Whether you’re struggling to produce enough milk or you’d like to improve your milk supply so that you can start pumping and creating a freezer stash, yummy lactation brownies can help you!
Lactation brownies are similar to regular brownies – the difference is in a few ingredients, which are considered galactagogues. Many people believe they can improve milk production, although this hasn’t been backed by scientific research.
Nevertheless, galactagogues such as ground flaxseed or brewer’s yeast are also incredibly healthy for you, so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t become a part of your diet!
And there’s no yummier way to eat them than in brownies!
To help you get started in the kitchen, I’ve prepared 3 delicious lactation brownies recipes for you to try out! They are all quite similar, but with a few key differences – one is even vegan!
Happy baking!
How are lactation brownies different?
Lactation brownies are different from their “regular” counterparts because they contain galactagogues.
These are ingredients that can improve a mom’s milk supply in a natural way.
By adding them to a delicious brownie recipe, you will be able to indulge in a yummy treat while knowing that your little one will get a steady supply of milk.
Although there hasn’t been any scientific research to confirm their effectiveness, the fact that so many moms have had positive experiences when it comes to boosting their milk production makes lactation cookies, brownies, and teas very appealing.
Plus, they don’t cost a fortune to make (or buy ready-made) so it doesn’t hurt to try if you have been struggling with your breast milk supply.
Whether it’s a placebo effect or just mother nature at work, you won’t be able to say no to these delicious lactation brownies!
1. Easy peasy chocolate chip lactation brownies
One thing that lactation brownies should never be is hard to make!
As an often struggling cook myself, I try to steer clear of recipes that would be too difficult for the average person to attempt in their kitchen.
And that’s why I love this easy brownies recipe!
Although the recipe is simple, you might not be able to find all of the ingredients in your local supermarket and you’ll have to order them online, instead.
This recipe calls for the following ingredients:
- 1 box of brownie mix
- 1 cup of chocolate chips (or more if you’re a chocolate addict!)
- 1 cup of oatmeal
- vegetable oil according to brownie mix package instructions
- 1/2 cup coconut milk from a carton
- 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed
- 2 tablespoons of brewer’s yeast
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 eggs (optional for thicker texture)
After you preheat the oven following the instructions on the brownie mix package, use a bowl to mix all the ingredients together.
Make sure not to add extra water or milk to the mix – they are replaced by the coconut milk (a galactagogue).
Then, pour the mix into a baking pan (spray it with a non-stick baking spray beforehand) and bake according to the instructions on the original packaging.
It’s a great idea to make a couple of batches for your freezer stash so you can enjoy them whenever you’d like, without having to bake every time!
2. Chocolate lactation brownie recipe from scratch
While a brownie box mix makes baking really easy, I’m sure that many of you would prefer to bake yours from scratch – mainly because that way you’ll know the exact ingredients that you’re putting in your brownies.
Also, you can tweak the recipe to your liking and replace or add certain ingredients.
Even though this recipe calls for you to make the brownies from scratch, it’s still quite simple and takes a total time of 40 minutes to prep and cook, so you can set aside some time in the evening and make these yummy lactation treats.
You will need the following ingredients:
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups of sugar
- 2 sticks of butter
- 1 cup of cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1 cup of chocolate chips (or more!)
- 1 tablespoon of brewer’s yeast
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
Place a pan on a stove over a medium heat and add the sticks of butter. After they’ve melted, add sugar, then the cocoa powder, and stir in.
Move the mix from the pan to a bowl and let it chill for a few minutes. Then, add eggs, the vanilla extract, salt, and the baking powder and mix them together.
Finally, add the flour and mix it in before adding the rest of the ingredients.
After you’ve poured the mixture into a baking pan, place it in the oven (preheated to 350 degrees fahrenheit) and bake for half an hour.
Once baked, cut it up into squares and enjoy as many as you like – although 2-3 brownies a day will do the trick!
3. Vegan brownie recipe with a twist
Vegan breastfeeding moms can enjoy homemade brownies to increase their milk supply, too!
To be completely honest, after having tried a few vegan brownies, I can definitely say that there are very few differences when it comes to taste, so I definitely recommend giving them a try even if you’re not necessarily vegan.
This recipe calls for:
- 1 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
- 1 cup of cocoa powder
- 1 cup of flour
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of melted vegan butter
- 1/2 cup of water
- 4 tablespoons of ground flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon of brewer’s yeast (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
First, combine the water and the ground flaxseed in a bowl, then use a separate bowl to mix the butter (make sure to melt it beforehand!), vanilla extract, and sugar together.
Then, pour the mixture from the first bowl into the second bowl and mix with a whisk.
Now, it’s time to add the cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, flour, and brewer’s yeast. Mix them well but don’t overdo it.
Finally, you can add the chocolate chips to the mixture.
Some like to add the whole cup right away, but you can also pour half a cup into the mixture and use the other half to decorate the top of the brownies.
Pour the batter into a baking pan and place it in the oven, which has been preheated to 350 degrees fahrenheit and let it bake for 40 minutes.
Galactagogues: A quick overview
To increase milk production, many nursing moms like to incorporate foods containing galactagogues into their diet.
A quick Google search will lead you to dozens of recipes for cookies, peanut butter bars, lactation smoothies, and lactation bites which aim to boost milk supply, whether you’re exclusively nursing or are using a breast pump, or both.
So far, I’ve already mentioned a few galactagogues in the recipes above, so let’s take a closer look at some of the most common galactagogues now!
1. Ground flaxseed
Ground flaxseed, also known as flaxseed meal or flax meal, is a kind of plant food with numerous health benefits!
It contains omega-3 fatty acids that are very beneficial to your heart, fiber (great for your digestive health!), and lignans, which are said to be powerful antioxidants that might even lower your chances of developing cancer.
In addition to being a superfood, flaxseed is lactogenic and can help new moms with their breast milk production.
2. Brewer’s yeast
Traditionally used to make bread and beer, brewer’s yeast has many benefits for your health that go beyond improving lactation.
For example, it is a great source of vitamin B.
When you have a vitamin B deficiency, you will find yourself feeling more tired than usual – and as a new mom, being low on energy is the last thing you need!
This yeast is also very beneficial to your immune system and will help you stay healthy even during cold and flu seasons.
As it also belongs to foods that increase milk supply, you will often find it in lactation recipes.
3. Old fashioned oats
These are the best kind of oats to add to different recipes (due to their ability to cook quicker) and you can enjoy them in many different ways, whether it’s by making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies or just a simple bowl of delicious oatmeal with fruit.
The reason why oats are very popular for boosting milk supply is because they contain plant estrogens.
These estrogens have been connected to providing milk glands with enough stimulation to produce more milk.
Apart from that, adding oats to your everyday diet is very healthy for you and can even help you lose weight, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t eat them on a weekly basis, at the very least!
Oats are great if you’re gluten-free, too.
4. Almond milk
If you like to eat cereal for breakfast, replacing regular milk with almond milk is a great way to incorporate a lactogenic food into your diet without hassle!
Not a fan of milk, dairy-free or not?
Then you can just snack on almond nuts during the day – it’s a healthy alternative to snacks like chips and can keep you full between meals.
You can also add them to your breakfast oatmeal or leave them to soak overnight and eat them in the morning.
They’re packed with super ingredients, too – magnesium, vitamin E, and potassium can all be found in almonds.
To wrap up
Even though brownies and other treats containing lactogenic ingredients aren’t scientifically proven to work, I’m of the opinion that it can’t hurt to try!
After all, these are all natural ingredients that can’t harm you or your baby in any way.
Besides, the hundreds of women online who swear that lactation brownies have helped them produce more milk are definitely onto something!
Whether you bake your lactation brownies from scratch, use a baking mix, or try a completely original recipe of your own, you can rest assured that you’ll be eating super healthy ingredients that your body (and your baby) will definitely thank you for!
READ NEXT: Best Method Of Inducing Lactation When Not Pregnant
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