The Best Boobie Cookies (aka Lactation Biscuits)

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These Boobie Cookies (aka lactation biscuits) are a delicious snack to support breastmilk production for nursing mums.  They are a perfect mix of sweet and slightly salty, crisp on the edges and chewy in the middle. They’re a perfect snack to reach for during the middle of the night feeds. Packed with nourishing ingredients, these cookies provide mamas with essential fatty acids, fibre, galactagogues and calories, all of which support a healthy breast milk supply.

Benefits of Boobie Cookies

I’m going to be upfront here: there’s no evidence that “lactation biscuits” directly impact breast milk supply.   Even though many of the key ingredients do have galactagogue properties (a very cool herbal term for any plant that has the ability to support breastmilk production), some of the more well-known ones such as brewers yeast need to be consumed in far higher quantities than can be reasonably included in a cookie recipe and still be edible.

I have a clinical science degree majoring in naturopathy, so I like to have my facts straight when it comes to any natural medicine-related claims.  But I still love these cookies! I’ll whip up a batch for any new mama in my circle and I love having them on hand myself postpartum.

Establishing a Healthy Milk Supply with Boobie Cookies

There are a number of factors required for a healthy milk supply:

• a good latch
• all the conditions to create an oxytocin bubble (lots and lots of skin-on-skin and snuggles, a relaxed atmosphere and generally just allowing yourself to attune with your baby)
• sufficient nutrition and calories going in for mama.

These Boobie Cookies are a great source of nourishing, natural ingredients AND I would argue, helpful for being a delicious treat to pamper a new parent who is doing one of the most energy-intensive jobs there is: feeding another human through their own body.

Tips Making Boobie Cookies

• Store the biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also freeze the cookie dough for up to three months.
• It’s easy to grind your own flax seeds in a spice grinder.  If you don’t have one of these, look out for a “flaxseed meal” at your health food or grocery store. 
• If you are making these cookies for your own postpartum recovery, you can double the recipe. Then bake half, and freeze the other half of the cookie dough so you can (or better yet, someone else!) can bake these in a cinch.  

Variations for Boobie Cookies

• You could swap out the dates for figs and the cinnamon for orange zest if you’d like an Italian twist on these cookies
• If you’d like to be extra decadent, you can make these into chocolate-y editions by adding 1/3 cup of dark chocolate chips and ⅓ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder.  If you do, reduce the chopped dates and almonds from 1/2 cup, to 1/3 cup each.  If you do this, perhaps give them a miss as a middle-of-the-night snack option, as they will contain caffeine.  You need to get all the sleep you can!
• If you’d love to emphasise the salty-sweet combination, sprinkle sea salt flakes directly on the cookies as soon as they come out of the oven.
• If you don’t have any honey, you can use maple syrup or golden syrup.
• If you’d like to make a vegan variation, you can replace the butter with coconut oil and the honey with maple syrup

Ingredients

Rolled Oats

Local Honey, you could also use maple syrup or golden syrup.

Bicarb soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, bicarbonate of soda or baking soda.

Unsalted butter, cut into cubes.

Wholemeal wheat flour

Brown sugar, you could also use coconut sugar, jaggery or rapadura sugar.

Coconut, desiccated works best in this recipe.

Cinnamon, imparts a lovely warmth to the recipe.

Sea salt, I prefer the slightly coarse fine salt for satisfying salty bursts.

Almonds, chopped. You could also use pecans or walnuts.

Dates, chopped. You could also use dried apricots, sultanas, raisins, cranberries or figs.

Tools You May Need

2 cookie sheets

Baking paper

Mixing bowl

Wooden spoon

Cooling rack

How to Make Boobie Cookies

Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.  Line 2 large cookie trays with baking paper.

Stir butter and honey in a medium saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Stir in combined boiled water with baking soda and water.

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir to mix well. Make a well in the middle and added the wet ingredients.  Stir to combine.

Use a tablespoon to scoop dough and roll it into balls.  Place balls 5cm (2in) apart on lined trays, then flatten slightly with the palm of your hand.

Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown on the edges but still light brown in the middle (this is what will give you that heavenly crunch-chew texture). Cool biscuits on trays.  Once cooled through, store in an airtight container.

Boobie Cookie FAQ

Do lactation cookies actually work?

Yes and no. If they are included as part of a broader strategy of increasing nourishment and calories for mum and investigating any reasons behind low breast milk supply, then yes, they can help.

The best ways to establish a healthy milk supply are:

• a good latch
• all the conditions to create an oxytocin bubble (lots and lots of skin-on-skin and snuggles, a relaxed atmosphere and generally just allowing yourself to attune with your baby)
• sufficient nutrition and calories going in for mama.

Lactation cookies can be a helpful addition to a broader strategy of increasing nourishment and calories for mum, but it’s important to investigate any underlying reasons for low milk supply and consult with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

What makes a cookie a lactation cookie?

Including ingredients with known breast milk supply supporting actions (also known as galactagogues).  These include oats, flaxseeds and brewers yeast.  Please know that you need to consume at least 2-3 tablespoons of brewers yeast a day to make any difference with milk supply.  Most lacatation cookie recipes include this dose divided across 20+ cookies.

How many lactation cookies should you eat a day?

I would recommend enjoying two of these boobie cookies a day, with a cup of herbal tea as a relaxing moment for yourself.

When should you start eating lactation cookies?

You can begin straight away and pack some of these goodies into your hospital bag. But it’s generally recommended to start eating lactation cookies when breastfeeding is well established, usually around 2-4 weeks postpartum. This is because the first few weeks after giving birth are important for establishing a good milk supply, and it’s important to focus on getting a good latch, bonding, and getting enough rest and hydration during this time. Once breastfeeding is well established, lactation cookies can be a helpful addition to a broader strategy of increasing nourishment and calories for mama.

What are the disadvantages of lactation cookies?

Disadvantages of lactation cookies include the risk of consuming too many calories and simple sugars if eaten excessively. While lactation cookies are intended to be a healthy and nourishing snack, it’s important to eat them in moderation and to balance them with nourishing meals that are filled with good-quality fats, proteins, whole grains, fresh vegetables and fermented foods.

What foods increase milk supply?

Apart from lactation cookies, there are other foods with galactagogue properties that can increase milk supply. Oats, Barley, Goat’s Rue, Caraway seeds, Nettles, Blessed Thistle, Cumin, Raspberry leaf, Hops, Fenugreek, Flax seeds, Fennel seeds and leafy greens such as spinach and kale are also known to increase milk supply. It’s important to remember that while these foods can be helpful, they should not be relied upon as the sole solution for a low milk supply.

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If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you gave it 5 stars!