These yummy no-bake lactation bites are perfect for a nursing mom or anyone who needs a healthy, hearty, handy boost of energy!
I know I’m not alone when I say breastfeeding is hard. It’s one of the most amazing things we can do for our babies as moms, but also can be the most exhausting, frustrating, time-consuming, emotional aspect of early motherhood. I’m 2 months into my third go-round at breastfeeding and I can say that although it has gotten easier and much smoother with each baby, it’s still really hard.
I’ve always had the desire to breastfeed our babies and before we even had babies, I had this glorious vision of easily and exclusively breastfeeding them until they were at least a year old. Well, when Baker was born, my visions for how breastfeeding should go were quickly proven wrong. I just didn’t and couldn’t make enough milk. We tried everything…lactation consultants, nursing as often as possible, pumping after and between each feeding, lots of water, lots of rest, Fenugreek, Mother’s Milk tea, Domperidone medicine, increasing my calorie intake by 1000 extra calories on top of the 2000+ I was already eating, and anything else that was recommended. I was willing to try anything and although my supply did increase some, I just couldn’t keep up with his growing demand so we had to supplement with formula.
I was really sad at first. I felt like such a failure for not being able to feed my baby like mothers are supposed to be able to do. Fortunately, I have a great support system around me that encouraged and reminded me that I was doing my best and that the breast milk I was able to provide for Baker was doing him great and better than none. So I pressed on and continued to feed Baker with a combination of breast milk and formula for 6 months until he was eating solids. A few months in, I ended up pumping exclusively so I knew exactly how much I was making and how much he was getting. I also continued to pump every 3 hours even when he was sleeping a 12-hour stretch through the night. This kept up the demand so I was able to provide him with even more breast milk throughout the day. It worked, but boy was I glad when it came time to pack away the pump.
So when we learned we were expecting twins, I was hopeful to provide as much breast milk for them as possible, but knew that it would be a miracle if I made enough. I was much more comfortable going into breastfeeding with the twins, but the fact that there were two of them was definitely trying and tricky. I started out feeding them both at once and then just alternating breasts, but when they got a little bigger, I could just feed one at a time. I pretty quickly resorted to pumping exclusively for them so that they were each getting the same amount of breast milk and so that we knew how much to supplement with. Whew, now those feedings were exhausting, but I got the hang of it and couldn’t have done it without Brandon’s help, especially in the beginning. When Brandon returned to work, I got into a routine of pumping while the twins were drinking a bottle and then feeding them the breast milk I had just pumped at the next feeding. I would fix their bottles with a combination of breast milk and formula, get them all propped up in two Boppy pillows right in front of me, get myself set up with the hands-free pump, and then hold the bottles in their mouths while I pumped away. All this while keeping an eye on Baker, who was just 19 months when they were born. Absolute craziness looking back on it, but honestly it worked and everyone was healthy and happy. The twins learned to hold their bottles pretty early on which made for much smoother feedings and gave my arms a much welcomed break. We did this for almost 6 months before I packed away the pump once again.
Before the twins were born, I started hearing about lactation cookies. Eating cookies that could possibly increase my milk supply. Score! Sign me up! I even came up with a great Lactation Cookie recipe of my own. Whether they were really the reason for my increase in milk supply or not, I loved them and needed them to satisfy my constant hunger. I would eat 1-2 of these lactation cookies every time I nursed or pumped. Yes, that’s a lot of cookies, my friends, but I was trying to produce as much as possible for twins and with an already low milk supply, I needed all the boost and calories I could get. I definitely made several additional ounces each day compared to what I made when Baker was a baby and could feel a difference in the fullness of my breasts.
Well, here we go again, with little Brooklynn! She latched like a champ from the minute she was born and I am definitely making more milk this time than I did with Baker or the twins which I’m so excited about, but I’m to the point now where I just can’t keep up with her growing demand.
Oh, and I learned that I make skim milk. Go figure! In the beginning, she was getting plenty of milk and was completely satisfied with lots of wet diapers, but she just wasn’t gaining weight. This is the first time I’ve heard this, but my pediatrician said that my milk is probably more on the skim side. He said that some women make cream and others make skim while others are in between. So we tested some of my milk by pumping a bottle and letting it set to see how much fat separation there was. And guess what? There’s hardly any fat separation. My milk even looks skim. Y’all, I eat lots of fatty foods (have you seen my addiction to donuts on Instagram?? Just kidding!). Seriously, I am always eating healthy fats like almonds, peanut butter, avocados, olive oil, etc. The pediatrician suggested I up my healthy fat intake to see if we could fatten my milk up a bit. So I went to town eating several avocados (hello guacamole & avocado toast!), handfuls of almonds & cashews, full fat milk, peanut butter on top of and in everything, eggs, and any other healthy fats that I could consume, almost to the point of making myself sick. I could see a slight increase in thickness to my milk, but nothing to warrant making myself sick over so I continue to choose healthy fats as much as possible, but more in moderation.
Before Brooklynn was even born, I knew I would be wanting lactation cookies on hand and thought it might be a little too ambitious to be baking cookies all the time while also trying to keep 4 kiddos alive. 😉 So I came up with these no-bake lactation bites that are so easy to make and can be ready to eat in 10 minutes or less. They’ve been great because in those early days, my mom or Brandon could make them for me without having to worry about baking cookies and the boys love helping make and eat them too. They call them “mama’s medicine balls”. Haha! Because if we’re running low and they want some, I tell them “those are for mama, they’re like my medicine so I can make milk for Brooklynn.” 😉 😉
So what makes no-bake lactation bites so great for nursing? Well, it’s been said that oatmeal, brewer’s yeast and healthy fats such as peanut butter and flaxseed can help increase a mother’s milk supply. Whether it works or not, I can’t say for sure, but these bites are healthy, hearty and handy. I like to have some made at all times because when I get hungry, I get hungry. I need something asap before my hungry state turns hangry. 😉 I snack on these little bites of yumminess all day long…first thing in the morning, on the way to get the boys from school, while pumping and even in the middle of the night (because when I’m nursing, I can’t even make it through the night without eating something. It’s crazy!). They’re full of my favorite flavors (peanut butter and chocolate!! What! What!) and textures (oatmeal, flaxseed, nuts, mmmm…mmmm!). I love them so much and seriously never get sick of them. I most often make them into these bite-sized balls (for convenience and great portion size), but sometimes I’ll just press the mixture into an 8×8-inch square dish and cut them into bars. I most often double the recipe because we go through them so fast.
I always leave the base recipe the same with the oats, flaxseed, brewer’s yeast, peanut butter or almond butter, honey and vanilla, and I most often just add in dark chocolate chips, but sometimes, I’ll leave the chocolate chips out because I like eating them without chocolate chips in the middle of the night. Or in addition to the chocolate chips, I’ll add in 1/2 cup chopped nuts (such as almonds or walnuts) or a handful of dried cranberries, just to switch them up a bit.
If you’re a nursing mama and looking for something to have on hand to keep you satisfied and energized, these no-bake bites are awesome! And if you’re not nursing and just looking for something nutritious and delicious to get you through a busy/active day, they’re so great for that too!
And don’t be scared by the brewer’s yeast. It’s a nutritional supplement that’s been shown to enhance energy levels and boost the immune system and we could all use a little of that most of the time. I buy mine from Whole Foods, but I think you can order it online too. I’m a huge fan of brewer’s yeast!
Well, there you have it. My struggles and successes with breastfeeding my babes along with a great recipe for no-bake lactation bites, that I know you’ll love!
SEE HOW THEY’RE MADE:
Sending lots of love and hugs to all my fellow mamas out there! Hang in there and know that you’re doing your best, no matter how you do it!
xoxo,
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup ground or milled flaxseed
- 3 tablespoons brewer’s yeast
- 1 cup peanut butter or almond butter
- ½ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add all ingredients except for the chocolate chips. Mix on low speed until mixture is well combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Roll mixture into 2-tablespoon sized smooth balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or enjoy right away. Once the bites have set, transfer them to an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
PRODUCTS USED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE:
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Yay! Thanks for the recipe! I sent my hubby to the grocery store to get some ingredients I don’t have at home. I also need something that boosts my supply. I also love “sweet peanut soup”, (google it if you’re interested). my mom made this during my first month of PP, my kinda comfort food. Basically just boil the white raw peanuts until soft and then add sugar! I use pressure cooker. Usually we eat it with Chinese long doughnut! (or you may substitute it with croissant or even donuts! haha.
Thank you so much for this recipe, it is so addictively awesome!!!! I added a bit if cinnamon and think that is good and healthy too!!! My favorite part is the no-bake, I feel we don’t lose any of the nutrients to the cooking process. Thankfully, there are far less calories in these than I thought because I can’t stop eating them!!!
You’re most welcome, Aubrey! I’m so happy you’re enjoying them. Thanks for sharing!
Aubrey,
Hey Mama! I loved your comment! Have these bites helped you with your milk supply?!
I think it is so great to have a go to energy bite to help feed our little monsters!!!
Thank you for your idea in adding the cinnamon!!! It will be fun eating these during the Holidays!! I hope you have an energetic day!! Hugs to you Mama and your littles!!
xoxo, wldspice <3
How many calories are in them?
Hi Cheyenne! I don’t provide nutritional information because everyone uses different brands of ingredients which often have differing nutritional values. I would recommend plugging the ingredients you use into a free online nutrition calculator like: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator Hope this helps. Enjoy!
You are doing amazing work! Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipes. I started on just Lactation Cookies and noticed minimal improvement in milk supply. So I started Domperidone (Motilium) 3x10mg three times a day. (I’ve got it online to save $, if you’re curious just search on Google for this keyword “Make24milk” 👍 to find the reliable source) I got great results. Now I take Domperidone (Motilium) and your tasty Lactation cookies. This is a great combination. Love your recipes ❤️!
[…] N0-Bake Lactation Bites– The Baker Mama […]
Maegan. I just LOVE following along on your blog and Instagram. Everything you make is seriously drool worthy and I swear you have THE cutest kids. I just read Brooklynn’s (such a cute name btw) Birth Story and I loved reading this post. Although I’m not a mom (yet) I always love reading about child birth, etc. Long story short, you’re amazing!
[…] these no bake lactation bites for my upcoming trip. And I’m not even a […]
Breastfeeding was a nightmare for me for the first 2 months (difficulty with latching and undiagnosed thrush for 6 weeks…youch!) and still, almost 8 months in, I worry about my supply daily. I always have a batch of lactation cookies on hand but I love this idea for lactation bites! And I love that they are no-bake. These are going on my weekend to-do list…and I’m going to double the recipe like you suggested, even though I don’t have other kids that will be eating them. I just know I will regret it if I don’t!
Yikes! And being a new mom makes it even more stressful. So awesome that you’re 8 months in! Looking back, it’s all worth it, but in the moment it can be so exhausting both physically and mentally. Hope you enjoy the bites! 🙂
What is the best brewers yeast to use. There are so many and different milligrams?
Hi Samantha! Here are a few of my favorites that I’ve ordered through Amazon:
https://amzn.to/2HKRqT4
https://amzn.to/2HKNmSD
https://amzn.to/2Z1tCA5
I’m just about 9 months into my third go around with nursing. I agree it’s a beautiful way to bond with our babies…but BOY is it exhausting. Every time I tell my husband I am going to wean my babies sooner than a year…but I can never bring myself to do it. 😉 It definitely is a labor of love for me! In my most tired and sick-of-being-touched moments I sometimes wish that my milk would dry up so that I could stop (LOL)! These bites look awesome! 🙂
I hear ya, Laura! It’s definitely bittersweet when the time does come to stop nursing. A labor of love for sure! Best wishes! 🙂
How long are they good not in the fridge ?
Definitely a week or maybe even two. They’ll just be sticky from the honey and peanut butter.
Do these freeze well? Wanting to make them in advance!
Thanks!
Hi Allison! Yes, they’ll freeze great! Just freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet first for about an hour and then transfer them to an airtight freeze safe container or freezer safe baggie to store them. Enjoy!
I always freeze them! I’ve made these before (without the brewers yeast) as energy bites and my family loves them!! Just made them tonight with the brewers yeast!! Fingers crossed this helps my supply! 🤞🏼
Thanks for sharing and best wishes, Brianna! xoxo
I keep mine in the freezer, they tend to fall apart in the fridge!
I tried making these and they taste sharp due to the brewer’s yeast. Is it the same for everyone else? I just made them last night and I’m not sure if they’re making any difference yet.
Yeah they were a bit sharp for me too and i even added more honey and used semisweet chocolate 🙁 They weren’t HORRIBLE but just had an odd taste to it.
I haven’t made them yet, but the brewer’s yeast I picked up today said “unbittered” on it. Hope they come out alright. 🙂
I agree mine have a bitterness also! They are still tasty though.
I used debittered brewers yeast and it almost has a very mild nutty taste..
I made them and added cocoa powder instead of choc chips they taste good but as for the milk process I haven’t seen a difference. The only difference I’ve had is bad gas and those ground flax seeds really make you poop lol. Just being honest!!!
Does it matter if it’s old fashioned oats? Would instant oats be just as good?
And is the honey used to sweeten it? Im wondering if I should omit it.
Thank you for the recipe!
Hi Pang! You can definitely use instant oats in place of the rolled oats. The honey adds sweetness, but also acts as a binding ingredient to hold the oats together along with the peanut butter. Enjoy!
Thanks sooooo much for this!!! Just a quick Q, how much should/could I eat per day?
Hi Monique! I’m no nutritionist so I wouldn’t be able to recommend how many to eat a day. I personally eat 4-6 a day, but when I’m nursing, I have to keep my caloric and fat intake really hight to keep up with demand and fatten up my skim milk. If your track calories, you could factor these into your daily intake or you could just eat them as snacks throughout the day when you get hungry. And if you’re nursing, you’re probably hungry all the time, like me! 😉 Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Enjoy!
Any idea how many calories each bite is?
Hi Erin! I don’t provide nutritional information for recipes, but you could easily plug the exact ingredients you use into a free online nutrition calculator to get the calorie count for each bite. I’d recommend: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator
I hate peanut butter.. can I just double the honey??
Hi Nickolet! I think doubling the honey would be too sweet and sticky. Do you like any other kind of nut butter like almond, cashew, etc.?
I just made these and they’re delicious! I found your recipe when I forgot to buy butter to make lactation cookies, but these were so easy that they may be my go to. I only pump 2.5oz total in 20 min right now and I’m hoping these really up my output because I’ll be going back to work in a few weeks and I’m scared I won’t be able to pump enough for my son. Do you eat these right before/while nursing? Or just throughout the day?
Hi Lauren! So glad you like them! Yes, I eat them right before/during/right after a feeding and just when I’m hungry for a snack. Best wishes going back to work. 🙂
Hi Lauren, I’m in the same boat as you. I’m pumping 2.5-3 oz total in a 20 minute session. Did these cookies help? I’m going to make some either way but just wondering.
Did they increase your pumped amount?
I just wanted to say thanks for being so honest about your breastfeeding story. You were incredible to pump for your twins so long and work that hard to feed them and your other babyies. You deserve all the cookies in the world. I’m so sick of looking on Pinterest and seeing tips by women on how to pump the day’s milk by 8am. Why? So they can get a viral post? Ugh. I’ve ranted off subject, but you’re awesome and I’m gonna subscribe to your blog. Thanks for this yummy looking recipe!
I didn’t realize I didn’t have flax seeds I do have milled flax seed. Would it be ok to use that instead since I do not have flaxseeds?? Or could I replace them with chia seeds?
Hi Marcela! Milled flaxseeds are what I use so you’re good to go! Enjoy!
I loved this recipe made this twice now, added dried cherries talk about yummy!!!
Just made these! I’m three months into breastfeeding our first and am always worried about keeping up my calories so that I’m making enough milk:P I love that these are so quick and easy! I subbed half the honey with 1/4 cup of coconut oil so they wouldn’t be quite as sweet and they are deeee-licious! Thanks for the recipe!
[…] Lactation bites were my BFF. I loved making myself lactation bites, they were so tasty & gave me the extra little boost that I sometimes needed (especially around month 10 when I started to have my period again). […]
How many bites a day should I eat?
Hi Nathalie! I wouldn’t be able to recommend. It’s up to you, your milk supply, how hungry you are, etc. I personally need a lot of extra calories when I’m nursing and I’m always hungry so I eat a few bites each time I nurse. Enjoy!
Is it possible to sub maple syrup for the honey?
Hi Rachelle! Yes, I think maple syrup would be a great substitution for the honey. You might add just a little at a time until the mixture is easy to form into balls. Let me know how they turn out. Enjoy!
I’m waiting for my first baby to arrive (due next week!) and have gone on maternity leave and am looking for little projects to keep me busy. These are so delicious!! I subbed semi sweet mini choc chips and cut the amount (the cookie mixture was plenty sweet for me) and I can’t stop eating them. I’m full to bursting but they are SO good! Hope this baby comes in the next several days…planning to take these in my hospital bag as one of my post-birth snacks. Otherwise will have to make a second batch 😉. Thanks for the recipe!
Congrats Brittany! You’re so close! Wishing you a smooth and safe delivery and lots of snuggles as you welcome your sweet baby. So glad you’re enjoying the bites! They’ll be great for post-birth snacks. 🙂
Thanks for the recipe! I feel like it actually worked to boost my supply when I suspect the Honest Company’s Lactation Plus reduced it.
I used chia seeds instead of flax. They are really good with peanut butter.
Do you think that the consistency would be the same if the oatmeal was ground?
Hi Kimberly! That’s so great to hear! I don’t think the consistency will be the same if you grind the oatmeal, but I think they’ll still taste great. You might have to adjust the honey and peanut butter slightly to make sure they hold together. Let me know how they turn out! Enjoy!
Hi! These look great, I can’t wait to try them! Do you think they would freeze ok? I often freeze other bliss ball type recipes to extend life. I was hoping to make a big batch of these before Bub arrives!
Hi Sarah! Yes, they’ll freeze great! Just freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet first for about an hour and then transfer them to an airtight freeze safe container or freezer safe baggie to store them. Enjoy!
I’ve been following you (and your adorable family) on Instagram and Bloglovin for over a year now but I just stumbled upon this post when I was looking for lactation recipes. I’m six weeks into the breastfeeding journey with my first baby. I am in the same boat and have tried ever suggestion under the sun but I still have to supplement with formula. I actually have had to since the beginning because it took two weeks for my milk to really come in. It made me feel so much better to hear I’m not the only one with this struggle and it’s reassuring that you had better luck with each kid. Anyways this is kind of long and rambling but I just wanted to say thanks for sharing your story!
I’ve made these a few time with pretty good results but I had to leave out the flax (my intolerance) and Brewers Yeast (LOs intolerance). Instead, I replaced them with malt ovaltine and coconut oil. Oh and I only used a TBSP of raw honey the second time because it was too sweet but they turned out delicious.
Any idea how many calories would be in 1 bite?
I’m just curious 🙂
Hi Katie! I don’t provide nutritional information on my site, but you can easily plug the ingredients you use into an online nutrition calculator. Just google “free online nutrition calculator”. Hope this helps!
Hi, I’m due in three weeks with my first baby and am loving the look of this recipe! Hoping my eating them earlier in they help bring my milk in quicker. Just wondering how long these would keep in the freezer for and I was hoping to make a big batch of them to take to the hospital and also to have some when I get back home? Thanks so much.
Hi Lauren! Congrats on your first baby arriving soon. So exciting! These should last for up to 4 weeks in the freezer if stored in a freezer safe baggie or container. Wishing you a smooth and safe delivery and lots of special moments with your precious new addition. Enjoy!
Sounds wonderful! Could I make this in a food processor instead of with electric mixer? I don’t have a paddle attachment.
Hi Erica! I would suggest just stirring the ingredients together in a bowl with a spoon instead. The food processor will chop the ingredients up, which you don’t want. Enjoy!
I’m just wondering if you have a nut free recipe. I wanna make oatmeal bites but all the recipes I find have peanut butter or other nuts in them and I unfortunately can’t have those.
Hi Shelby! You could try sunflower seed butter.
Hi there! Do you use Brewer’s Yeast Powder? Or just Brewer’s Yeast (non-powder)?
Thanks!
Hi Monet! I use the powder.
Hello! You mentioned you bought your yeast at Whole Foods, I went there and they sold me Nutritional Yeast and said it was the same thing. Can you provide the name of what you use? I’ve read online and it says they are different. Friends say the nutritional yeast tastes cheeses (and not good in cookies) where the brewers yeast is like beer. Any input is appreciated! Thank you!!
Hi Amber! I use BlueBonnet Brewer’s Yeast Powder and they’ve always had it at Whole Foods. You can buy it on Amazon as well. You definitely want brewer’s yeast over nutritional yeast. Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Mmmm I just made these and I can’t stop eating them! I actually substituted the chocolate chips for a mix of M&M’s and white chocolate chips. I liked them with a little more sweetness than the dark chocolate. Thank you so much for this recipe! I hope it helps me produce more for my son. I’m trying desperately to keep up with his (enormous) appetite. Thanks for sharing your story and this delicious recipe!
Hi, these are so good! I am eating one right now. I don’t know if I measured incorrectly, but I had way to much flax seed. I am sure I put half a cup. But it seems like so much more. Not quite the fan of them, get stuck in my teeth and of you live in the mid west the seeds remind me of ticks! 😝
I will make them again for sure, less flax seed I think. Other wise so simple to make and delicious!
Hello! I’m pregnant and I want to get prepping on snacks and meals. Do you think I can make a batch of these and freeze them?
Hi Silvana! Yes, they’ll freeze great! Just freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet first for about an hour and then transfer them to an airtight freeze safe container or freezer safe baggie to store them. Best wishes!
This is very similar to my protein balls–minus the protein shake mix. They are so good. Oh and I also added dried unsweetened coconut. I like the texture it adds.
I’m nine months into nursing my first child and my supply just took a huge hit since he’s teething, I had my wisdom teeth taken out and I got a stomach virus all with in three weeks of each other. I’m desperately trying to increase my supply. I know I could just have finally regulated from my over supply that I had for the longest time but I miss having that abundance of milk and not needing to supplement (I have been supplementing for a couple months now). Thanks for the back story an drew the recipe!
Love these, but replaced the peanut butter with Nutella. Any idea how to get the nutrient info?
Hi Amanda! I don’t provide nutritional information on my site, but you can easily plug the ingredients you use into a free online nutrition calculator to get the info. Just google “free online nutrition calculator”. Hope this helps!
Great cookies! Is there anyway to tell the calorie count on these? Trying to increase my calorie intake for milk production.
Hi Stacey! I don’t provide nutritional information on my site, but you can easily plug the ingredients into an online nutrition calculator to get the calorie count per serving. Just google “free online nutrition calculator”. Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Maegan- I’ve made these countless times and always mean to say thank you for such as great, easy recipe! I love them and will continue to make them even when not pregnant, nursing, etc. I like throwing in other stuff too like unsweetened coconut flakes or almond meal.
Love it, Heather! I’m so happy you make and love them and that you like making them your own with coconut flakes and almond meal! Enjoy them and your sweet little one(s)! 🙂
Any chance you did check out the nutritional info, Maegan? Please pass along if you did!! tyvm!!
Hi Liz! I don’t provide nutritional information for my recipes, but you can easily plug the ingredients you use into a free online nutrition calculator to get the information. Just google “free online nutrition calculator”. Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Sorry I replied to the wrong comments.. Amanda/Stacey – any chance you ladies got the info you were looking for so I can leverage off of your hard work? 😉
These are delicious! I (almost) feel guilty eating them 😉 I only add half the honey, and sub in coconut oil in its place for the health benefits.
Yum! Cannot wait to try these when baby comes this summer!
About to make my second batch of these. These are amazing! Just had my 4th baby as well 2 weeks ago, and my kids are close in age too! (No twins here, but my oldest will be 5 in a few months….so ages 4, 3, 2, and a newborn…its a circus!) Ps I added cocoa powder to my first batch bc we had run out of chocolate chips. They still came out great! Thanks for the recipe.
If I don’t have chocolate chips can I substitute Cocoa powder? If so how much?
Hi Rebekah! I wouldn’t recommend substituting cocoa powder for chocolate chips. It will probably dry out the bites. I would need to test the recipe with cocoa powder before I could say how much would be needed or if any other ingredients would need to be adjusted to make it work. Maybe just make them without chocolate chips. They’ll still taste great!
I really love these and will differently keep making them the only thing I did different was mini chocolate chips and I couldn’t find brewers yest so I’m gonna order that for next time.
Hi I dont have one of those awesome stand mixers. Would a hand mixer work?
Hi Vanessa! Of course, or you could even use a good old wooden spoon. Enjoy! 🙂
These came out absolutely deliciously! I made them into bars as you suggested as an option. I’ll probably try dialing down the honey next time since I’m trying to watch my sugar intake, but this is an absolute treat. Even my hubby approved. I also loved your sharing of your breastfeeding journey. <3
So great to hear, Maritza! Making them into bars makes the recipe even quicker, which I love. Enjoy! 🙂
My sweet baby’s name is Baker as well!! But she’s a girl. (: I’m anxious to try these!
What if I subsituted chia seeds for the brewers yeast?
Hi Chelsea! I think it would work great. Enjoy!
Could I leave the yeast out or would I have to substitute it with something else?
Hi Kalee! You can leave the brewer’s yeast out. Enjoy!
How many did you eat per day to see a difference?
Hi Margot! I certainly wouldn’t be able to recommend how many to eat a day to see a difference because every mom is different. Some could eat just one and notice a big difference while others would need to eat several to notice a small difference. I personally would eat 4-6 a day for a good boost in my supply. When I’m nursing, I have to keep my caloric and fat intake really high to keep up with demand and fatten up my skim milk so I used these bites for both supply boost and good caloric/fat increase in my diet. Hope this helps & best wishes!
How long did it take for you to see the increase? A day? Few days? Week?
Thank you!
Hi Jennifer! Usually within a few days. Depending on demand, I would adjust the number of bites I’d eat each day. Hope this helps. Best wishes!
Just read your story, you are amazing! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Thanks Kira! Enjoy & best wishes! 🙂
I was drinking upspring milkflow powder with fenugreek and blessed thistle to increase supply and noticed my son was more fussy trying to pass gas so I stopped that and he seemed fine. So, I was looking for something to increase my supply without having to take fenugreek and stumbled across these bites! So easy to make. I have definitely noticed an increase. I exclusively pump due to latching problems and pump between 7-9 times a day (my son is two months). I’ve been able to pump betwee 28-32 ounces a day!! I’ve also been eating as much oat related products as possible. So I snack on life cereal, oatmeal square cereal, granola with pumpkin and chia, and oatmeal squares. Quicker products have oats in them and I think that’s been helpful too. But I have noticed that when I don’t have these bites that my supply drops a bit. They taste great and I always have some in my freezer.
Hi Katie! I’m so happy you found these bites and that they are helping increase your supply for your little guy. Love all the oat product recommendations. That will be so helpful for others! I was the same way…eating anything and everything with oats in it really helped. I know how much of a commitment it is to pump exclusively so props to you, mama! You’re amazing! Best wishes and enjoy that little guy! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Hi! I searched all over for brewer’s yeast, and I ended up getting packets of yeast from a beer home brewing supply store. I said I was looking for brewer’s yeast for baking. Think this is all the same?
Hi Sarah! Yes, it should be the same. If you need more and have a Whole Foods near you, you should definitely be able to find it there. Best wishes!
I have a two week old. This is my third child, all breastfed, but I started to lose my milk supply so I desperately looked for anything that would increase my supply. I tried this recipe first because I didn’t have time to bake lactation cookies. I also don’t have a mixer so I just used a spatula and my hands to mix I loved them. I don’t know if it’s coincidence, but yesterday I was pumping 4-5 oz per session and today I’ve been pumping 7.5 oz. I want to try adding dried cranberries on the next batch, and am even thinking of making these as power bars for cycling. Bottom line, thanks for such an easy and great recipe!!
Can you freeze them?
Hi Elizabeth! Yes, they’ll freeze great! Just freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet first for about an hour and then transfer them to an airtight freezer safe container or freezer safe plastic bag to store them. Enjoy!
Oh shoot…I see this now. Okay..I will make and freeze these. Thank you!!
Great, Heidi! Enjoy & best wishes!
HI! Sorry if this has been asked before – how do you think these would freeze? I am pregnant with #3 – and know that I never produce enough milk so trying to plan ahead 🙂
Hello! I’m a lactation consultant who loves this recipe! I have made multiple batches for friends and would love to share your recipe with mama’s at a local latch-on event we will be having on Saturday in honor of world breastfeeding week. I would like to have printed copies of your recipe, with credit given to you for the source. Please let me know if this would be ok. Thank you!
Hi Jessica! Please email me at info@thebakermama.com and we can discuss further. Thanks!
Would I be able to make a large amount and then freeze them and just thaw them out when i run low?
Hi Deyanira! Absolutely! Just freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet first for about an hour and then transfer them to an airtight freezer safe container or freezer safe plastic bag to store them. Enjoy!
I don’t really like peanut butter that much. Are there substitutes I can use instead of peanut butter to bind all the ingredients?
Hi Missy! You could use almond butter, sunflower seed butter, blended dates, or really any nut or seed butter that you might like. Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Hi, I just wanted to say these look great, I’m going to try making some as soon a second I get the chance. Also, you’re peadiatrician doesn’t know what he’s talking about with the ‘skim’ milk thing! The fat concentration of breast milk changes over a feed – in the beginning it is lower in fat, called foremilk, and the last bit is higher in fat, called hindmilk. So when he got you to express you might not have pumped long enough to get all the hind milk! Your baby is also more efficient at removing milk than a pump. Apparently all women’s let down patterns are a bit different too and the last let down can occur around 8 minutes after the one before it, and that’s where most of the fat will be.
Hi Jenni! They’re so yummy. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did when I was nursing. My pediatrician was spot on as well as my lactation consultant. I ended up pumping exclusively for my daughter for several months and there were several days when I had to store everything I pumped and give it to her the next day or a few days later due to work/travel/etc. and I never got more than a very thin layer of separation at the top of my milk. My milk always looked skim (almost more like water) and the layer of separation on top looked more like milk than anything close to cream. I have friends who pump exclusively too and every ounce they pump looks and stores like cream. And I have friends who produce milk like something in between. So based on the way my milk looked and the lack in weight gain from all of my babies when I was breastfeeding exclusively, I do believe I make skim milk.
Hi there!!! Is it vanilla extract o vanilla flavouring? Thanksss
Hi Giselle! It’s vanilla extract. Enjoy!
Hi, I’m pregnant with my 3rd due Dec. I never made hardly any milk for my other 2. My first I tried fenugreek, teas, prescription meds, and pumping after every feeding. Nothing increased my supply and always had to supplement. My second I always supplemented and gave him what little tiny bit of milk i made while I could, only a couple weeks. I’m not sure if anything will help but am willing to try. Do you think if I make these and start eating them a couple weeks before I’m due it’ll help “prep” for milk or is it more of a increase once you have milk type of thing? Hope that makes sense.
Hi Stephanie! Congrats on #3! Maybe check with your doctor, but I think it’s certainly worth a try. Everything in them is good for you, whether nursing, pregnant or neither. Best wishes! 🙂
Hey mommas! I know a bunch of these are more than a year old, but for the mommas just getting here, I add cinnamon to the brewers yeast & let it sit like that while I get everything else ready. Helps! Doesn’t completely kill it, but I’m pretty sure the only thing that would, is do me thing I’m not willing to do…removal of taste buds! Lol
On our 13th month! I’m excited & dreading when she no longer wants milkies.
Have a blessed day!
Great tip, Erin! Thanks for sharing with everyone. Best wishes!
These are deeelicious!! Trying to get my supply back up after a 4 day nursing strike from my 9 month old!! Thanks for the yummy, and super easy recipe!!
Are the chocolate chips a necessary ingredient or just for taste? I’m allergic to chocolate!
Hi Sara! The chocolate chips are just an addition for taste. You can definitely leave them out. Enjoy!
I love love love these lactation bites. I like them the best with semi sweet chocolate chips and instead of a cup of peanut butter, I do 1/2 cup of pb and 1/2 cup of nutella. They are delicious and so easy!
Thanks for sharing, Hannah! I love your addition and substitutions. Yummmm! 🙂
It’s ok that the oats are raw ?
Hi Yessi! I eat raw old-fashioned oats all the time. I haven’t ever heard that they’re not okay to eat and I haven’t ever had any issues eating them.
MAEGAN
I just made these no bake cookies and I was so easy and so tasty. Thank you so much for the recipe. I hope that it will help boost my milk supply up.
Yay, Tracy! I’m so happy to hear you enjoy them as much as I do. Best wishes! 🙂
I couldn’t find brewers yeast at the store but found yeast flakes. Says it can be used for drinks or in food. Is this the same or different?
Hi Natasha! It’s different, nutritional yeast has a nutty, cheesy flavor which might not taste so great in this recipe. It has very similar benefits though. I find my brewer’s yeast at Whole Foods if you have one nearby. I think you can order it online too. Hope this helps & best wishes!
Hi Maegan!
I absolutely love these lactation bites and make them every single week! Thanks for an amazing recipe. Was just wondering how long these are good for in the fridge?
Thank you,
Lindsay Smyers
Hi Lindsay! I’m so happy to hear you are enjoying them. They’ll keep for up to two weeks in the fridge. Enjoy! 🙂
Wow- these are good! Thanks for the recipe! I didn’t like some lactation cookies I made, but these are great. I didn’t have chocolate chips, but I had a few peanut butter chips. So, I substituted them and added 1.5 tbsp. of cocoa powder. They are seriously SO good. The only problem will be keeping my husband and daughters away from them!
(really struggling with supply and hope these help!)
Very nice … my nearly 2 year old helped me …calling for ‘more’ the whole time I tried to roll the balls. Hope they work as I love all the ingredients and have just started searching for ideas to help with milk supply…. life is busy with a nearly 2 year old and 3 month baby. Substituted the chocolate for raisins and accidently bought flax seeds whole instead of milled …still taste okay.
Your story is inspiring – thank you for sharing! It’s so important to be reminded we are not alone in the breastfeeding journey and everyone has their struggles 💙
So true! We’re all in this together. Such a hard yet beautiful journey!
I have a recipe very similar to yours. They are sticky in the end, but I throw mine in the oven at a low temp for 8 minutes. They lose their stickiness and are more like cookies :). Thanks for the recipe!
So yummy! Enjoy!
awesome post
I have made these at least four times in the last two weeks. I have found that mixing the chocolate chips in with honey, PB and vanilla keeps them from dropping out of the cookies. I then add that to everything else. I also press then into a square silicone pan, cool them, take them out and cut them. These are so much more than lactation bites. Just plain healthy.
my daughter is pregnant with twins. are these safe during pregnancy?
Hi Diane! She should probably check with her doctor just to make sure, but I don’t see why not. They won’t do anything for milk supply before she has the babies, but they’re packed with great nutrition for growing twins. Best wishes! 🙂
Do these hold up in the freezer and if so for how long? Im 9days from my due date and wouldnt mind having some of these on hand.
Hi Katherine! Absolutely, just place the bites on a cookie sheet and freeze for about one hour. Remove from cookie sheet and place in an airtight freezer bag or container. Congrats and best wishes!
Am I able to substitute the brewers yeast with nutritional yeast?
Hi Lesley! They have similar nutritional benefits, but vary greatly in taste. Nutritional yeast has a cheesy flavor that might not taste so great in these bites. Hope this helps.
Hello,
Just curious how long you think it would take to start seeing any sort of increase if these were to be effective?
Hi Dawn! Everyone is so different so it would be hard to say. Some see immediate increase and others increase a little over time while others don’t see an increase at all. I personally noticed the increase pretty quickly and the more often I ate them, the more it would increase.
Hi is this true whether after having lactation bites it will increase milk production is it true
Hi Bharghavi! It’s different for everyone, but I can say that they did help me noticeably increase my milk production.
Hi, sorry if this is a silly question, do I have to cook the oatmeal before use it to make the lactation bites?
Hi! No, as long as you are using old-fashioned rolled oats or quick cooking oats there is not need to cook them. If you are using steel cut oats, you would need to cook those first. Enjoy!
Hi just a quick question. I ran out of honey and vanilla extract. There is anything else I can substitute them in the meantime?
Hi Joanna! Maple syrup would be a great substitute. No need to worry about the vanilla extract. Or you could try agave. Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Just found these after searching through all the lactation cookie recipes that have regular flour and sugar in them!! Soooo happy to find whole ingredients and something so fast and easy to make!! I was in love before I even finished mixing them up. Instead of choc chips I used raw cacao I had on hand and I am literally overjoyed! Thank you for this awesome recipe and presenting it so loosely. Can’t wait to try different versions of them.
I’m so happy you found this recipe and that you’re enjoying the bites! I literally lived for them (and my babies, of course!) when I was nursing and I still make them often because they’re so yummy! Continue to enjoy and best wishes!
Just made these today and they are delicious! Our daughter is six weeks old and breastfeeding has been the most difficult thing I’ve ever done! Glad to hear I’m not alone in this. Here’s hoping these bites help increase my supply some!
These are delicious! Thanks for the recipe! My husband and my 2 year old daughter love them too. I don’t know if I am having supply issues or not but it’s nice to have something to give me piece of mind. My son if 5 months old and I’m planning to reach a year like I did with my daughter.
Omg these are sooo amazing. Thank you for the recipe. I substituted the choc chips with one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder and they still taste amazing! Or you can substitute the choc chips with cut up pieces of Hershey’s with almonds 🙃😉 that was even better! Thanks again!!! 😍😍
However don’t eat a lot lol will make you go to the bathroom ALOT 😆😆😆
They do help keep you regular which I thought was a nice benefit in addition to the boost in supply I got. 🙂
Hey! Does it matter if I use all natural PB in this recipe, or would regular (less healthy) PB be fine?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Arria! No, you can use any peanut butter you prefer. Just make sure it’s stirred really well before measuring. Enjoy!
Can these be frozen to last longer?
Hi Heidi! Absolutely, just place the bites on a cookie sheet and freeze for about one hour. Remove from cookie sheet and place in an airtight freezer bag or container. Enjoy!
Hi bakermama,
what about steel cut oats? Im 2 months into breastfeeding and loving it, albeit exhausting it is working really well for me. also I do not have a stand mixer… how to mix it all together?
Hi Bianca! I wouldn’t recommend using raw steel cut oats in this recipe as they’re hard to digest. Steel cut oats are best cooked first. You can certainly mix the ingredients in a mixing bowl with a sturdy mixing spoon. Enjoy and best wishes!
Love these!! I pulsed the chocolate chips in a food processor first, and it helped make the chocolate spread more evenly through the bites, and I didn’t have the problem of the chips falling out and also
Being to hard to bite into. These are a lifesaver when I’m starving and my hands are full with the baby
Hi – what can I use instead of the peanut butter or almond butter? My stepdaughter has a nut allergy, so I can’t bake with any nut butters. Thanks!
Hi Bethany! You could use sunflower seed butter or cookie butter. Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Hi Maegan!
Thank you so much for sharing this story. It is truly inspiring!
I just tried out the recipe and these lactation bites are so yummy! I can’t get enough of them.
Hi Meagan!
Thank you for this inspiring story and recipe.
The flavors in these bites are rich and so delicious!
Thank you SO much for the recipe! These are WONDERFUL!’I made these for my daughter today to help her with her keep up her milk supply for my new grandson and they are totally awesome! I like the dried cranberry idea someone had posted, I will totally try that in the next batch. I added about a 1/2 cup of chopped nuts to this batch as well for a little extra crunch (& the fact that nuts are good for the milk supply too is an added BONUS!). I used a cookie scoop to portion out the bites a bit better (dang OCD) and we got a good 32-33 out of them this way and still seem to be a pretty good size as well (about 3-4 bites big)!
Hi, I plan on making these for my second baby to nurse with but was wondering if you could freeze them? I want to make them ahaead of time and have them ready!
Hi Katie! Absolutely, just place the bites on a cookie sheet and freeze for about one hour. Remove from cookie sheet and place in an airtight freezer bag or container. Enjoy and best wishes!
I dont need to increase supply, I make plenty of milk. Can I leave out the brewer’s yeast or is there another benefit to the yeast?
Hi Jen! Yes, you can definitely leave the brewer’s yeast out, but it’s considered a nutritional supplement and is rich in several vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber. Best wishes!
Hello! I’m interested in making your recipe. However, I’m allergic to flax seed. Would you happen to have a substitute?
Thanks for the help!
Katie
Hi Katie! So excited these peaked your interest! You can either leave them out or if you want the added nutrition and crunch of a seed, chia seeds are a great substitute. Enjoy and best wishes!
Could you tell me about how many balls this recipe makes?
Hi Marilyn! The recipe makes about 2 dozen (2 tablespoon-sized) bites. Enjoy!
I want to make these for my daughter-in-law but even Whole Foods didn’t have the brewer’s yeast. I read on line you can use less than half the amount of active dry yeast instead but didn’t know if that was for baked goods or something raw like these. Any idea?
Hi Annette! Oh goodness, I wouldn’t be able to say for sure. I only have experience with the brewer’s yeast. You can buy brewer’s yeast on Amazon, if that helps. Did you check the health and beauty section of Whole Foods? Unless they were just out, I can’t imagine them not carrying it as I’ve always been able to get it there. Fingers crossed you find some and best wishes to your daughter-in-law.
Does anyone know if these freeze easily? Or Best to eat fresh?
Hi Amy! They freeze great! I just place the fresh-made bites on a cookie sheet and freeze for about one hour first. Then remove from cookie sheet and place in an airtight freezer-safe bag or container to keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just set then out at room temperature to defrost. Enjoy and best wishes!
I made these last night and used steel cut oats. They are absolutely fantastic! The steel cut oats give a wonderful crunch and texture. Highly recommend the substitute if you don’t have old fashioned oats on hand.
Hi Alison! That’s so great to hear. What kind of steel cut oats did you use? And did you cook them first? Continue to enjoy! 🙂
I used Bob’s Red Mill Organic Steel Cut Oats. I didn’t precook them so they do stick in the teeth a bit but that’s all part of the fun and helps me not eat them all at once 😂
Thank you so much, these are going to help 2 of my friends who are breastfeeding moms! One of my friends baby is in the nicu and she needs to produce more since she has to pump. As a nicu mom myself I had a friend deliver these to me and they were amazing and my milk supply was amazing!
I just went out yesterday and bought ingredients for making lactation cookies for the first time. However, I didn’t know when I’d actually have time to make any. I saw this recipe and knew I had to try them first! I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was quick and easy to mix by hand (since I don’t have an electric mixer). The texture was perfect and they taste great. I made them smaller than the recipe calls for and ended up with more than 2 dozen (33 to be exact). I’m looking forward to seeing if my milk production increases when I pump. I’ll try to remember to hop back on in the next few weeks and post an update about that…
Thanks, Maegan!
Update: Wow, these worked like a charm! I made then yesterday and when I double pumped today, I got a total of 6oz! That’s a tremendous improvement from the 2.5oz I was getting before.
This recipe is definitely a keeper!