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Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Lactation Brownies

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This healthy lactation brownies recipe nourishes and supports a new mama on her breastfeeding journey! They are made with wholesome ingredients that encourage production and boost milk supply for a nursing mom. This treat can easily be made dairy free or vegan, too!

Healthy lactation brownies on parchment paper, drizzled with chocolate.

If you are a new mom searching for a lactation recipe to help naturally boost your milk supply, you have come to the right place!

When I was breastfeeding my kids, I received many different recipes to increase my milk supply from friends and my lactation consultant, but didn’t love the high sugar content in those recipes. And most store bought lactation cookies or brownies had a similar problem!

So I decided to recreate these delicious treats to be more nourishing for any breastfeeding mom, but taste just as good as your favorite bakery brownie! These are the perfect copycat milky mama brownies – but with a healthier twist!

The first thing I do after seeing friends’ birth announcements is run to the kitchen to whip these up. They are a great gift to bring over for mama and new baby and everyone seems to really love them! The best part? They work! And, this easy lactation brownie recipe takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish. 

You might not have heard of eating brownies for breast milk supply, and that is because normal brownies won’t make any impact on your production. There are two main ingredients needed to boost this recipe: brewer’s yeast and oats.

Brewer’s yeast plays the largest role in boosting breastmilk production in this recipe. It is a great source of B Vitamins and protein and is commonly used as a milk stimulant for lactating mothers. It is a very popular ingredient in lactation treats, both store-bought and homemade. You may have heard of people adding it to a lactation smoothie or bowl of oatmeal, but I prefer this chocolate treat!

And if you happen to be more of a cookie lover, I’ve also got the perfect gluten free lactation cookies for you that are equally delicious!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

  • Ready in just 30 minutes
  • Easily made dairy free and vegan
  • Naturally gluten free
  • Helps naturally boost milk supply
  • Healthier than most lactation desserts
  • Milky mama emergency brownies copycat
  • Taste just as delicious as regular brownies
  • Best lactation brownies ever!

Latest Recipe Video!

🥘 Ingredients

These easy lactation brownies are made with nourishing ingredients targeted to increase milk production. For the exact measurements, keep scrolling to the bottom of this post.

Ingredients for lactation brownies recipe on a white background.
  • Butter & Eggs: Butter is a great source of fatty acids. And along with eggs, it helps bring moisture and rise to these lactation treats. For vegan brownies, use melted coconut oil or vegan butter and a vegan egg substitute. You can also use flax egg for an eggless brownie recipe.
  • Almond Milk: Unsweetened almond milk is a great option for these healthy lactation brownies, but you could also use coconut milk or oat milk!
  • Vanilla Extract & Salt: Both vanilla and sea salt help enhance the natural flavors and sweetness of these breastfeeding brownies.
  • Oat Flour & Baking Powder: Oat flour keeps these lactation treats gluten free! You can make your own oat flour by grinding up rolled oats into a fine powder, or buy gluten-free oat flour in the store. Oats are a helpful ingredient for increasing breast milk supply. Baking powder will help the brownies rise for a fluffier texture. If you want a more dense and fudgy brownie, you can leave this out. I find that 1 tsp of baking powder gives the perfect texture!
  • Sugar: For this recipe, granulated sugar of any kind is fine. You can use coconut sugar, date sugar, or even maple syrup. We don’t use a ton of sugar, just enough to reduce the bitterness from the brewer’s yeast.
  • Cocoa Powder: Use a cocoa powder that is made from 100% cocoa with no extra mix-ins like added sugar. You can also use cacao powder which is less processed than cocoa, and has a slightly more bitter taste.
  • Brewers Yeast: It is very common to search for brewers yeast recipes for lactation help. It is a key ingredient in boosting milk supply. It is high in vitamin b-1, b-2, b-6, and can even help manage blood sugar levels as an added bonus.
  • Chocolate Chips: Adding chocolate chips is optional but double chocolate is always better, especially if you love those warm, melty chocolate bits. You can use vegan dark chocolate for less sugar and more antioxidants. Try chocolate chunks for extra fudgy lactation brownies.

🔪 Instructions

A simple bowl and whisk works perfect for this recipe – no need for a food processor or fancy stand mixer! Here is the step by step breakdown on how to make lactation brownies! 

Preheat The Oven, Mix Wet Ingredients: Preheat the oven to 338F/170C. Line a 8 inch square baking dish with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the melted butter, almond milk, vanilla extract and eggs until well incorporated. Set aside.

Wet ingredients for brownies in a mixing bowl.

Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl whisk together the remaining ingredients, except the chocolate chips.

Dry ingredients for brownies to increase milk supply mixed in a mixing bowl.

Mix Wet & Dry Ingredients: Add the wet ingredients into the dry, along with the chocolate chips, stir until completely incorporated.

Brownie batter in a mixing bowl.

Bake Brownies: Pour the brownie batter into the prepared dish and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the center is just set.

Breastfeeding brownies batter in a baking dish lined with parchment paper.

Cool & Serve: Remove from the oven and set on the cooling rack to cool completely before cutting into 16 squares. Enjoy your delicious emergency milk brownies!

Emergency lactation brownies freshly baked, cooling in a baking dish on a wire rack.

💭 Expert Tips

  • Cool the brownies completely before cutting. Brownies might be a little crumbly due to being made from oat flour, allowing them to completely cool before slicing helps to reduce them breaking apart.
  • You can use any milk.  Feel free to use whatever milk you have on hand for this recipe. For dairy free lactation brownies, you will want to use a plant-based milk along with swapping the butter for a vegan option.
  • For an extra boost in breast milk production add in other galactagogues such as cashews, walnuts, or sesame seeds that are packed with healthy fat, or feel free to sneak in some sweet potato or beet puree which also can help increase milk supply.
  • If you don’t mind a more bitter brownie, feel free to cut the amount of sugar in half for a more savory lactation treat.

📖 Variations

  • Lactation Brownies Recipe With Box Mix: For quick emergency lactation brownies that you need right away, you can use a box mix! To customize this into a lactation brownie mix, add in the brewer’s yeast and some rolled oats, and then make the brownies according to the package directions. Both are key ingredients to boosting milk supply. You can also swap the egg for a ground flax seed egg, since flax is another helpful ingredient.
  • Vegan Lactation Brownies: To make the brownies vegan friendly, substitute the butter with vegan butter, use 2 flax eggs, and vegan chocolate chips.
  • Brownie Mix-Ins: You can change up this healthy lactation brownie recipe by adding in different mix-ins like chopped walnuts, sliced almonds, peanut butter, mini marshmallows, mint chocolate chips or mint extract, almond extract, or dried fruit pieces. Make it more decadent by adding a drizzle of caramel sauce or chocolate sauce on top!

❓Recipe FAQs

What are lactation brownies?

Lactation emergency brownies are basically regular brownies that contain extra ingredients (galactagogues) that are believed to help stimulate milk production in breastfeeding moms.

Examples of common galactagogues used in lactating brownies include brewer’s yeast, flaxseed meal, and oats (other galactagogues include leafy greens, yams, beets, carrots, green papaya, fenugreek, sesame seeds and ginger). These brownies will also include ingredients like chocolate, nuts, and dried fruit to create a sweeter treat, and mask the bitterness of the brewer’s yeast.

While brownies to increase milk supply are not a substitute for proper breastfeeding techniques and medical advice, they can be a helpful supplement for some breastfeeding mothers who want to boost their milk supply.

How fast do lactation brownies work?

Many women will notice results within a day or two of eating emergency brownies for lactation regularly. It could take up to a week for some women’s bodies to adjust though!

If you find that your milk supply is not increasing you can try adding more brewers yeast to your next batch, or add toppings like nuts, seeds, fruits, and nut butters. If you are consistent, these brownies definitely work, so grab that freezer bag because you will be building up a large freezer stash in no time! 

How many breast milk brownies should I eat? When should I eat them?

The serving size for these homemade lactation brownies is 1 square, and you can eat them any time of day. You can enjoy one or two of these each day depending on your needs – and your sweet tooth!

There are 16 servings in each batch so I recommend storing half in the freezer to stay fresh. If you want to eat more than 2 per day, I’d recommend cutting the sugar in this recipe by half so that you’re not eating too much added sugar.

What happens if I eat lactation brownies?

The good thing is, anyone can enjoy these! If you are nursing, you will likely see an increase in your milk supply from eating these breast milk brownies. You may notice that nursing becomes easier and stress levels decrease. If you are not a nursing mom, you can still enjoy a brownie or two without any side effects or impact!

What are lactation brownies made of?

This lactation brownie recipe uses common ingredients you’d find in traditional brownies, plus special ingredients like brewers yeast and oat flour! Brewers yeast and oats are both galactagogues, which help promote lactation.

How do you store these brownies? How long do breastfeeding brownies last?

How you store your lactating brownies plays a big role in how long they will last! Improper storage will lead to a brownie that dries out or goes bad quickly.

How to store in the fridge: Let brownies cool and then place in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

How to store in the freezer:  Brownies can be frozen in an air-tight container for up to 2 months. When you are ready to eat them, let them defrost and then reheat in the oven at 340 degrees F for 5 minutes, or until thoroughly warm. You can also enjoy them at room temperature once they have defrosted.

Please note that the statements in this post have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and I’m not a medical professional. Make sure to talk to your primary care doctor or health professional before consuming brewer’s yeast and lactation boosting foods in general, as brewer’s yeast and other galactagogues can interfere with some medications.

Vegan and gluten free lactation brownies stacked on a sheet of parchment paper.

🍪 More Sweet Treats To Try!

Love this plant based dessert recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating 🌟 in the recipe below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page!

You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family-friendly food, and if you have any questions, I’m here to help!

📋 Recipe Card

🎥 Watch How to Make It

https://youtu.be/XI5Xj8TxA8Q
Healthy lactation brownies on parchment paper, drizzled with chocolate.
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Lactation Brownies

This healthy lactation brownies recipe nourishes and supports a new mama on her breastfeeding journey! They are made with wholesome ingredients that encourage production and boost milk supply for a nursing mom. This treat can easily be made dairy free or vegan, too!
Prep Time6 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time26 minutes
Course: Baking, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 16
Calories: 171kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 338 degrees F / 170 C. Line a 8×8 inch square baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the melted butter, almond milk, vanilla extract and eggs until well incorporated. Set aside.
  • In a separate bowl whisk together the remaining ingredients, except the chocolate chips.
  • Add the wet ingredients into the dry, along with the chocolate chips, stir until completely incorporated.
  • Pour the brownie batter into the prepared dish and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the centre is just set.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting into 16 squares.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • Brownies may be a little crumbly due to being made from oat flour, allowing them to completely cool before slicing helps to reduce them breaking apart.
  • To make the brownies vegan friendly substitute the butter with vegan butter, use 2 flax eggs and vegan chocolate chips.
  • Any milk, plant based or dairy, can be used.
  • Brownies can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownie | Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 94mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g

6 responses to “Lactation Brownies”

  1. Such an awesome recipe! My wife made them for a neighbor friend and she loved them. Thank you for this great suggestion!5 stars

  2. OMG this tasted just like a regular brownie, and I couldn’t even tell that it was gluten free or lower in sugar! It was so good and seems to be helping too!5 stars

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