Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, sourdough lactation cookies are an absolute staple for postpartum moms. With chocolate chips and oats in every bite, these are a delicious treat any time of the day (or night). Plus, they are a great way to establish and boost milk production for lactating moms.

Sourdough Lactation Cookies

Chocolate is one of my favorite sweet treats no matter what time of day. Add it into cookies and I will grab more than my fair share, especially when I am postpartum. The hungry of the fourth trimester (and beyond when nursing) is unmatched.

I remember waking up starving in the middle of the night when we had our first baby. The second time around, I was much more prepared to ensure my cravings were met and I was eating enough food.

Simply getting enough calories in the first few weeks can be a lot when trying to prioritize rest and chasing around other kids.

I made sure to meal prep as much as possible for the postpartum period – including a variety bite sized treats and snacks. These sourdough lactation cookies are a great way to boost milk production (by eating more calories) and are a great gift for new moms.

Packed with gut healthy sourdough starter, oats for healthy carbohydrates, almond flour for protein and fat and of course, chocolate chips – we can not get enough. The whole family enjoys these classic sourdough oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

There is a reason we are known to polish off an entire batch in under a week. I think you will see for yourself when you make these cookies!

Ingredients for sourdough lactation cookies

To make sourdough lactation cookies, there are a few basic ingredients.

All purpose flour (or gluten free flour)
- We prefer the King Arthur All Purpose Flour in this recipe. It’s both organic and unbleached. If using gluten free flour, we like the Trader Joes All Purpose Gluten Free flour.
- Spelt flour, oat flour or buckwheat flour can also be used
Sourdough starter
- This sourdough chocolate chip cookie recipe is a great way to use up leftover sourdough starter which has been sitting in the fridge. The sourdough is added for health benefits, not to make the dough rise.
Oats (Rolled Oats or quick cook oats)
- Oats are known to be high in essential nutrients like vitamin B, fiber and iron. They also provide the body with carbohydrates for sustained energy.
Almond Flour
Brown Sugar
White Sugar
Unsalted Butter
- Can also be subbed for vegan butter or coconut oil.
Eggs
Vanilla Extract
Chocolate chips
- We enjoy a mix of mini chocolate chips and semi sweet chocolate chips.
Baking Soda
Sea Salt
Optional Add ins – brewers yeast, flaxseed meal or chia seeds

Kitchen Tools

Mix these sourdough lactation cookies by hand, with a stand mixer or hand mixer.

Cookie dough Scoop
Large mixing bowl
- We are obsessed with this pattern on these ceramic bowls. As a bonus, they come with a lid!
Sheet Pan
Stackable Cooling Racks
Reusable Plastic Bags (for storage)

How to Make Sourdough Lactation Cookies

The first step to creating sourdough lactation cookies (aka sourdough oatmeal chocolate chip cookies), is to feed your sourdough starter.

These cookies do not require active sourdough starter, therefore you can use starter on your countertop (at peak or not) or any sourdough discard from your fridge. Because this recipe is not relying on the sourdough to add height to the final product, we tend to use starter leftover in our fridge which – aka not recently fed starter.

Sourdough starter in a glass jar with a bag over top. Glass jar sitting on marble counter.

Next, cream together butter and sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add a whole egg at a time – beating until smooth. Add sourdough starter and mix. After combined, add vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, mix together almond flour, rolled oats, flour, salt and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until combined. Add in chocolate chips.

Use cookie scoop (about 1-1/2 tablespoons) to shape dough into balls. Place onto parchment paper lined baking sheet. Press down cookies before placing in the oven. Bake cookies until golden brown – around 10-12 minutes.

Sourdough lactation cookies stacked on cooling rack

How to Store Lactation Cookies

After cooling on stackable cooling racks, store lactation cookies at room temperature for up to 3-4 days in a ziploc bag or reusable container. Store them in the fridge for up to a week. Place into the freezer in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to 6 months.

To reheat, remove from the fridge or freezer and place within the microwave or toaster oven. They are delicious when enjoyed with a glass of milk, crumbled over ice cream or even used as a base for a sourdough ice cream sandwich!

Frequently Asked Questions:

What foods help to boost milk production?

One factor to increase milk production is to increase stimulation to the breast, however there are foods which women have found to increase their supply.

These foods are high in galactagogues. Foods rich in galactagogues include, oats, fenugreek, brewers yeast, chia seeds, flax seeds, nuts, legumes, chocolate. Some women even claim their milk production increased from drinking Body Armor (which main ingredient is coconut water) and eating oreos!

Milk production can increase through overall increased calorie consumption. These cookies make it easy to do! Contact your lactation specialist or the advice of your physician for more information on how to increase your overall milk production

While I am not a registered dietician or nutritionist, I will say eating these cookies did make me need to pump the following morning because my supply had increased overnight. These sourdough lactation cookies have both chocolate chips and oats which boost milk production.

When to eat lactation cookies?

Eat lactation cookies at any time. Some women see an increase in milk supply within 24 hours. For this reason, if you feel your supply is dipping, try eating these cookies which contain lactogenic foods. Those are are not lactating can enjoy them as well!

Can you freeze lactation cookies?

Sourdough oatmeal chocolate chip cookies can be made in advance and frozen. To make sourdough oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough, make the recipe above and section into balls. Place in a ziplock baggie, separated by wax paper. When you would like to make them, place the dough directly on a cookie sheet and bake as normal until golden brown.

What are variations to lactation chocolate chip cookies?

Other variations of these lactation cookies include:

Different flavored chocolate chips (dark chocolate chips, semi sweet, butterscotch chips)
Add crushed pretzels
Add peanut butter or a nut butter (almond butter, sunflower butter)
Finally, add brewers yeast, flax seed or chia seed.
- If adding brewer’s yeast, look for a debittered brewers yeast option
  - Add up to 5 Tablespoons for an extra milk supply boost

Can these cookies be made without almond flour?

Initially this was a gluten free sourdough lactation cookie recipe and the almond flour made a good balance in texture. To make the recipe without almond flour, replace the it with all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, gluten free flour or spelt flour.