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4.8 from 198 votes

The Best Lactation Cookies

Healthy lactation cookies are made with flax seed, brewer's yeast, and rolled oats to help promote milk production for breastfeeding. They make an excellent gift for new moms!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
19 mins
Servings: 20 cookies
Calories: 124 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: gluten-free

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup melted coconut oil (see notes)
  • ¾ cup coconut sugar
  • 1 large egg (or 1 flax egg; see notes)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup oat flour (certified gluten-free, if needed)
  • 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
  • ¼ cup debittered brewer's yeast (see notes)
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ cup old fashioned oats
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the coconut oil, sugar, egg, and vanilla and mix well.
  2. Add in the oat flour, ground flax seeds, brewer's yeast, baking soda and salt, and stir again until a thick batter is formed. It may take a few minutes of stirring to incorporate the dry ingredients evenly. Fold in the oats and chocolate chips. (Do not taste-test the batter at this point.)
  3. Use a 1-ounce cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop the dough and drop it onto the lined pan, about 2 inches apart to allow for the cookies to spread. You should get 18-20 cookies from this recipe, so you'll need to use 2 pans, or bake in 2 separate batches. Bake at 350ºF for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cookies have spread and are lightly golden around the edges.
  4. When the cookies are done baking, let them cool on the pan for at least 15 minutes before serving. Once they have totally cooled to room temperature, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Or, freeze them for up to 3 months, if you want to make a double-batch.

Notes

  • Nutrition information is for 1 of 20 cookies. This information is automatically calculated, and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
  • Flour Note: If you prefer a flatter cookie, try using only 3/4 cup of oat flour in this recipe. I increased the amount to 1 cup in May 2023, because some readers reported them spreading too much on the pan with only 3/4 cup flour. They will turn out delicious either way, so the thickness is up to you!
  • Update Note: This recipe was updated in September 2022. You can find the original recipe at the bottom of this website, if you prefer that version. (I found them too dry, which is why they were updated!)
  • Use coconut oil that is labeled "refined" or "expeller pressed" if you want a cookie with zero coconut flavor. You can also replace the coconut oil with a 1/2 cup of softened butter, if you prefer.
  • To make a vegan lactation cookie, replace the egg by adding an extra tablespoon of ground flax seed plus 3 tablespoons of water to make a flax egg substitute.
  • Brewer's yeast can taste VERY bitter and ruin the flavor of your cookies. Look for non-bitter or debittered yeast for the tastiest results. (I most recently tried Blue Bonnet's brewer's yeast flakes, which have no bitter flavor.) You can also try using nutritional yeast instead, or replace this with a scoop of unflavored protein powder or an extra 3 tablespoons of oat flour, for a similar texture.
  • If you are gluten-intolerant be sure buy certified gluten-free oats. If you cannot find a brewer's yeast that is certified gluten-free, try using nutritional yeast instead, which is thought to have similar properties for milk production.

Nutrition Information

Calories 124kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 15g (5%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Trans Fat 0.01g Cholesterol 10mg (3%) Sodium 112mg (5%) Potassium 118mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 24IU (0%) Vitamin C 0.03mg (0%) Calcium 15mg (2%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 20cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 124

% Daily Value*

Calories 124kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 15g 5%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 0.01g 1%
Cholesterol 10mg 3%
Sodium 112mg 5%
Potassium 118mg 3%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 24IU 0%
Vitamin C 0.03mg 0%
Calcium 15mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.