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Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Lactation Cookies

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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
  • Active Time

    35 minutes

  • Total Time

    2 hours

These hearty monster cookies have it all for nursing mamas: lactogenic oats, ground flaxseed, and brewer’s yeast powder; subtly crunchy, omega-rich chia seeds; and a bit of coconut oil, with its high lauric acid content to boost milk quality. A bevy of chocolate chunks and other goodies are added to the mix to keep anyone—nursing or not—reaching for more.

Ingredients

Makes 26 cookies

3 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
5 Tbsp. brewer’s yeast powder
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
3 Tbsp. white chia seeds
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. fine sea salt
1 1/4 cups sugar
6 Tbsp. virgin coconut oil, melted, cooled slightly
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
6 Tbsp. unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup dried cranberries (optional)
3/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
Flaky sea salt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Mix oats, whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, yeast powder, flaxseed, chia seeds, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/4 tsp. fine sea salt in a large bowl.

    Step 2

    Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat sugar, coconut oil, and butter in another large bowl, scraping down sides as needed, until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until incorporated, about 4 minutes. Add applesauce and beat for just a few seconds (it will break the mixture slightly and look lumpy; that’s okay).

    Step 3

    Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually add dry ingredients and beat just to combine. Using a wooden spoon, stir in chocolate chips, cranberries, and coconut flakes (if using). Chill dough at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

    Step 4

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Coat parchment with nonstick spray.

    Step 5

    Using a 1/4-cup (2.5-oz.) scoop, portion dough on prepared baking sheet, spacing 1"–2" apart (you’ll get 6 per sheet). Flatten top of each cookie with your hand, then season lightly with flaky sea salt. Bake cookies until golden brown, 12–14 minutes.

    Step 6

    Let cookies cool on baking sheets about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely (if moved immediately, they will crack and start to break apart). Repeat with remaining dough.

    Step 7

    Do Ahead: Cookies can be made 5 days ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, or place in a freezer-safe bag and freeze up to 1 month. Reheat by microwaving on low about 1 minute.

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  • These cookies are hugely popular with my daughter. After the first batch, she was worried that her baby had allergies. I successfully made them replacing the butter with shortening and replacing the eggs with flaxseed/water mixture. I also don’t refrigerate them before baking them and they turn out fine.

    • juliefowler

    • Virginia

    • 9/1/2019

  • So yummy! Made with everything except cranberry and they turned out perfect!

    • abbeybentley

    • Salt Lake City, UT

    • 1/1/2019

  • These are legit good cookies! Simultaneously soft, but a little crunchy from the chia seeds. I used pumpkin purée and did pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon since I didn’t have applesauce and it was delicious. I had to bake them for 18 minutes to dry them out to my liking! Totally baking them again as they help ease the new mom learning pains of breastfeeding and pumping.

    • Anonymous

    • San Diego, CA

    • 10/17/2018

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