Gluten-Free Breastfeeding Cookies
I’ve spied a few different recipes for breastfeeding cookies/lactation biscuits/booby biccies online by both Nadia Lim and Petite Kitchen. However, traditionally all of the recipes contain oats which aren’t gluten-free so I set about creating a gluten-free version that I could stash away in the freezer for when I felt like something to nibble on that would also help with milk production!
Galactologues are generally herbs or foods that are thought to naturally promote breast milk production. Some of these include brewers yeast, fennel and flaxseeds all of which are included in these deliciously chewy biscuits. Wholegrains, especially oats are also considered a galactologue, however I have replaced the oats with other gluten-free wholegrains such as quinoa flakes and a good-quality gluten-free muesli which also provides a source of fibre and B-Vitamins.
I'm now so glad I baked two batches of these cookies before Isabella was born as she is a great wee feeder (*touch wood*) and I tend to feed for hours each evening before she'll go down for the night - something I now know to be cluster feeding and boy does she do it well! It’s important to remember that breastfeeding isn’t an excuse to be eating cookies every hour of the day, but I definitely look forward to two of these delicious wee cookies each and every day with a hot cup of tea when Isabella goes down. I either enjoy them late-morning or during the afternoon as I never quite know when lunch or dinner will be these days! Often it's when a window of opportunity presents itself and the husband or someone else is around to wind or snuggle Isabella while I quickly eat my meal before she gets hungry again (that's if she's not sleeping which she also does well...touch wood!). We have managed dinner at the table together once since we've arrived home which was just lovely but I'm happy playing mum first and then eating later.
I have popped two recipes below – one adapted from Nadia Lim’s recipe using quinoa flakes and then a second recipe using gluten-free muesli and a few chocolate chips based upon a recipe I saw by Petite Kitchen.
I hope the gluten-free breastfeeding mum’s out there enjoy these cookies!
Gluten-Free Breastfeeding Cookies – Quinoa ~ makes approximately 18-20 cookies
2 ¼ cups quinoa flakes
½ cup raw sugar
2 Tbspn brewers yeast
2 Tbspn ground flaxseeds
1 Tbspn fennel seeds, lightly toasted and then ground
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g butter, melted (dairy-free option, use coconut oil)
1 free-range egg
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with baking paper
Place all of the ingredients into a large bowl and mix until well combined
Roll tablespoons of the mixture into balls and place on your prepared tray leaving at least 3-4cm between each cookie. Using a fork gently press each cookie down slightly.
Bake for ~15 minutes or until golden and cooked.
Leave to cool on the tray
Store in an air-tight container or freeze for later use
Gluten-Free Breastfeeding Cookies – Muesli ~ makes approximately 18-20 cookies
¼ cup quinoa flakes
2 cups good-quality gluten-free muesli/cereal
½ cup raw sugar
2 Tbspn brewers yeast
2 Tbspn LSA
1 Tbspn fennel seeds, lightly toasted and then ground
Good pinch coarse iodised sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g butter, melted (dairy-free option, use coconut oil)
1 free-range egg
½ cup chocolate chips
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with baking paper
Place all of the ingredients into a large bowl and mix until well combined
Roll tablespoons of the mixture into balls and place on your prepared tray leaving at least 3-4cm between each cookie. Using a fork gently press each cookie down slightly.
Bake for ~15 minutes or until golden and cooked.
Leave to cool on the tray
Store in an air-tight container or freeze for later use
