Lactation Brownies

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Being a new mama is hard, and these lactation brownies give you a little extra help, making sure your baby stays nourished while you indulge in a much-deserved treat. I use cocoa powder, oats, and brewers’ yeast for a rich chocolate confection that supports breastfeeding. They are soft, slightly fudgy, and retain that classic flavor. Best of all, they are ready in just 26 minutes! Make sure your partner takes note of this recipe! 

Breastfeeding moms are going through a lot, which is why this lactation brownies recipe is one of my most cherished. It is designed specifically to aid in the production of milk, while remaining delicious. If this recipe does not align with your vegan lifestyle, I recommend trying my healthy gluten free lactation cookies, which are just as wholesome and tasty.

A close friend of mine always loved my beet brownies and would make them at least once a week. After falling pregnant, however, she just could not tolerate them, but counted down the days until she could enjoy them once again. After the baby was born, I made sure to send her a care package, which included my lactation brownies. She loved them so much and even continued making them long after the breastfeeding stage. Ha! 

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🥘 Ingredients

For this lactation brownie recipe, I use a mix of typical ingredients with a few nourishing additions to help aid milk production. This is exactly what I use:

Butter and eggs: I use melted butter and eggs to create moisture and structure, while adding richness.

Almond milk: Unsweetened almond milk helps keep my batter light. But oat milk or coconut milk works well too.

Vanilla extract and salt: I add vanilla extract and a pinch of salt to balance the chocolate flavor and enhance the sweetness.

Oat flour: I rely on oat flour to keep the brownies naturally gluten-free while adding a mild nutty flavor. You can even make your own oat flour by blending rolled oats into a fine powder.

Baking powder: This gives my brownies a slight rise and helps create a soft texture. 

Sugar: For this recipe, I use granulated sugar to balance the bitterness of the cocoa powder and the brewer’s yeast. 

Cocoa powder: I use good-quality unsweetened cocoa powder to help the brownies have their deep chocolate flavor.

Brewers’ yeast: This is the key ingredient linked with supporting milk supply during breastfeeding. 

Chocolate chips: I like adding chocolate chips for an extra level of luxuriousness. Pockets of melted chocolate throughout the brownies are essential in my opinion.

🔪 How To Make

I prepare these lactation brownies with simple ingredients, a mixing bowl, and a whisk, making the process simple enough for anyone to follow. This is how I make them:

Preheat oven and mix wet ingredients: I preheat the oven to 338F and line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Then, in a medium mixing bowl, I whisk together the melted butter, almond milk, vanilla extract, and eggs until well combined. 

Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, I whisk together the remaining ingredients except for the chocolate chips.

Combine wet and dry ingredients: Next, I add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until completely combined. Then I fold in the chocolate chips, making sure they are well distributed without overworking the mixture. 

Bake brownies: I pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the center is just set.

Cool and serve: I remove the brownies from the oven and set them on the cooling rack to cool completely before cutting them into 16 squares. Enjoy! 

📖 Variations

I have experimented with small variations depending on who I have made these brownies for. These have been some of my favorites:

Nutty brownies: I mix in 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds into the batter for added texture and healthy fats. Personally, I love the taste of walnuts in anything chocolate-flavored.

Peanut swirl: For added plant-based protein, I stir in 2 tablespoons of pure peanut or nut butter. This is great for the moms getting back into their workout routines while still nursing. 

Flax boost: I stir in 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed to add more nutrients and fiber. Gut health and staying regular are extremely important for new moms, and this is a great way of doing 2 things at once! 

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Whenever I make lactation brownies for nursing moms, I try to remember how I felt during that time and add a little something extra for this beautiful but tough time. I recommend enjoying these brownies with lavender milk tea to promote relaxation. And if you are a new mom, try my chocolate almond pudding; it is decadent and well deserved. Also, be sure to celebrate the end of your nursing journey with a batch of dominos marbled cookie brownies! 

My husband is no stranger to my baking lactation brownies for friends and family. So I was proud and surprised when he told me that he recommended it to a colleague whose wife had just had a baby. But he did one better and told him to serve it with an oatmilk honey latte, as oatmilk helps with lactation, too. He also gave his colleague my recipe for my edible brownie batter for those days that require serious comfort food. Ha! Good man. 

🧊 Storing And ♨️ Reheating

Refrigeration: I store leftover brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freezing: I place cooled brownies in a freezer-safe container and freeze them for up to 2 months, making sure to separate layers with parchment paper.

Reheating: To warm frozen or chilled brownies, I place them in a 340F oven for about 5 minutes until heated through. Or allow them to sit at room temperature before serving. 

❓Recipe FAQs

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.

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