New Mama Cookies

So maybe tea isn't your thing. Well, these "lactation cookies" might be a better fit. Don't be scared by the name though, they won't spontaneously make you start lactating. They just contain a few ingredients that supposedly increase your milk supply if you already are nursing. So new mom or not, try these cookies!

There is a basic recipe floating around the internet but I don't really like it as it contains a lot of white flour and sugar (it has the same amount of sugar as flour!). But once I figured out that the main milk making ingredients are just oatmeal and brewer's yeast, I decided I could adapt it as needed. So I reduced and changed the type of sweeteners, switched out white flour for wheat, bumped up the nutrients with a few additional ingredients and added a bit more pizazz with some spices and nuts.

I don't often like fully whole wheat cookies but I think these work because the honey's moisture offsets the dryness you can get with 100% whole wheat flour. They are a great grown-up version of a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie although when I told Craig this and he tried them, he said he likes his cookies more childish. That could be done by leaving out the orange, cinnamon and nuts - but don't do that because that is what makes them good! I made a batch last week but of course, I had to try them to see if they were good, then I had to try them out of the freezer to see if they thawed well and now I need to make another batch :-)

The one thing I can't say is if they work. You might have more luck just eating a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, some popcorn with brewer's yeast as a snack and nursing a lot. Still, I figure that it can't hurt and well, what new mom doesn't want some nice warm cookies to snack on!

Cream until fluffy:
2 T unsulphured molasses, the darker the better (Blackstrap is best but pretty strong)*
1/3 - 2T honey (put the 2T in a 1/3 measuring cup then fill the rest with honey)
1/3 cup sugar (white, brown or rapadura/sucanat would all work)
1/2 cup butter

Add:
1 egg
1 T milk
2 t vanilla

Set Aside. In another bowl, mix:
1 cup wheat flour (I like white wheat)
3 T Brewers yeast* (also called nutritional yeast, I got mine from the bulk section of HEB)
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon

Incorporate dry ingredients into wet. Then mix in:
1 cup rolled oats*
3/4 c chocolate chips
1/2 cup walnuts*
zest of a orange

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy!
or
Freeze on cookie sheet until firm then transfer to ziplock bag. When ready to bake, remove desired number and thaw for ~30 minutes before baking. Enjoy!

*Brewer's yeast: There is a bit of controversy over whether this truly is a galactagogue (fancy word for something that increase milk supply) but either way it is a great source of B vitamins, chromium and selenium and is a good source of protein. It's a pretty common supplement among vegetarians and vegans. It's got a cheesy savory flavor and I've heard it's good sprinkled it on popcorn but you can't even taste it in the cookie.

*Oats - Oatmeal is one of the most widely known and popular galactagogues, probably because it is easily accessible, inexpensive and not nearly as scary sounding as other ones I've read about. It's also a good source of iron and fiber, both things new moms tend to need.

*Walnuts - Some recipes call for flax seed meal or flax seed oil. I'm not a big fan of either of those but the reasoning behind them in the omega-3 fatty acids. I used walnuts instead which are also an excellent source of omega-3s and are high in protein and fiber. Plus, they taste better than flax seed.

*Molasses - Not a galactagogue, but an sweet source of iron, calcium and other minerals such as copper and potassium.

This post was submitted into the Real Food Wednesday Carnival. Be sure to check out the others great posts here.