Mother love cookies

RECIPE

Postnatal cookies

Notes

There is something so British about a postnatal bake! Good food is the perfect gift for new parents and there is something so comforting and uplifting about a box of cookies, one handed food and a bit of sweetness!

** The most important thing I feel I must say about these cookies is that although they have been called 'lactation cookies' they are not prescriptive and they are not exclusively for breastfeeding mothers . Yes there are some foods that are said to encourage milk supply but honestly, a woman that grew and birthed an entire tiny human likely has everything she needs for a successful breastfeeding journey within her, the cookie is just a really welcome delicious treat! I would never claim that a mere cookie (no matter how delicious) has more power than her amazing self! Another important note and I say this from personal experience, breastfeeding though one of the most natural things in the world can also one of the hardest journeys and often requires some support. This is totally normal and if there are any feeding concerns including low milk supply seek support as soon as possible. **

A cookie in my opinion is the perfect one handed treat, perfect for those long postpartum days. The comforting sugar fix a new mother needs close at hand in her postnatal nest.

 I find these turn out best made in a table top blender with a dough hook, I lightly fold in the last of the oats by hand. 

Do not substitute the brewers yeast for any other kind of yeast as it’s the most 'lactogenic' ingredient of all. 

 Half a cup of additional ingredients can be added to this cookie dough, some great combinations are

fig, fennel seed and walnut. 

Dark chocolate, cranberry & hazlenut 

Cherry, pecan and white chocolate, white chocolate is great with this combination but dark chocolate is too and I like dark chocolate in postnatal baking for the fibre, iron and magnesium. It's also said to be great for supporting mood and for blood pressure. 

This dough makes around 14 cookies based on a dessert spoon of dough each, obviously more if extra ingredients have been added.  Prep time 10 mins...ish no rush though! Cooking time 10 mins. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup self raising wholemeal flour
• 1 and ½ cup oats
• ½ cup butter or coconut oil
• ¾ cup light brown muscovado sugar
• 2 tbsp ground flax in 2-3tbsp luke warm water
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract 
• 1 - 2 tbsp brewers yeast 
• ½ tsp good coarse sea salt or himalayan salt 
• 1 tsp cinnamon 

Optional ½ cup extra ingredients of your choice.

Method 

1. Preheat the oven to 180 and line a baking tray with grease proof paper. 
2. Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy  while the flax is soaking in the water.
3. Beat in the the flax and vanilla 
4. Fold in the salt, cinnamon, flour brewers yeast and 1 cup of the oats  until well combined. 
5. Lightly fold in the rest of the oats 
6. Spoon out and shape into balls, press onto baking sheet spaced out evenly. Flatten each ball slightly with your fingers but not too much.  
7. Bake for around 10 mins until lightly coloured depending on how crunchy you like your cookies. Don’t expect them to be firm on removal from the oven, they will firm up on cooling

I hope you like this recipe, do let me know if you have used any exiting combinations for extra ingredients!

These cookies are also available for sale, if you would like to order some do get in touch