Lactation Brownies
Need to boost your breast milk production fast? Try these Lactation Brownies, an easy dessert that helps increase milk production with added ingredients like coconut milk, Brewer’s yeast, and oatmeal!
Lactation Brownies That Work!
I’m going to start off by saying that Lactation Brownies aren’t something I ever dreamed I’d be putting on my blog. But here we are and I’m not sorry.
Thanks to a handful of extra ingredients, these fudgy Lactation Brownies are not only delicious but can result in an increased milk supply.
Let me say that I am not a medical professional and if you have serious concerns about your milk supply, please seek out a lactation consultant to make sure there isn’t a larger issue.
Also, please note that lactation treats or food of any kind have not been scientifically proven to increase supply.
I found this recipe during my second pregnancy a few years ago and it was so delicious that I’m making it again now that I’m postpartum with our third. I make it with GF Betty Crocker brownie mix and it still tastes delicious. I love the brownies straight out of the freezer, not too hard because I underbake them by a few minutes to keep them softer. I also love to make them for any new mom friends when I bring them a meal!
However, since I started eating one brownie per day, along with my oatmeal in the morning (this is the kind I eat) and a blue Gatorade during the day, my milk production has doubled.
It started going up when I was eating my lactation cookies, but these brownies really pack a punch.
Maybe it’s a placebo effect… but I’m not complaining because in my case it has worked and I get brownies!
What Are Lactation Brownies?
In this case, they’re a box mix that’s been souped up with a few additional galactagogues that have been said to help increase a mother’s milk supply.
When To Eat Them:
If you’re looking to increase your supply, lactation brownies could be a good option to try and do so. But I recommend speaking with a lactation consultant as well to make sure there isn’t a large issue.
In my case, I’m exclusively pumping so I’m able to measure how much milk I’m producing each day, unlike a mother who primarily nurses.
However, I don’t want to be attached to the pump forever, some days it feels like my life revolves around it.
So in my case, my goal was to create an oversupply to make a large freezer stash so I can stop pumping after a few months but still provide my daughter with breastmilk for several months after that.
How To Make Lactation Brownies
These lactation brownies are super easy to make and they are often referred to as emergency lactation brownies because they’re made from a box brownie mix.
You’ll begin with the box mix itself and then whatever amount of vegetable oil is called for and either 1 or 2 eggs depending on whether or not you want a fudgy or cake-like consistency.
You’ll also add a touch of vanilla and some chocolate chips if there aren’t any already in the box mix.
Next, we’re going to add in the magic stuff:
- Coconut Milk – Replace any called for milk or water on the box with a 1/2 cup of coconut milk. You’ll want to use the kind in the carton in the refrigerated section of the grocery store, not the canned kind. Coconut milk is very hydrating and will assist with milk production.
- Old Fashioned Oatmeal – A lot of lactation consultants recommend adding oatmeal to your diet, usually as a breakfast, but it doesn’t hurt to sneak it into your dessert either.
- Brewer’s Yeast – This stuff has tons of health benefits from nutritional value to help fight the baby blues, read about them on Verywell Family!
- Ground Flaxseed – Flaxseed has phytoestrogens that can influence breast milk production.
- Collagen Peptides – Okay, so this product isn’t a milk supply booster, it’s more just another beneficial product for new moms. Collagen peptides contain the same amino acids as gelatin which is identical to the protein found in skin, nails, hair, bones, cartilage, and joints. I recommend taking this to help with postpartum hair loss.
How Fast Do They Work?
In my case, I started noticing an increase in supply the next day, some say they work soon and others it takes a little longer.
Can You Freeze Lactation Brownies?
You sure can! Feel free to whip up a batch and put half in the freezer. Enjoy the first half for the next few days and when you run out, pull the others out and let them thaw on the counter before enjoying.
If you’re making these in advance, say before the baby even arrives, just so it’s one last thing you need to worry about, bake the brownies and let them cool.
Then, slice and wrap the brownies individually in plastic wrap then put them in a large freezer bag for up to 3 months.
So there you have it, an easy recipe for lactation brownies that will hopefully help boost your milk supply and be a welcome treat during the trying (but beautiful) baby stage.
Also, you burn 20 calories for every ounce of milk you express, so you can feel a little less guilty about indulging!
Variations & Substitutions
- Oat Milk – If you’re having trouble finding coconut milk, oat milk is a great substitute!
- Coconut Water – This is another great substitute for coconut milk.
- Cake-like Texture – You can use 2 eggs instead of 1 if you prefer more cake-like brownies.
- Process The Oats – If you don’t want the hearty texture the oats add, some readers have run the oats through a food processor before adding them to the mixture for a smoother final texture! I tried this too when making them for friends and I think if you’re up for the extra step – it’s totally worth it!
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Did You Make This Recipe?
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Lactation Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 box Fudge Brownie Mix*
- ½ cup vegetable oil or according to box directions
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup old fashioned oatmeal
- ¼ cup brewer’s yeast
- ¼ cup collagen peptides
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips*
Instructions
- Preheat oven according to package directions.
- If you don't want the hearty texture of the whole oats, run the oats through a food processor before adding them to the mixture for a smoother final texture! This is an optional step, but I think it's totally worth it!1 cup old fashioned oatmeal
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together all ingredients (including the oats – whole or processed) until fully combined. Pour brownie batter into a 9×9-inch baking dish and bake according to package directions.1 box Fudge Brownie Mix*, ½ cup vegetable oil or, ½ cup coconut milk, 1 large egg, ¼ cup brewer’s yeast, ¼ cup collagen peptides, 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 cup chocolate chips*
Notes
- Choose whatever boxed brownie mix you’d like. I’ve made this recipe with 5 different varieties, all with similar results.
- Do not add water.
- Coconut milk is the kind in the carton in the refrigerated section of the grocery store, not the canned kind.
- You can use 2 eggs instead of 1 if you prefer more cake-like brownies.
- Collagen peptides are optional.
- Chocolate chips can be omitted in box mixes that already have them in it.
- Coconut Milk – Replace any called for milk or water on the box with a 1/2 cup of coconut milk (in the carton, not the can). Coconut milk is very hydrating and will assist with milk production.
- Old Fashioned Oatmeal – A lot of lactation consultants recommend adding oatmeal to your diet, usually as a breakfast, but it doesn’t hurt to sneak it into your dessert either.
- Brewer’s Yeast – This stuff has tons of health benefits from nutritional value to helping fight the baby blues.
- Ground Flaxseed – Flaxseed has phytoestrogens that can influence breast milk production.
- Collagen Peptides – Okay, so this product isn’t a milk supply booster, it’s more just another beneficial product for new moms. Collagen peptides contain the same amino acids as gelatin which is identical to the protein found in skin, nails, hair, bones, cartilage, and joints. I recommend taking this to help with postpartum hair loss.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Just made these, and they are delicious! Can’t comment on my supply changes yet as I just had my first. Mine came out very crumbly, how would you combat this and make them stick more?
You could run the Oats through the food processor instead of leaving them whole.
I struggled with milk supply my first time around but with my second I started to seek other options so I wouldn’t have the same struggles. I made this recipe and saw a significant boost in supply and they were super yummy! I was wondering if this is something that’s ok to consume while pregnant as well?
They should be fine to consume while pregnant. You can run the ingredients by your OB, but in my experience, none of them them are risky.
Thanks for the recipe! I’m curious about the coconut milk anf why the canned one is a no. Thanks!
It’s too thick for the recipe and has a stronger flavor that some may not like.
These are SO DELICIOUS! I normally have a hard time with the taste of Brewers Yeast when I try to use it in other lactation items (cookies, smoothies, etc), but I can hardly taste it in these brownies. I was also skeptical about leaving the rolled oats whole (verses grinding them up), I thought it would make the brownies a weird texture, but it didn’t! They softened up as the brownies baked and it’s seriously so good! I used Lily’s sugar free chocolate chips in the batter and it was a nice extra punch of chocolate. I now have a go-to treat to make all my new mommy friends! Thank you for sharing this recipe!!
I am so glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for coming back to leave such a sweet comment and review!
I am looking into buying the brewers yeast and ground flax seed. What size do you recommend buying for making these on a regular basis? I don’t want to buy something too small and use it all in one shot.
Thanks!
The ones I link to in this post are a great size. The brewers yeast will allow you to make 6 to 7 batches of this recipe and the flax meal will go even further.
I made this using Ghirardelli from costco. No need for choc chips. It was fantastic!!! Not sure about the lactation part haha
love these brownies! I’m just wondering how many you’re supposed to eat a day to help with milk supply?
If you made them in a square baking dish, I usually cut them into 9ths. Sometimes I ate a whole Brownie and sometimes I ate half and saw a noticeable difference.
Hi, can you use coconut cream?
I have never tested them that way so I can’t say for certain. My concern would be that the cream is thicker and therefore might results with drier brownies.
had no coconut milk, so i added almond milk, worked great!
So glad you enjoyed them!
Have you tried these with the oats ground up to a powder? You think they’ll turn out the same
Yeah, you can run the oats through a food processor and they will work just fine!
Is it bad if I used can coconut milk ? My husband made this for me added everything then noticed it said not can ugh
If they baked up okay then it’s perfectly fine!
This recipe is amazing!!!! Works and taste great!!!!! Thank you 🙂
Trying this for my wife. Thanks for the recipe. Calories seemed really high. Checked and the nutrition data listed is actually for 2 servings.
Can you leave out oatmeal if you don’t have any?
Yes, you can, they just might not be as effective 🙂
Hi, just wanna ask, when u used the flaxseed, did u put then directly to the mix? Or u soaked it first in water?
It’s ground flaxseed or flaxmeal. Using whole flaxseed in this recipe won’t provide any benefits.
Can i leave out the Collagen Peptides?
Yes, you can.
FTM with a 7 week old baby- I made these to try and save money as lactation snacks are yummy, but expensive. These were delicious and easy! I appreciate you taking the time to create this and share!
So glad you enjoyed them, I hope they help!
Can I leave the brewers yeast out? I can’t find it anywhere local.
Hi Tiffany, you can since it won’t impact the structure of the brownies, however, they won’t be as effective.
Can i add nuts to this brownie recipe?
Yes, that should be fine.
I do not have coconut milk. May i use regular milk?
Yes, but it doesn’t have the same benefits as coconut milk.
Is this 515kcal per brownie?
Yes, when sliced into 9 brownies.