Lactation cookies!

Holy hell.

Where have these been the last few months I've been struggling with supply?!?

I first heard about "lactation cookies" from a co-worker,

then did a quick search on Pinterest.

With too many recipes to choose from {HERE},

I decided to adapt them all into my own delicious concoction...

But before I really get started (and lose over half my audience),

let me preface by saying these don't make breast milk magically appear out of nowhere.  Therefore, perhaps "lactation cookies" isn't an appropriate name for these little gems.

Maybe they should be called super expensive "healthy ass cookies".

They just so happen to be full of healthy galactogogues

(read: foods that boost your milk supply),
which also so happen to be really good for you anyway - 

oats, flax seeds, nuts, and Brewer's yeast!

Note to self:  Brewer's yeast is NOT found in the baking aisle or in the beer section.

It is found in the vitamins and supplements section of the grocery store.

(Thank me later after you've avoided a painfully embarrassing encounter with the uppity Whole Foods employee.)

It is also expensive as hell.
As in $16 per can.

Good thing it's rather flavorless and immensely healthy,

so you can sprinkle it on just about anything.

Read all about the other health benefits of Brewer's yeast {HERE}.

Now that's all cleared up, let's proceed with this

FLOURLESS (yay, no gluten!) chocolate-studded cookie recipe...

Wet Ingredients:

1/2 cup softened butter

16 oz real peanut or almond butter

**not Jiffy (or any storebrand), I'm talking "grind your own PB", starting at ~$5 at Whole Foods.  You can easily make your own in the food processor

1 1/2 packed brown sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 Tbsp real maple syrup

Dry Ingredients:

1/2 tsp salt

3 Tbsp Brewers' yeast

**you MUST use Brewer's yeast to increase your breast milk supply, regular yeast won't work.  If you're just making these for health benefits, I still recommend using the Brewer's yeast, but in this case it would be an optional ingredient

1 cup flax seed (ground) or flax meal

**I ground mine in` my coffee grinder (after an unsuccessful attempt with the mortar & pestle)

3 1/2 c old-fashioned rolled oats

2 tsp baking soda

1 cup dark chocolate chips

1 cup almond slivers (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar until thoroughly incorporated.

Add eggs and beat until mixed.

Stir in vanilla and maple syrup.

Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl, mix thoroughly.

Add a little at a time to the wet mix.

Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Use an ice cream scoop to shape into golf ball-sized balls.

Place on a silpat or greased cookie sheet.

Bake for approximately 17 minutes.

Note:  You can freeze the dough balls on a tray, then store them in a gallon-size freezer bag, and simply bake them off throughout the month for fresh cookies anytime you feel like one!

These are DELICIOUS.

Whether you're a nursing mother...or her dessert-seeking partner in crime!

They are healthy enough to serve as a breakfast cookie alongside your coffee,

in my opinion.

:)

Flourless and full of flax and oats and nutty-protein-goodness.
Oh, and chocolate. ;)

Enjoy!

~photos by b / PB image via playing mom~