This post is for the new mamas out there. (Although really, these cookies are so delicious that everyone will want to eat them.) Lactation cookies have definitely become a thing in recent years, and now you can even get store-bought versions; unfortunately, vegan lactation cookies are a little more difficult to find. I wanted to come up with my own version, made with all those galactagogues, but without the dairy and eggs. My vegan lactation cookies taste like a real treat, with dark chocolate and crunchy pecans in every bite. Best of all, whether you like a chewy cookie or a crunchy cookie (my personal fave), you can have it your way—bake them longer and they’ll be perfectly crisp, or take them out of the oven sooner for a soft, chewy texture.
How Do Lactation Cookies Work?
It’s all about those galactagogues, which is shorter way of saying: foods that promote milk production. For centuries, mothers have been using herbs and foods like oats, fenugreek, milk thistle, anise, and fennel to naturally increase their milk supply when breastfeeding. Lactation cookies may be trendy now, but they’re built on a long-standing tradition. These vegan lactation cookies are made with a number of galactagogues, including oats, flax, almonds, chia, and pecans. Flaxseed also contains phytoestrogens, which can help stimulate the production of prolactin, the hormone responsible for producing breastmilk.
How Often Should You Eat Lactation Cookies?
You should eat one or two cookies a day for best results, but there’s no upper limit since these vegan lactation cookies are made with whole food ingredients—you can never eat too many oats, nuts, and seeds! (Looking for more recipes that are good sources of galactagogues to boost your milk supply? Try my pumpkin pie overnight oats, coconut chickpea curry, and kale, apple, and chickpea salad with vegan feta.)
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
Ground flaxseed – This does double-duty here—it’s an ingredient that boosts milk supply and it makes a flax egg to bind these vegan lactation cookies together. Water Oat flour Almond flour – Not almond meal! Almond flour is more finely ground. All-purpose flour – You can use a measure-for-measure gluten-free flour substitute to make these gluten-free lactation cookies. Baking soda Baking powder Coconut sugar – Or use brown sugar. Ground cinnamon Salt Coconut oil – Melt this before adding it to the recipe. Agave syrup Vanilla extract Shredded coconut – Don’t used the sweetened kind; the cookies are sweet enough without it! Dark chocolate chips – Make sure you purchase a brand that’s vegan. Pecans – Since these will be chopped anyway, you can save some money by buying pecan pieces instead of whole nuts. Chia seeds
How Do You Make Oat Flour?
You can make your own oat flour by putting old-fashioned oats (also known as rolled oats) in your blender or food processor and blending until a fine powder forms.
How to Make Vegan Lactation Cookies
Here’s how to make these vegan lactation cookies at home: Make the flax egg. Whisk the ground flaxseed and water in a small bowl. Let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it thickens and gels. Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Toast the oat flour. Place the oat flour in a small pan set over low heat. Toast the flour for 7 to 10 minutes or until it’s golden and smells toasty, shaking the pan every few minutes to keep it from burning. Transfer the flour to a large mixing bowl. Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk the all-purpose flour and almond flour into the oat flour, then whisk in the baking soda, baking powder, coconut sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt. Add the wet ingredients. Stir the melted coconut oil, agave syrup, vanilla extract, and flax egg into the dry ingredients until a thick dough forms. Toast the coconut. Add the shredded coconut to a small pan set over low heat. Toast the coconut for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden, shaking the pan constantly. Remove from heat. Fold in the add-ins. Add the toasted shredded coconut, chocolate chips, pecans, and chia to the cookie dough and fold them in until they’re evenly distributed. Form the cookies. Using 2 tablespoons of dough at a time, roll the cookie dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Flatten each ball of dough with your fingers until they’re 1/4-inch thick, leaving 4 inches between each cookie. Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the cookies are slightly set in the centre and golden around the edges and bottom. Serve. Let the cookies cool for at least 10 minutes before removing them from the baking sheet.
Tips for Success
These simple tips will help you make sure your vegan lactation cookies turn out perfect!
Chill the dough. If your dough feels too soft, or your kitchen is hot, you may want to chill the dough in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. This will help it firm up, making rolling the dough easier. Skip the toasting. You can skip toasting the oat flour if you’re in a rush. The texture will be softer, but the cookies will still be delicious! Make them crunchy or soft. Bake the cookies for 30 minutes if you want a crispy-crunchy texture, or 20 minutes for soft-baked lactation cookies. Or split the difference and bake them for 25 minutes for cookies that are crispy on the edges and soft in the middle.
Variations
You can swap the dark chocolate chips for cacao nibs, use macadamias or almonds instead of pecans, or add dried cranberries, raisins, or dried cherries to the cookie dough. Feel free to get creative!
How to Store
Vegan lactation cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Can I Freeze This Recipe?
Yes, you can freeze these vegan location cookies. After baking and cooling the cookies, place them in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag with parchment paper between layers of cookies to prevent sticking. Freeze for up to 2 months; when you’re ready to enjoy them, you can thaw them at room temperature for about an hour or pop them in the microwave for a warm treat.
More Cookie Recipes
Banana Oatmeal Cookies Vegan Pumpkin Cookies (Soft Batch) Chewy Trail Mix Cookies (Vegan & Gluten Free) Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies (VIDEO)
Enjoy friends! If you make this vegan lactation cookie recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
