No Bake Lactation Cookies Dairy Free and Gluten Free

No bake lactation cookies take just a few minutes to make. These tasty cookies don’t require any cooking, and are an easy way for breastfeeding moms to increase your milk supply.

If you are looking for easy lactation cookies, this is the recipe for you!

WHAT ARE NO BAKE LACTATION COOKIES?

Lactation cookies are nutrient dense treats containing ingredients that can boost breast milk production. These ingredients are called galactagogues.

No Bake Lactation Cookies are just what they sound like. The no bake cookies don’t require baking, and help increase lactation.

Some people call them no bake lactation bites, or lactation energy bites. But I love calling them no bake lactation cookies. Who doesn’t want an excuse to eat cookies every day?!

WHAT ARE GALACTAGOGUES?

Galactagogues are substances that promote lactation. They can be manufactured medications, but there are also several that occur naturally.

The galactagogues in my no bake lactation cookie recipe are flax seeds, rolled oats, brewer’s yeast, and almonds.

Some other galactagogues you can try are fenugreek and chickpeas. Just be aware that some babies get gas from fenugreek. Also, fenugreek makes your sweat smell like maple syrup!

DO LACTATION COOKIES REALLY WORK?

In my experience, YES! And these no bake lactation cookies really work too!

There are not really any scientific studies on effectiveness of food based galactagogues. But lactation consultants and midwives have been recommending them for decades. So there is plenty of anecdotal evidence.

I have received dozens of emails about my baked lactation cookies recipe. It has helped so many moms who were dealing with low milk supply. I even dealt with engorgement one day when I ate too many of them!

If you are struggling with milk production, they are definitely worth a try.

NO BAKE LACTATION COOKIES INGREDIENTS

Below are links to the exact ingredients I use to make these no bake cookies. I will also explain a little bit about each ingredient and their nutrition.

These are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy anything on Amazon using one of these links, we get a small commission. Of course it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thanks for supporting our family business!

ROLLED OATS

Oats are the main ingredient in these no bake lactation cookies. Oats are also one of the easiest and most affordable milk production boosting ingredients. Simply eating a bowl of oatmeal daily can help boost your milk supply.

Oats are packed with protein, fiber, iron, and complex carbs. This means they are great source of energy as well!

You can also use quick oats to make your cookies. We use rolled because we prefer their texture in oatmeal.

PEANUT BUTTER

The peanut butter is the “glue” that holds these no bake lactation cookies together. We use Adam’s Crunchy Peanut Butter because we buy it in huge jars from Costco.

You can use any peanut butter, but I definitely recommend one that is natural without added sugar.

Peanut butter is packed with healthy fats and protein. Those are so important for breastfeeding moms! The Adam’s crunchy peanut butter also contains less sodium than the creamy.

If you can’t have peanuts, you can swap for a different nut or seed butter. You may need to adjust the ratio of dry ingredients slightly. Just make sure your no bake lactation cookies easily hold together when you’re done mixing.

HONEY

Honey also helps bind the no bake lactation cookies together. We actually buy raw honey in bulk locally. It’s our sweetener of choice.
Raw honey is full of health benefits including being antibacterial. Just be sure not to give to children under age 2.

If you don’t have a local honey option, here’s a good raw honey from Amazon.

GROUND FLAX

I actually buy whole flax, and grind it myself for the no bake lactation cookies. But you can also just buy flax meal, which is already ground. I love the Bob’s Red Mill ground flaxseed meal.

Flax seeds are high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.They contain a variety vitamins and minerals, as well as lignan.

Lignan is a plant compound that is believed to lower cancer risks. Flax seeds contain 800 times more lignan than other plant sources! A Canadian study of more than 6,000 women determined those who eat flaxseeds are 18% less likely to develop breast cancer.

BREWER’S YEAST

Brewer’s yeast is also a powerful galactagogue. This yeast is a by product from brewing beer. In fact some lactation consultants recommend beer to help with milk production!

The yeast is packed with fiber, selenium, and B vitamins. Some people sub nutritional yeast in their no bake lactation cookies. But experts have said that the brewer’s yeast is better for milk production.

Some moms have trouble with the taste of brewer’s yeast. I don’t taste it in these cookies after they spend a day in the fridge. If you still taste the yeast the next day, don’t worry. You can make this no bake lactation cookies recipe without brewers yeast.

You may just need to add a little more almond flour or protein powder to adjust the consistency. Make sure the cookies hold together on their own when you form them. If they are super wet or sticky, add more of the other dry ingredients.

PROTEIN POWDER

It is so important for breastfeeding moms to get plenty of protein. Not only does protein help with your energy levels, but it is also involved in milk production.

Protein helps moms maintain lean tissue, and also provides protein in your breastmilk for baby. That protein helps babies grow new cells in their organs, muscles, and brains.

These no bake lactation cookies are packed with protein from the peanut butter, oats, protein powder, and almond flour.

I go through a LOT of protein powder when breastfeeding. I searched high and low for a good dairy free protein powder when my oldest was born. None of my babies have been able to digest dairy proteins!

Our favorite dairy free protein powder is this rice protein powder. It’s pretty good in smoothies like this dairy free chocolate milkshake. It also works well in baking and energy bites.

COCONUT OIL

Healthy fats are also very important for breastfeeding moms. Coconut oil contains healthy saturated fats that provide quick energy.

The fatty acids they contain are shorter than most fatty acids, so they actually help with fat burning!

This type of fatty acids also raises the good HDL cholesterol in your blood. HDL cholesterol is linked to a reduction in heart disease.

Another nice thing about coconut oil is that it solidifies when cooled. So the coconut oil helps hold the no bake lactation cookies together and makes them more solid after refrigeration.

ALMOND FLOUR

Almonds are another great ingredient for boosting milk production. Almonds are full of calcium and protein.

The monsaturated fats in almonds can also help with making your breast milk richer and creamier.

It’s a great idea to snack on a handful of almonds each day for a quick protein boost. But I also buy finely ground almond flour from Bob’s Red Mill. Then I can use it in baking, smoothies, and no bake lactation cookies.

VANILLA EXTRACT

The vanilla extract in the no bake lactation cookies is simply for added flavor. If you don’t have any, you can skip it. Just know it changes the flavor slightly.

DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS

I choose to use dairy free dark chocolate chipsin my lactation cookies. The dairy free chocolate chips are great for moms whose babies can’t digest dairy protein in their breast milk.

Dark chocolate chips also tend to have less sugar than semi sweet chocolate chips. Just make sure to check the ingredient label if you need dairy free chocolate chips. Not all dark chocolate chips are dairy free.

You want to check for milk, dairy, lecithin, or whey in the ingredients. Those all indicate dairy.

HOW TO MAKE NO BAKE LACTATION COOKIES

You can make no bake lactation cookies with just a large bowl and a spatula or spoon. But I find it easiest with a stand mixer.

1. Place oats, peanut butter, honey, protein powder, ground flax, brewer’s yeast, melted coconut oil, almond flour, and vanilla extract into a large bowl.
2. Mix well by hand, or on low speed with a stand mixer.
3. Check your consistency. If it seems too dry to hold together, you can add a little more peanut butter or melted coconut oil. If it seems too wet or sticky, add a bit more almond flour or protein powder.
4. Add dairy free dark chocolate chips and mix slowly until incorporated.
5. Roll about a tablespoon of cookie dough into a ball.
6. You can then flatten the balls between your palms if you want more of a cookie shape.
7. Layer the no bake lactation cookies in an airtight container. You can put parchment paper between the layers if you’d like. I find they aren’t that difficult to pull apart.
8. Seal and refrigerate until firm. You can keep these in the fridge for up to two weeks.

HOW MANY LACTATION COOKIES CAN YOU EAT?

I would start out with just two or three cookies a day for the first two days. See how they affect you before you add more. Getting engorged is NO FUN!

There’s not really a limit to how many you can eat. I will sometimes have one first thing in the morning for quick protein.

It’s also great to have one on your nightstand for those middle of the night feedings. I hate having to get up to eat at 1 am!

And yes, it’s fine to share your no bake lactation cookies with the family. They won’t start lactating! Just make sure not to give them to a child under 2 because of the raw honey.

PIN TO SAVE NO BAKE LACTATION COOKIES

Make sure to pin the recipe so you don’t lose it! When you make your own batch, we’d love to see a photo. You can just post it in the comments of the pin.

PRINTABLE NO BAKE LACTATION COOKIES RECIPE

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