Healthier Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies

I know, I know. Two weeks without any new recipes. I have failed you guys, once again. BUT this time will be different. This time, I pinky promise that I am back to my regular routine for good! Summer got the best of me y'all. But now that September is here and pumpkin season is upon us, I am ready to rock and roll!

You know what else is happening this September? Cheryl of 40 Aprons is going to be a mommy! Yes, that's right! Her baby boy is due to arrive quite soon! She shall call him Leo. And he shall be hers. He shall be her squishy.

I will forever love that quote from Finding Nemo.

But seriously, I'm over the moon for Cheryl. And to show it, I decided to host her a virtual baby shower, alongside Melissa of Simply Whisked. So, SURPRISE CHERYL! Welcome to your virtual baby shower! I come bearing lactation cookies! Whether or not you plan to breastfeed Leo, you are going to love these cookies!



I recently got into the business of making lactation cookies and have gotten great feedback from all of my breastfeeding friends, in regards to taste and the fact that they actually really work! I planned to share my original recipe today since everyone has been begging for it, but then thought that it might be a better idea to try and concoct a healthier recipe and share that instead. Healthy is always better, especially for the mommies trying to watch their weight in their postpartum days.

I started with the recipe for my coconut oil chocolate chip cookies as the base, and tweaked it up a bit, substituting whole wheat flour for all-purpose, and adding the three essential ingredients that promote lactation- oats, flaxseed, and brewer's yeast.


Can I just say that these were TOO.GOOD.TO.BE.TRUE. Perfectly crispy and perfectly chewy like you wouldn't believe. And I know these aren't entirely healthy since they still have sugar in them, but ditching the butter and white flour is definitely a step up! Plus, coconut sugar could easily be substituted for a more wholesome cookie.

And at the end of the day, a little sugar isn't a big deal when the end result is producing sustenance for your little miracle, am I right? :-)

Healthier Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies

Yield: 18 cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup white whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
2 tablespoons brewer's yeast
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coconut oil, room temperature
2/3 cup dark brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, room temperature
pinch of vanilla powder (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
1/3 cup quick oats
1/3 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium sized bowl, whisk together flour, flaxseed, brewer's yeast, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In another bowl, using an electric hand mixer, cream together coconut oil and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until well-combined. Gradually pour in dry ingredients, beating until just combined. Fold in oats and chocolate chips.

Using a medium cookie scoop (about 1 and 1/2 tablespoons), scoop out balls of dough onto prepared cookie sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart from one other. Bake for 7-8 minutes, or until edges are just starting to turn light brown. Let cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Skip on over to everyone else's pages to see what they made for the baby shower! 

Panini Bites from Heavenly Home Cooking

Mini Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cakes from Bakerita

Mojito Fruit Salad from Simply Whisked

Mini Cookies and Cream Pumpkin Cheesecakes from Flavor the Moments

Baby Carrot and Apple Soup from Thistle Key Lane

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancakes from Jessica In The Kitchen

Blueberry Lemon Thyme Cornmeal Crisp from Vanilla and Bean

Caramelized Fig Upside Down Cake from Broma Bakery