Fact or Fiction: Do Lactation Cookies Really Work?

If you’re here, chances are you’re breastfeeding, pumping, or somewhere in between and wondering if there’s an easier way to support your supply. 

Between all the feedings and running on little sleep, lactation cookies are a snack a lot of moms turn to for a bit of extra lactation support. These cookies to boost milk supply are trending big time. 

But are they actually helpful or just another sweet myth? 

In this blog, we’ll cover what’s really in these milk boosting cookies, how they’re supposed to work, and whether they’re worth trying as part of your nursing journey.

What Are Lactation Cookies?

Lactation cookies are just what they sound like. Cookies made with breastfeeding and pumping moms in mind. They might look like your regular chocolate chip or oatmeal treats, but they’re usually baked with a little extra something to help support milk supply. 

That’s where galactagogues come in. It’s a fancy term for certain foods or herbs that are believed to help support milk production. You’ll hear about them a lot in breastfeeding circles, especially when people talk about lactation snacks or teas. While research is still catching up, many of these have been used in traditional remedies for years and are still popular in lactation cookies today. 

What makes these different from your average cookie is their purpose.

While the average cookie is meant to satisfy your sweet tooth, cookies to boost milk supply are crafted to offer a little extra help while lactating. You can find them in stores or online (some look like gourmet desserts), or if you’re into baking, there are tons of easy DIY recipes out there. 

Be it homemade or store-bought, these milk boosting cookies are basically comfort food with a mission.

Key Ingredients in Lactation Cookies and Their Traditional Benefits

1. Oats

You’ll find oats in almost every mix of healthy lactation cookies, and for good reason. They’re packed with protein, carbs and most importantly, dietary fiber. Some of the fiber in oats includes beta-glucan, which is felt to augment prolactin, a key hormone in the production and maintenance of breastmilk. Oats are also rich in soluble fiber, which has benefits the postpartum body by relieving constipation and maintaining gut health. Oats are also nutrient-dense with vitamins and minerals that support mothers and babies, including iron, vitamin B6, calcium, zinc, and folate among others.

Now, oats aren’t some magic milk switch (if only), but they do show up a lot in traditional breastfeeding diets due to the above benefits. Plus, they’re warm, cozy, and go great with pretty much everything, especially a bit of cinnamon and chocolate chips.

2. Brewer’s Yeast

Brewer’s yeast has been a favorite in the breastfeeding world forever (just ask any mom group online). It’s rich in protein, B vitamins, and iron, so often used in lactation cookies to help support energy and milk production.

Though not the tastiest on its own (kind of nutty and bitter), when expertly mixed into lactation cookies, it blends in seamlessly and adds a bit of depth. 

3. Flaxseed

Flax is one of those pantry staples you may already have without realizing how helpful it can be postpartum. Flaxseed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for nursing mothers as they are passed on to the baby to help with growth and development. Flaxseed also contains “phytoestrogens” that may help augment the production of prolactin, and hence, breastmilk.

Most healthy lactation cookies use ground flaxseed (not whole flax) because it mixes better and actually helps hold the cookie dough together. It’s a small ingredient that does double duty. It adds nutrients and helps the cookie work.

4. Chia Seeds

Everyone knows that chia seeds puff up like jelly when you soak them in water. This trick actually helps you with hydration, which is a pretty big deal when you’re breastfeeding. Along with that, these also come loaded with omega-3s, fiber, and calcium, so there’s more to them than just a cool texture.

In lactation cookies, chia seeds are an easy add-in that supports your body without much effort.

Do Lactation Cookies Actually Work?

It’s Different for Everyone

Not every mom sees the same results with lactation cookies, and that’s completely normal. Every mom and body is different. What really matters is feeling supported, and sometimes a nourishing little snack can be a small way to bring that comfort into your day.

Moms notice small wins

Some say they feel fuller, more energized, or just a bit more confident after adding lactation cookies into the mix. One mom told us, “I ate two a day during cluster feeding and felt like I was finally keeping up.” And, if it gives you a moment of peace and something nourishing between feeds, that’s what matters most.

Milk supply depends on more than just cookies. It also depends on a few other variables, including: 

• Hydration and rest (if you're lucky).

• How often you’re feeding or pumping.

• What you’re eating overall.

So while cookies can support you, they won’t do the heavy lifting alone.

 

Store-Bought vs. Homemade: Which Is Better?

Homemade Has Its Perks, If You’ve Got the Time

If you love being in the kitchen and are able to find the time you need, then homemade lactation cookies are the way to go. The perks are that you get to adjust the sweetness as much as you like and skip any ingredients that you’re not a fan of—creating your own mix.

Also, baking is kind of therapeutic….. When you’re not running on two hours of sleep. 

Store-Bought Can Be a Lifesaver, When Done Right

Honestly, sometimes you just want to have something quick and reliable. In that case, store-bought or pre-mixed options come in. They make life a little easier. You still get that fresh-from-the-oven cookie moment without all the measuring, mixing, and cleaning up after.

If you’re after a lactation cookie that’s packed with nutrients but still easy to make at home, a good pre-made mix can be that sweet middle ground. It’s less fuss than baking from scratch and still made with clean ingredients you feel good about. 

If you're going the store-bought route, here are a few simple things to check:

• Short, clean ingredient list (if you can’t pronounce it, maybe skip it)

• Minimal preservatives or added sweeteners

• Includes go-to ingredients like oats, flaxseed, or brewer’s yeast

• Sensible portion sizes that actually satisfy

• Easy-to-use prep instructions (because no one’s got time for complicated)

How to Make Lactation Cookies a Part of Your Day

You don’t need a strict schedule, as this isn’t a supplement with a prescription. Most moms start with one or two cookies a day, usually during a feed, or let’s be honest, when you finally sit down. You can have it as your morning snack, late-night treat, or tucked into your diaper bag, it’s totally up to you.

That said, cookies alone won’t carry the whole load.

• Stay hydrated. Say hi to that water bottle that you keep forgetting to refill.

• Take rest when you can.

• Feed or pump regularly. 

• Do your best to lower stress, and all work together to support your milk supply.

Because lactation cookies are part comfort, part nutrition, they fit best into a bigger picture that includes taking care of yourself, too. And, if they also give you five minutes of peace and something sweet? Even better.

Because You Deserve Something That’s Just for You

Maybe you’re powering through those 3 a.m. feeds, figuring out cluster nursing, or just hoping for one meal you can eat with both hands. In the middle of all that, it’s totally okay to want something simple, supportive, and… a little comforting too.

That's why at Taste Chérie, we offer you our healthy Lactation Cookie Mixes. It’s for the moms who want to feel good about what they’re eating but don’t always have the time, patience or resources to bake from scratch.

Our mixes are available in two flavors — Sea Salt Chocolate Chunk and Chia Oatmeal Raisin — and are filled with ingredients traditionally known to support milk supply. But, more importantly, they’re made with you in mind.

They’re also made with family in mind. We’re run by two sisters: one, a doctor and mom of two whose journey inspired the product, and the other, the creative mind who helped bring it to life.