&M energy balls are super quick and easy to make and the best part is they are no bake! Who doesn’t love a delicious, healthier snack that takes only ten minutes to make?!

Step 1: Warm the peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl on high for 20 secs.

Step 2: Add all ingredients to a large bowl, starting with ½ cup maple syrup.

Step 3: Stir with a large wooden spoon until well mixed.

Step 4: Scoop 1.5-2 tablespoons of mixture at a time.

Step 5: Press mixture together in your hands to get it to stick.

Step 6: Roll into a ball and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Step 7: Repeat until all of the balls have been made (using extra maple syrup if you can not get the final balls to stick.)

Step 8: Refrigerate for 30 mins before serving.

Step 9: Remove and allow to come to room temperature before serving.

What Type of Oats Do I Need?

You will want to use old fashioned rolled oats for this energy bites recipe. The old fashioned oats will stay fresh longer than quick oats, making them more desirable for M&M energy bites. Quick oats can be used but your energy bites will probably become mushy sooner than if you used old fashioned oats.

What is the Best Peanut Butter for These Energy Bites?

When it comes to what kind of peanut butter to use for these M&M energy bites, it all comes down to your personal preference. You can use the regular crunchy or smooth peanut butter or you can use a healthier alternative like almond butter. You can use other natural alternatives that are salt and sugar free, making these delicious energy bites much healthier for you.

How can I Make These Healthier?

These M&M energy bites are amazing as is, but are you looking to make some healthier choices? Decrease the amount and the size of the chocolate m&ms. Moving to the mini size will decrease the amount of sugar in the recipe. You can also use cocoa nibs or vegan chocolate chips instead of m&ms. Using all natural peanut butter (with no added salt or sugar) will still taste delicious but you will have less guilt about eating a few at a time.

How to make these lactation bites

These energy bites are great for the whole family, but they can easily be turned into lactation bites for nursing moms. Yay! Lactation recipes are really just recipes with natural, healthy ingredients. And occasionally some chocolate. You can quickly turn these into milk makers by adding in Brewer’s yeast, flaxseed meal and chia seeds. Those are all healthy ingredients for everyone in the family – but they increase lactation in nursing mamas!

How to Store Leftovers

Make extra energy bites to eat later? The best way to store your leftover energy bites is to place them in a ziplock bag or an airtight container. You will leave them in the fridge until you are ready for them. You will want to give them 5-7 minutes to come to room temperature once you pull them out of the fridge again to eat. They can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Can I Freeze Them?

Yes! You absolutely can! Place them in the freezer after they are one the baking sheet and allow them to flash freeze. Then toss them into a plastic bag and back into the freezer they go. I love freezing these energy bites for lunches! They thaw out just in time for my kiddos lunch time and they don’t get mushy.

M&M Energy Bites

Yield: 20-24 bites

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

The kids (and adults!) will love these easy energy bites!

Print

Ingredients

• 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup warmed peanut butter
• ½-¾ cup maple syrup
• ⅓ cup chocolate m&ms
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp salt

Instructions

1. Warm the peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl on high for 20 secs.
2. Add all ingredients to a large bowl, starting with ½ cup maple syrup.
3. Stir with a large wooden spoon until well mixed.
4. Scoop 1.5-2 tablespoons of mixture at a time.
5. Press mixture together in your hands to get it to stick.
6. Roll into a ball and place on parchment lined cookie sheet.
7. Repeat until all of the balls have been made (using extra maple syrup if you can not get the final balls to stick.
8. Refrigerate for 30 mins before serving.
9. Remove and allow to come to room temperature before serving.

Did you make this recipe?

If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

Other Energy Bites to Try 

Did you fall in love with these M&M energy bites? Here are some other amazing bites to try!

• Gluten free cookie dough bites
• No-bake lactation bites
• Pumpkin energy bites
• Cinnamon apple bites
• Almond joy bites

Have you made this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comment section. Want to try it later? Save the image below!

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Are you a breastfeeding mom trying to enhance your milk supply so that you won’t run out? If so, you’re probably looking for foods that will help you with your supply. Instead of buying expensive products that don’t always work, try these delicious PB&J Lactation Bites. You can make them with ease using fresh ingredients and then watch how well they’ll start to work for you! It’s even better knowing you’ll enjoy what you’re eating because these bites are delicious.

What are lactation bites?

Lactation bites consist of nutritional ingredients designed to help increase the supply of milk for breastfeeding women. The lactation bites contain some of the most helpful ingredients, such as brewers’ yeast, fresh fruit, and peanut butter. These bites are also great for the rest of the family!

My kids love when I make a batch of homemade lactation bites. They just call them energy balls. The extra ingredients in them that help increase milk also provide great benefits to the whole family!

What’s in homemade lactation bites?

The great thing about these lactation energy bites is that they are made with real food ingredients. Everything is not only nursing mom friendly, but good for the whole family as well! To make these lactation bites you will need:

• oats
• peanut butter
• mashed banana
• maple syrup
• freeze dried strawberries
• ground flaxseed
• brewer’s yeast
• chia seeds

Oats – You will want to use rolled oats for this recipe. Instant oats will become mushy when combined with the other ingredients.

Peanut butter – A creamy peanut butter works best for these lactation bites. I also would suggest a low-sugar peanut butter as well. You will get sweetness from the maple syrup and the apple sauce so a low or no sugar peanut butter would make these even healthier.

Banana– You will need 1/4 cup of a ripe mashed banana. This gives the bites a ton of flavor!

Maple syrup – This provides the sweetness to the bites and also helps bind everything together.

Freeze dried strawberries – You can find these in the pantry aisle of most grocery stores. You can also switch out the fruit and use others instead of strawberries.

Ground flaxseed – This that helps with lactation. I use ground flax seed in most of my lactation recipes.

Flax seed full of Omega 3 fatty acids and fiber. Flax seed has been found to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and helps keep you full due to high amounts of protein.

I suggest Spectrum Organics ground flax seed.

Brewers yeast – This is another known milk producing ingredient. It is packed with fiber and vitamin B. It helps with blood sugar levels, to boost your immunity and aids in anemia. There are also a host of other benefits to using Brewers yeast in your diet.

I’ve always use Solgar’s Brewer’s yeast for my lactation recipes.

Chia seeds – These are tiny seeds that swell up when liquid is added to them. They help keep you full and provide additional heath benefits. You can find chia seeds in most baking aisles.

If you are NOT a nursing mom, feel free to leave out the last 2 ingredients. These are a great snack for the whole family!

How to Make Peanut Butter Lactation Bites

Follow the simple steps below to have your own lactation bites!

Step 1: Mix Peanut Butter, Banana, and Syrup

Grab a bowl and add your peanut butter, banana, and maple syrup into it, mixing them together for a minute or two. This is where I add in all the lactation boosting ingredients as well. Mix in your brewers yeast, flax seed and chia. Combine well.

Step 2: Add Oatmeal the Strawberries

Next, add your oatmeal to the bowl with the freeze-dried strawberries and mix the ingredients together. This is also were you will mix in your lactation ingredients. Add in the flaxseed, Brewers yeast and chia seeds to turn these energy bites into milk making snacks!

Step 3: Roll into Mini Balls

Then, grab the mixture with clean hands and roll it into mini balls.

Step 4: Allow to Chill

Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and then place them in the fridge, allowing them to chill before you eat them.

Serve and Enjoy!

What is brewer’s yeast?

Brewer’s yeast is a type of yeast best known for its nutritional value. It’s commonly added to different food products and used as a nutritional supplement. It can help increase milk production in no time. You can find it at most health food stores.

Can I use other fruit?

It’s best to use bananas in this recipe because it mixes well with the peanut butter, oats, and other ingredients. However, you can use any freeze-dried fruit you’d like. If you don’t want to use strawberries, you can use freeze-dried blueberries or raspberries when preparing these PB&J Lactation Bites.

How do I store these lactation bites?

Store your PB&J Lactation Bites in the fridge or freezer. If you’re going to store them in the freezer, make sure you’re putting them in a plastic food storage container with a lid beforehand. When storing them in the fridge, you can leave them on the baking sheet with parchment paper or transfer them over to a food storage container once they get cold from sitting in the fridge for several hours.

Can I freeze them?

Yes! You can make these PB&J Lactation Bites in advance and freeze them so that you won’t have to stress over running out of them when you need them the most. You never know when you might want to eat these delicious treats because you’re struggling with milk production and want to get a steady flow of milk coming out for you to give to store and feed to your little one.

PB&J Lactation Bites

Yield: 20 bites

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Homemade lactation bites that taste like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

Print

Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup freeze dried strawberries
• 1/4 cup mashed banana
• 2 tablespoons brewers yeast
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions

1. Grab a bowl and add your peanut butter, banana, and maple syrup into it, mixing them together for a minute or two.
2. Add your oatmeal to the bowl with the freeze-dried strawberries and mix the ingredients together.
3. Stir in the flaxseed, brewers yeast and the chia seeds.
4. Grab the mixture with clean hands and roll it into mini balls.
5. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and then place them in the fridge, allowing them to chill before you eat them.
6. Serve and Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1 bite
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 64mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 5g

Did you make this recipe?

If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

Other Lactation Recipes to Try

1. Lactation Brownies
2. No-Bake Lactation Energy Bites
3. Monster Lactation Cookies
4. The Best Lactation Cookies
5. No Bake Lactation Bites

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Lactation what?! Oh yes. Lactation BROWNIES! And don’t worry – they don’t taste like cardboard or oats at all. These brownies are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside and full of good for you ingredients that will increase your milk supply.

After my 3rd baby was born I swore by lactation energy bites. I had them on hand for the first few months after he was born. Now with baby number 4, I am all about these lactation brownies! It’s probably because I saw a few brands selling lactation brownies online. I thought that was a great idea, I just didn’t want to pay that much for a brownie. So I made my own!

What are lactation brownies?

These brownies are made from scratch and include great milk boosting ingredients like ground flax seed, brewer’s yeast, and dark chocolate. The combination of these ingredients in the brownies should help increase your milk supply. I say “should” because if you don’t have a good breastfeeding relationship established you may not get the full benefit from these brownies. Make sure you check out these breastfeeding tips to help.

These brownies are also great for anyone not nursing as well. No one would be able to tell that these brownies are for breastfeeding mamas. My kids devour them and didn’t even bat an eye. They taste great and make a great addition to your lactation recipes line-up.

Lactation brownie ingredients

To make this lactation treat you will need:

• butter
• sugar
• cocoa powder
• eggs
• salt
• baking powder
• vanilla
• flour
• chocolate chips
• flax seed
• brewers yeast

Most of these ingredients are common pantry baking items that I bet you already have on hand.

I will say that you want to use high quality cocoa powder, vanilla extract and chocolate chips, if possible. The better the quality, the better your brownies will taste. (Not that I’ve ever met a brownie I didn’t like..)

Flax seed – This is one of the ingredients that helps with lactation. I use ground flax seed in most of my lactation recipes.

Flax seed full of Omega 3 fatty acids and fiber. Flax seed has been found to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and helps keep you full due to high amounts of protein.

I suggest Spectrum Organics ground flax seed.

Brewers yeast – Most lactation recipes contain this ingredient since it is known to help increase supply.

It is also packed with fiber and vitamin B. It helps with blood sugar levels, to boost your immunity and aids in anemia. There are also a host of other benefits to using Brewers yeast in your diet.

I’ve always used Solgar’s Brewer’s yeast for my lactation recipes.

Want to make these lactation brownies without Brewer’s yeast? Feel free to omit it!

Lactation brownies from scratch

I love that these brownies come out so decadent and chewy. They are better than a box mix and don’t take much more time than one.

Step 1: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add in the the sugar and stir to combine. The sugar will dissolve in the hot butter.

Step 2: Once the sugar and butter has dissolved, stir in the cocoa powder. Remember, the better quality the cocoa powder, the better your brownies will taste. I love Ghiradelli Dutch Process Cocoa for my lactation brownies.

Step 3: Transfer the warm cocoa/sugar/butter mixture to a bowl. The mixture may be gritty but will become smooth after mixing. Add your eggs and mix until combined.

Step 4: Add in your salt, baking powder and vanilla. Combine again.

Step 5: Add your flour and stir until just combined. You don’t want to over stir your brownies!

Step 6: Add your Brewer’s yeast and ground flax seed. Stir once or twice to combine. Fold in your chocolate chips.

Step 7: Pour the lactation brownie mix into a prepared dish. Prepare a 9×13 baking dish by lining it with foil and then spraying it with baking spray. You can also add oil to the bottom and spread it around to coat all sides.

Step 8: Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick comes out clean in the center. Remove, allow to cool and slice.

Can I use a box mix?

You can! If you want to save time, use your favorite box mix and add in the flax seed and Brewer’s yeast! I love the Ghiradelli brownie mix for semi-homemade brownies.

How many lactation Brownies should I eat?

My personal (non professional) opinion is to eat two brownies a day. This should give you enough lactation boosting ingredients to see an increase in supply.

How long does it take for lactation brownies to work?

It depends on the person, but within a day or two. They will not work right away and they will not work if you aren’t practice healthy breastfeeding supply suggestions. These brownies, combined with a good routine, a strong latch and plenty of liquids will help increase your milk supply.

How to store leftovers

Store you leftover brownies in an airtight container on the counter. You can put them in the fridge if you’d like, but I have found that they stay soft and chewy longer on the counter.

Can I freeze lactation brownies?

Absolutely! Place your cooled and cut brownies on a cookie sheet. Put the cookie sheet in the freeze and allow the brownies to “flash freeze” for 2-3 hours. This will allow the brownies to harden for longer storage.

Place the brownies in foil and then a ziploc baggy. You can then put the baggy in the freezer for storage up to 6 months. To eat again, simply thaw on the counter for a day and enjoy!

Lactation brownies recipe

Lactation brownies

Yield: 15 brownies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

How to make lactation brownies from scratch that will help with milk production!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon ground flax seed
• 1 tablespoon Brewer's yeast

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x13 baking dish with foil coated in oil or non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a saucepan over medium heat add the butter and sugar. Melt the butter and stir the sugar to combine.
3. Stir in the cocoa powder. Allow to simmer until dissolved.
4. Remove from heat and move the butter/sugar/cocoa mixture to a large bowl. Allow to cool slightly.
5. Mix in the eggs.
6. Add in the baking powder, salt and vanilla. Stir to combine.
7. Mix in the flour.
8. Mix in the flax seed and Brewer's yeast.
9. Mix in your dark chocolate chips.
10. Pour into your prepared dish.
11. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
12. Allow to cool slightly, cut and enjoy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 372Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 294mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 3gSugar: 32gProtein: 5g

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If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

Other lactation recipes to try

Lactation recipes

Looking for more lactation recipes to try? Here are some reader favorites!

No-bake lactation energy bites

A delicious way to increase your milk supply AND energy levels!

Get the Recipe

Monster lactation cookies

Monster lactation cookies that are full of peanut butter and chocolate chip goodness!

Get the Recipe

No bake lactation cookies

Get the Recipe

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Then when you add the everyday struggles of breastfeeding to it… you’ll start thinking you’re crazy for wanting to head down this journey. But rest assured mama, you can do this!

Keep reading and I’ll be sharing my top breastfeeding tips for new moms. (I am not a medical professional – just a mom who has breastfed 4 babies. Please seek a lactation consult or doctor if you have any issues or questions.)

Breastfeeding Tip #1: Follow your baby’s lead

The best thing you can do in those first weeks is follow your baby’s lead. While you’re still establishing your supply, it’s very important we listen to little babe.

One of the biggest reasons for mother’s getting frustrated and giving up is that they aren’t following baby’s lead and have the wrong expectations.

Feed on demand

Keep your eyes off that clock! Your baby will tell you when they’re hungry and want to nurse. They’ll start showing hunger cues like smacking their lips, sucking their hands, or even start rooting around looking for your breast.

Feeding on demand is very important for a number of reasons, including:

• It helps establish supply
• Your supply will come in sooner
• Helps baby regain weight faster
• Can potentially avoid jaundice

I’ve also shared some easy things to do while breastfeeding and some of my new mom must-haves which include a fun breastfeeding pillow. You are going to need a nursing pillow if you are going to..

Embrace comfort nursing

At some point you might think “they’re nursing a lot, are they even getting enough”, and the answer is yes. How often they nurse is a very poor indication of supply.

What they’re doing is often referred to as comfort nursing. This is when they are not trying to eat or pull milk from the breast, but rather suckling to get comfort. It helps them relax and adjust to their new world that exists outside the womb.

We will cover this more later, but it is very important to embrace it and not be tempted to introduce pacifiers or bottles right away. The more they nurse, the better your supply will be for them.

This now leads me to my next point…

Breastfeeding Tip #2: Try not to stress about milk supply

It’s natural to stress about milk supply and I’m certain every new mom does it, but do your best on feeding your baby and don’t stress too much if you can help it!

Stress level affects low milk supply

Milk supply is deeply affected by your stress or anxiety level and the more you stress, the less you can end up producing (source). There will be a number of things in life that stress is out, but when it becomes too much… it can affect breastfeeding.

When we stress, it releases a hormone that can inhibit supply, change the makeup of our milk, and even make letdowns more difficult.

The best thing you can do is relax, trust your body, and work on managing your stress level.

It’s okay if breastfeeding doesn’t work out!

If you’re stressing because you’re terrified you won’t be able to breastfeed, relax! Most women will be able to breastfeed assuming they have the proper support. But if you end up not being able to for whatever reason? That’s okay.

At the end of the day, the most important part is that your baby is fed and happy. (And that mama is free of extreme amounts of stress!)

And it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can totally supplement and still nurse your baby. Getting that precious breast milk is important but having a full, happy baby and mama is what matters most!

Breastfeeding Tip #3: Be patient while learning to breastfeed

There is this incorrect expectation that breastfeeding is supposed to be perfect from day 1. But the truth is – you’ll need to be patient while you learn to do this.

Breastfeeding is a learning process for both mom and baby. The single most important thing is to focus on having your baby on your breast for the first 6 weeks.

Don’t pump too soon

If you can help it… don’t rush into pumping. While it can help with relief if you become engorged, it can cause some serious supply issues too. You can end up overproducing and struggling to lower it. 

There are circumstances in which this can’t be avoided, but try if possible.

Avoid introducing bottles or pacifiers

One of the more important tips here is to avoid other nipples for the first 6 weeks. Pacifiers and bottles can cause problems if your baby experiences nipple confusion. 

If you’re not familiar with this term, Medela defines nipple confusion as, “when a breastfeeding baby is having trouble latching and breastfeeding effectively after being fed with a bottle.”

The different types of nipples can make baby very confused and struggle to latch onto the breast in the correct way while they’re in the middle of learning to master this new skill. It’s important that you hold off and maybe even avoid the introduction of these other items.

Speaking of latch, this leads me to my final breastfeeding tip…

Breastfeeding Tip #4: Check your baby’s latch

As I’ve previously mentioned, breastfeeding is a huge learning process – baby included. They might struggle with latching so it’s important that you check and help when needed.

Help them get a deep latch

The deeper the latch, the easier time they will have breastfeeding. If their latch is shallow, they will not be able to adequately pull milk from your breast (which can lead mom to think they have low supply and end up quitting breastfeeding).

So how do you help them get a deep latch? 

You’ll want to follow these steps to get a nice deep latch for your baby:

• Hold onto your breast with one hand and baby’s back with the other and bring baby close enough that they can easily reach the nipple
• Tickle their upper lip with your nipple until they open up their mouth nice and wide (do not allow them to latch on until the mouth is wide enough)
• Latch the baby onto your breast and make sure they have a wide latch wrapped around your nipple.

Breastfeeding is also easier when you have found a proper position. Did you know there are 6 different positions you can try? I’d suggest trying them all until you find one that makes both you and your babe comfortable.

Keep an eye out for ties

If you still struggle with latching and feeding your baby, see if you can spot any ties! Lip and tongue ties can make breastfeeding incredibly difficult since they can’t move their lips and tongue around properly.

Do not try and make the diagnosis yourself, however. If you have a suspicion, contact your local lactation consultant who is trained in spotting ties. If babe does have a tie, it’s best to have it corrected as soon as possible.

Breastfeeding Tip #5: Drink Plenty of Water

One of the easiest things to do that will help with nursing is to drink plenty of water! You have to remember that in order for their to be liquid for the baby to drink (breast milk) there has to be liquid in your body to supply it. Drinking enough water is super important!

How much water to drink

I saw online once that you need to drink 1/2 ounce for every pound you weigh. So if you weight 150 pounds you need to drink 75 ounces of water a day.

Drink enough to stay hydrated. If you are feeling thirsty – you may already be dehydrated. These drinks will help keep you hydrated

• infused water
• passion fruit lemonade
• Starbucks copycat pink drink
• aqua fresca

Breastfeeding Tip #6: Eat the Right Food

As a nursing mom you also need to make sure you are eating enough of the right foods. The general rule is to eat 500 additional calories per day to help with milk production.

On top of eating an iron rich diet you could also try some lactation recipes to help with your supply. Some of my favorite lactation recipes are:

• no bake lactation bites
• monster lactation cookies
• no bake lactation cookies
• cookie dough lactation bites

It should be noted that lactation recipes can be made with or without brewers yeast – if you are sensitive to that. I’ve found that lactation recipes with brewers yeast are a great way to increase supply but that it’s only temporary. Follow the tips above for long term breastfeeding success!

Conclusion

I hope these top 6 breastfeeding tips help you as a new mom. The best thing you can do is follow your baby’s lead, try not to stress, be patient, and check on your baby’s latch.

Following your baby’s lead by feeding on demand and comfort nursing will make a world of difference. This is key in establishing your supply in those first few weeks.

As stressful as breastfeeding is, the best thing you can do is try your best not to stress. It can affect your supply and milk so trust your body and know it’s okay if it doesn’t work out!

Remember this is a learning process so be patient. Allow time for you and your baby to get the hang of things and don’t introduce bottles or pump too soon.

Work together to get a deep latch, try different breastfeeding positions, and get checked for ties if needed.

Above all else… keep going! Breastfeeding is hard at first, but you’ll be a pro before you know it. Have you tried any of these breastfeeding tips? Let me know if they helped you out in anyway by commenting below.

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Hey there mama! I’m going to tell you a little secret – I love lactation cookies! It all started when I was googling lactation recipes before Ryder was born. I wanted to have something that would increase my milk supply since I struggled with nursing my older two kiddos.

I went down a rabbit hole of information and found out the things that would increase your milk supply naturally. Yesss. I love that. I’m all about going the natural route and if I’m being completely honest, I’m a little bit crunchy.

I hope to share some of the information with y’all today and also provide a totally delicious lactation cookie recipe. These monster lactation cookies may be my favorite lactation recipe yet!

What is the purpose of lactation cookies?

What are the active ingredients in lactation cookies?

The good thing about these lactation cookies is that are packed full of active milk producing ingredients. The main ingredients that help boost milk supply are:

• oats
• flax seed
• Brewers yeast
• chocolate
• peanut butter

Oats – are a great source of iron and help increase a nursing moms iron levels. Oats can also be known to help decrease cholesterol too. This is a great article of why oats help increase milk supply.

Ground flax seed – is full of Omega 3 fatty acids and fiber. Flax seed has been found to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and helps keep you full due to high amounts of protein.

Monster lactation cookies

Yield: 12 cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Monster lactation cookies that are full of peanut butter and chocolate chip goodness!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 stick of butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 3 tablespoons brewers yeast
• 1 cup oats
• 1 cup M&Ms
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Mix together the butter and the sugars until fluffy. Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix well.
3. Whisk the peanut butter into the wet ingredients.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, ground flax seed, brewers yeast and oats.
5. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and fold together.
6. Add in the M&Ms and the chocolate chips.
7. To make larger cookies - place 1/3 cup of rounded dough on a cookie sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes OR until the edges are golden brown.
8. To make smaller cookies - place tablespoon size balls of dough on a cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes OR until the edges are golden brown.
9. Remove and allow to cool on a wire rack.

Notes

To help increase milk supply eat one to two cookies a day.

To freeze the dough - place rounded dough on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer for two hours. Once frozen, remove, place in ziplock bags and place back in the freezer for later use.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 cookie
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 498Total Fat: 25.4gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 453mgCarbohydrates: 57.5gFiber: 5.6gSugar: 32.4gProtein: 13.3g

Did you make this recipe?

If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

Be sure to check out these other great lactation recipes:

Lactation bites

No-bake lactation cookies

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Let me tell you how these gluten free cookie dough bites came about. I am one of those weird people that like to grocery shop. I enjoy making a list to keep me on track but I also enjoy browsing every aisle to see if there is something new. Or on sale. I especially like finding new things on sale at the grocery store. That’s the best.

I found these chocolate chip cookie dough bites while shopping one day and I was hooked. They were gluten free, paleo, vegan and non-GMO. I loved them so much I decided to recreate them at home so I could have them all the time.

Gluten free cookie dough bites

A few months ago I went gluten free. My Crohns had been acting up and I decided to remove gluten from my diet to see if it helped. It has helped out so much so I have stayed gluten free even after I started to feel better. I found that I enjoy finding new gluten free products to try at home so when I found these cookie dough bites I excited.

The thing is – I wanted them all the time! They are that good! A quick look at the ingredients revealed that I had almost everything I needed to make them at home.

What you need to make cookie dough bites

The great thing about these bites is that they have pretty common ingredients. I didn’t have to go to specialty store or anything. To make your own cookie dough bites you will need:

• unsweetened shredded coconut
• coconut or almond flour
• coconut oil
• honey
• vanilla
• chocolate chips
• salt

I used coconut flour to make my bites but almond flour works just as well. These are two great gluten free flours that I always have in my pantry. I have also used Krusteaz gluten free flour and it worked really well. Feel free to test out your favorite gluten free flour for these cookie dough bites!

Cookie dough bites

Since these bites are full of good for you ingredients they are great to have on hand for:

• breakfast
• lunches
• snacks
• desserts

After I make a batch of cookie dough bites, I keep them in the fridge for easy snacking. My kiddos loves grabbing one of these for a quick snack or a healthier dessert at night.

Cookie dough lactation bites

These would also make a great snack for nursing moms. They already have coconut which is a natural milk booster and ground flax seed and brewers yeast can easily be added to the bites. Just make sure the brewers yeast you choose is gluten free if you want to keep these bites wheat free. Oat mama has a great brewers yeast that supports a healthy milk supply for breastfeeding mamas.

If you want to turn these into lactation bites, add a tablespoon of brewers yeast and 2 tablespoons of ground flax seed to the recipe. I would also suggest using dark chocolate chips as those help with milk supply as well. Everything else in the recipe is the same. Easy peasy!

How to make these cookie dough bites

This is really a “mix it all together in a big bowl” type of recipe. I started out using a spatula to mix but ended up using my hands to make sure everything was well incorporated. The one thing is that you need enough liquid to have these cookie dough bites take form. In this case, enough honey and coconut oil.

Start with the recipe as in below and add in more coconut oil as needed to make these bites into ball form. You are going to have to press them together pretty firmly in your hands to form balls. You may have some coconut oil drip off the bites as you are pressing them into balls. That’s normal and has happened every time I have made these cookie dough bites. Once you have a ball shape, stick them in the fridge. The coconut oil and honey will solidify and the cookie dough bites will harden.

Once you are ready to grab a cookie dough bite as a snack or dessert, let it thaw for just a few minutes outside the fridge. That can be in your hand or on the counter. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. But I promise, they won’t last two weeks once you try them.

Gluten free cookie dough bites

Yield: 24

An easy "mix everything together" snack or dessert recipe that everyone in the family will love.

Print

Ingredients

• 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
• 2 cups coconut or almond flour (or gluten free flour of choice)
• 1/2 cups chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• pinch of salt

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together the shredded coconut, flour and chocolate chips.

Add in the honey, coconut oil, vanilla and salt. Mix together with a spatula or your hands.

Press the mixture together tightly in your hands to form a ball. If the mixture doe not come together and is flaky, add more coconut oil until a ball forms.

Make tablespoon sized balls with the mixture, pressing firmly to form.

Please in the fridge to harden.

Remove, allow to thaw slightly and enjoy!

Notes

Will keep for two weeks in an air tight container.

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 139Cholesterol: 1mgSodium: 18mgCarbohydrates: 11.4gFiber: 2.6gSugar: 8.5gProtein: 1.3g

Did you make this recipe?

If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

• No bake peanut butter energy bites
• No bake strawberry shortcake
• No bake Biscoff pie

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The BEST no-bake lactation cookies

Hey there! Are you ready for the most versatile cookie ever? AND that tastes delicious?! Yup. That’s these no bake lactation cookies. They are made for nursing mamas to help increase milk supply and boost energy. But they are also perfect for the whole family. I love them for breakfast and a late night snack. And yes, they are that good that I’ll eat them twice in one day.  

And I should mention that they are gluten free, dairy and refined sugar free too.

Boom. Most versatile (and semi-healthy) no bake cookie ever.

Lactation cookies

The main purpose of these cookies are to help nursing moms naturally increase their milk supply. They are packed full of ingredients that do just that. The ingredients that help with lactation in these cookies are:

• oats
• ground flax seed
• coconut oil
• brewers yeast
• dark chocolate chips
• peanut butter

That’s a lot of goodness packed into one lactation cookie. Together they not only provide the nutrients to help increase your milk supply, but they also should give you a boost of energy. Which is awesome since nursing a sweet babe can seem like a full time, non-stop job.

No bake lactation cookies

Maybe the best part about this lactation cookie recipe is that they are no bake. That means no turning on the oven and waiting for them to cook and then waiting for them to cool. Nope. These cookies are mixed together, placed on a cookie sheet and allowed to set. And you can speed up the last step by placing them in the freezer for a few minutes.

Quick and delicious no bake cookies? Yes, please!

If you have older kiddos these cookies are a great way to “bake” together. They can help add in the ingredients and mix it up. They are really a no-fail type of cookie and I know my kiddos love helping in the kitchen.

Great for the whole family

The same ingredients that help with lactation for nursing moms are also great for the whole family.

• Brewers yeast – is packed with fiber and vitamin B. It helps with blood sugar levels, to boost your immunity and aids in anemia. There are also a host of other benefits to using Brewers yeast in your diet.
• Ground flax seed – is full of Omega 3 fatty acids and fiber. Flax seed has been found to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and helps keep you full due to high amounts of protein.
• Coconut oil – there are so many benefits of coconut oil when added to your diet. Some include boosting your immune system, improving digestion and increased energy. (There are also some great non-diet uses for coconut oil too! It’s great to have in the house.)

So yes, these ingredients are great for nursing moms but they are also beneficial for the whole family. If you are worried about an ingredients and how it will affect you, feel free to omit it from the recipe. Or use a smaller quantity until you are comfortable with it.

Tips for making the best lactation cookies –

• You are going to want to use high quality ingredients for these cookies. I like to use organic old fashioned oats, extra dark chocolate and organic ground flax seed. All of the ingredients can be found at your local grocery store or you can check out my Amazon store for all the ingredients.
• You are going to need to shape your cookies by pressing them firmly onto a prepared cookie sheet. Feel free to make the cookies any size you would like. I made mine about a tablespoon size each and ended up with close to 24 cookies. 
• The cookies are no bake but need time to set up after mixing. The coconut oil helps set the cookies. I suggest placing them in the fridge or freezer to help with this.
• After the cookies set, place them in an airtight container or plastic bag and keep them in the fridge. They should keep for up to two weeks.
• If you would like to freeze them, allow them to set first then place in a plastic baggy. Make sure to remove all the air and place in the freezer. To thaw, place in the fridge.

No bake lactation cookies

Yield: 24

Print

Ingredients

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons brewers yeast
• ½ cup ground flaxseed
• ½ cup honey
• 1 cup peanut butter
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil

Instructions

In a large bowl combine the oats, brewers yeast and the flax seed.

Mix in the honey, peanut butter, vanilla and coconut oil.

Fold in the chocolate chips.

Press tablespoon sized amounts of dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Press firmly to shape the cookies.

Allow to set by placing in the fridge or freezer for 5-10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Notes

Will keep for 2 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge.

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 165Cholesterol: 0mgSodium: 56mgCarbohydrates: 17.2gFiber: 2.3gSugar: 8.3gProtein: 5.3g

Did you make this recipe?

If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

Other lactation recipes to try –

• Steak taco salad
• Quinoa berry salad
• Lactation bites
• Monster lactation cookies

You can also grab a free nursing log printable. It’s a great way to track your nursing schedule and evaluate if the no bake lactation cookies are helping.

The post The best lactation cookies appeared first on mom makes dinner.

Can we talk breastfeeding for a minute? I feel like I could talk about breastfeeding for days to be honest. I spent so much time researching and googling and reading while I was pregnant with my third that I feel like I have a vast expanse of breastfeeding knowledge.

Not that that’s a bad thing! It just doesn’t always come up at parties or events as often as one would think.

Wink.

With my first two babes I had no idea what all breastfeeding entailed. Yes, you put the baby to your breast and allow them to suckle, but there is so much more to it then that. Are you drinking enough water? Is the baby latched properly? Are they able to transfer enough milk? Are you making enough milk??

Oh boy. That last question is the one that gets me every time. Once you start to worry about your milk supply it can actually have a negative effort on production. Stress and worry plus lack of sleep are big baddies when it comes to milk supply.

I’ve learned so much from when I first started breastfeeding and I want to pass that on to you. Nursing is beautiful and so good for your baby, but it’s also hard work. I feel like no one tells you that up front.

Breastfeeding is hard. It hurts sometimes and it’s frustrating and some days you just feel “touched out”. But I don’t want you to give up! I’m sharing some easy lactation recipes along with some breastfeeding tips that I wish someone had told me early on. I am not a medical professional or a lactation consultant, just a breastfeeding mama hoping to help.

Things to consider along with lactation recipes:

Proper latch –

I am just going to touch on the importance of having a proper latch. It is something that can make or break a breastfeeding journey. If you are having pain every time the baby latches onto the breast – you may need a deeper latch. The entire nipple and most of the areola should be in the babies mouth so that they can properly pull the milk from the breast.

Please see a lactation consultant if you are having latch issues. It can be an easy fix such as learning to get a deeper latch or it may be the sign of a lip/tongue tie issue. I just want to say don’t give up! There is a most likely a solution that will help with breastfeeding.

Water –

You need to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep up your milk supply. Eight 8 ounce glasses. Keeping hydrated is so essential to breastfeeding. In order to produce breast milk (a liquid) you need to keep your body full of water (a liquid). Makes sense, right?

It can be hard at first to drink that much water a day, so try infusing it with fruit or adding some flavor!

Rolled oats in a blue bowl on a napkin with berries and spoon

Foods to increase breast milk –

There are some foods that will naturally increase milk supply on their own. They are great to eat alone or to add to a lactation smoothie or cookies or any meal! Some of the top foods that boost milk supply are:

• Oats
• Spinach/leafy greens
• Flax seed
• Brewer’s yeast
• Coconut oil
• Fennel
• Ginger
• Raw cacao
• Nuts
• Quinoa
• Avocado

Try and add these foods to your daily meal plan as tolerated. My suggestion is to try one or two new lactation boosting food a week. This helps you identify which foods are helping increase your supply and which ones you (and baby) don’t tolerate as well.

Supplements to help increase breast milk –

I tried all of the supplements under the sun to help with milk supply when I was nursing. Some of them worked and some didn’t seem to have an affect on my supply. Each nursing mama is different though. Make sure to only try one supplement at a time so you can pinpoint which one is helping!

• Fenugreek
• Mother’s Love More Milk
• Mother’s milk tea
• Blessed thistle
• Goats rue
• Prenatal vitamin with iron – I found that iron was very important during pregnancy and nursing. If you are struggling with your milk supply even after trying the lactation boosting foods and supplements, I would suggest getting your iron checked.
• Sunflower lecithin – This supplement actually helps relax milk ducts and help milk flow. It was recommended to me when I had mastitis and helped tremendously! 

Also, if you have any questions on supplements I HIGHLY suggest talking to a lactation consultant. They are so full of breastfeeding knowledge and can lead you in the right direction. I am not a lactation consultant or medical professional, just a mama who wants to share her lactation knowledge.

Support –

I can not stress how important finding support during your breastfeeding journey is for success. There are days when you will want to just toss in the towel from pain or exhaustion or lack of sleep. Have someone you can text or call that will understand.

Social media is another great way to connect with other breastfeeding mamas. There are Facebook groups or Instagram accounts that are dedicated helping mamas succeed at nursing. You can ask questions, find other mamas in similar nursing situations and find great information. A few of my favorite breastfeeding centric Instagram accounts are:

• First latch
• The leaky boob
• Milky mama
• Breastfeed without fear
• Mrs. Patels

Lactation recipes –

Chocolate chip lactation cookies – These cookies have less then a cup of sugar for the whole batch! I love that this cookie helps increase production while being on the healthier side.

Chocolate peanut butter lactation smoothie – Yes, I will take my increased milk production with a side of chocolate and peanut butter! This smoothie has peanut butter, oats and flaxseed which are proven milk boosters.

No bake energy lactation bites – These no-bake lactation bites were a LIFESAVER after I had my third baby. I took them to the hospital with me and had some on hand for when we got home. They are packed with foods to increase milk supply.

Blueberry dark chocolate trail mix – This trail mix is easy to make and has dark chocolate, flax seed and chia seeds to help with lactation. It would be great to have on hand for late night snacking!

Sugar-free almond butter lactation smoothie recipe – I love that this smoothie is packed full of foods to help milk supply AND sugar-free. Plus its dairy and gluten free as well!

Blueberry oatmeal lactation muffins – I would LOVE to wake up to these delicious muffins, breastfeeding or not! But these ones have flax, brewer’s yeast and oats so they are sure to increase supply.

Baby mama lactation bars – Another tasty lactation recipe with chocolate chips, oats, brewer’s yeast and other milk supply boosting foods. Perfect for snacking!

Peanut butter apple pie lactation smoothie – Oats and flax seed are the milk producers in this yummy smoothie.

I hope that these easy lactation recipes help increase your milk supply and your nursing confidence! Don’t give up mama. It does get easier and it is so worth it! You got this.

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