DELICIOUS Lactation Brownies for Moms (No sugar!)
Ditch the box mix with these delicious and healthy lactation brownies featuring oats, flaxseed, walnuts, coconut oil, and dates. Have you experienced the insatiable hunger that can come along with making milk for a little one? If you are a breastfeeding momma dealing with the hunger pangs, these brownies are for you!
Or perhaps, you know a breastfeeding momma? Then do her a favor and make her a batch of these oatmeal brownies! Store these brownies in the freezer and thaw individually or enjoy with the whole family as a much healthier alternative to traditional brownies.
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BEST Lactation Brownies Recipe
These are my absolute favorite lactation brownies. But honestly, they are just delicious brownies in general – whether you are lactating or not. I assure you my 3-year-old toddler son and husband have enjoyed their fair share of these brownies.
The best part of these brownies is you don’t have to compromise health. I have seen many lactation brownies, cookies, and other treats that are full of processed sugars. However, these brownies are sweetened with mostly dates and a TINY bit of maple syrup!
Ingredients in Lactation Brownies
- Oats – Traditional wisdom as well as many lactation consultants advise eating oats to boost milk supply. While the advice is entirely anecdotal, many moms do report an increase in supply on the days they consume oats. Some experts theorize that the increase some moms experience related to oats could be due to the iron found in oats since low iron levels can lead to a low milk supply
- Ground Flax Seed – Flaxseed is rich in omega 3 fatty acids which is important for postpartum and lactating women.
- Walnuts – Full of healthy fats that are important for breastfeeding women.
- Pitted Dates – These lactation brownies are primarily naturally sweetened with pitted dates so as to allow for fewer added sugars. (There is a small amount of maple syrup as well.)
- Coconut Oil
- Cocoa Powder
- Maple Syrup – In addition to being naturally sweetened with dates, each brownie is sweetened with just 3/4 tsp maple syrup.
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Baking Soda
- Chocolate Chips
Storing Lactation Oat Brownies
These brownies freeze very well. You can consider making some for the freezer to stock up before the baby comes. Or simply make a batch every couple of months to pull them individually from the freezer as needed.
However, you certainly don’t have to freeze them! My family enjoys these brownies as a treat along with me and they are a healthier brownie for your kids to enjoy. They will last several days in the fridge or on the counter.
FAQ About Lactation Foods
Do lactation cookies (or brownies) actually work?
A breastfeeding mother does need an additional 450-500 calories per day on average. Many lactation cookie and brownie recipes are high calories and healthy fats which can help a mother meet her caloric requirements. If a lactating woman is undereating it can negatively impact supply. Additionally, many recipes do feature ingredients such as oats and healthy fats that have beneficial nutrients to lactating and postpartum women.
While a lactation treat will not necessarily solve a true low supply problem, it can be an enjoyable way for a mother to meet her needs from time to time. I enjoy freezing these brownies and on the days that I’m starving and craving something sweet I can enjoy one. I have personally noticed my supply can be impacted if I do not eat enough. It is important to pick your recipe or lactation treat carefully as many are high in added sugars and may not actually benefit you overall.
I definitely recommend you follow with an IBCLC if you are having supply issues as breastmilk production is a supply and demand process. Milk supply can be impacted by many things and is both influenced by the mother as well as the baby’s latch. An experienced IBCLC can help come up with a plan for you and your baby to reach your own breastfeeding goals.
How often should you eat oatmeal to increase milk supply?
Some experts suggest eating a bowl of oatmeal each day to see if it has an impact on milk supply. This recommendation is based on anecdotes and is not evidence-based at this time. However, since oats are healthy (and delicious) there is certainly no harm in seeing if it works for you as many lactation consultants and mothers report positive impacts.
Other Recipes Perfect for Lactating Moms
Avocado Black Bean Brownies – While we are on the brownie train if you are looking for a creamier brownie that features black beans and avocado you can’t miss these!
Banana Oat Pancakes – These simple and healthy pancakes feature oats, eggs, and bananas! Perfect for your whole family.
Protein Banana Bread – With almond flour, whey protein powder, and maple syrup your family is sure to love this protein banana bread.
Healthy Lactation Brownies
Equipment
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup Oats
- 1/2 cup Ground flax seed
- 1/2 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Pitted dates soak in water to soften if needed
- 1/4 cup Maple syrup
- 1/2 cup Coconut oil
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp Baking soda
- 2 tsp Vanilla
- 1/2 cup Chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup Walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 8 x 8 baking dish with coconut oil.
- Ground the oats in a food processor until it makes a flour-like consistency.
- Combine the rest of the ingredients except the chocolate chips and walnuts in the food processor. Blend until smooth and dates are well-blended
- Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts using a rubber spatula.
- Bake for 25-28 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
Notes
Nutrition
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I made these for my wife who is nonstop starving while nursing our daughter, but then I ate half the pan. They are so good.
Ha! 🙂 They ARE good for anyone!
I followed everything except I used ground flaxseed (1tbsp+3tbsp water = 1 egg) as an egg alternative (I ran out of eggs) and it still tastes and looked good! Hoping this will help my milk supply but definitely a good and healthy snack either way. Thank you!