Homemade Lactation Bars
This recipe for homemade lactation bars has been a favorite of every mama I’ve made them for. I make them for myself when meal prepping for an upcoming baby. Let’s dig in!
What Are Lactation Bars?
Lactation bars are pretty much the same as a lactation cookie. They are full of healthy ingredients that keep your body nourished and help you to produce milk for your new baby. They may also include foods that promote milk production.
These bars honestly remind me of a mash I might put together for my livestock after they have a baby. Oats, molasses, a little sugar, and nutritious whole grains.
Original Recipe
This recipe originally came from the book The Handmade Mama. I absolutely love this book of DIY crafts, recipes, and projects. It is a great resource for those expecting, those postpartum, and the little ones in their lives.
I’ve tweaked the recipe in a few ways but I still owe credit for the base of it to Mary Helen Leonard, author of this excellent book.
Best Way to Store Postpartum Bars
You can eat these warm and they are tasty. But I HIGHLY recommend freezing them and eating them straight from the freezer. They get a fudgy sort of texture when frozen that just can’t be beat.
They will keep for 2-3 months stored in a freezer Ziploc. If you happen to have a vacuum sealer they will keep for six months or more.
On the counter they will keep up to a week. In the fridge they will keep for a few weeks.
Beneficial Ingredients for Postpartum Support
Flax
Flax is known to contain phytoestrogens that can help increase milk supply.
Butter
Butter, yes butter is chalk full of healthy nutrients. It has B12 which helps with energy, bone health, and preventing anemia. The fat content of butter also helps with the absorption of other vitamins.
Molasses
Molasses, particularly black strap molasses is essentially a sugar byproduct that has been cooked down several times. This concentrates the nutritional value, leaving you with a sweet syrup that has iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Source.
Whole Wheat Flour
Whole wheat or fresh ground flour is high in fiber and a slew of other vitamins to help you in your postpartum journey. Source.
Hemp Hearts
These tasty little additions have magnesium, vitamin E, potassium, zinc, and iron.
Almond Flour
Full of protein, calcium, and magnesium, almond flour is a great addition. Hazelnut flour is another good option if you don’ have almond flour available.
Oats
Oats are a great nutritional food for anyone, especially new moms. They are another source of fiber, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Homemade Lactation Bar Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Ground Flax
- 1/4 Cup Water
- 1 Cup Butter
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1/3 Cup Molasses
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 whole wheat flour
- 1/4 Cup Almond meal or flour
- 1/4 Cup hulled hemp hearts
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 Cups rolled oats
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit
Supplies
- 13×9 Baking Pan
- Two bowls for mixing
- Whisk or hand mixer
- Parchment paper
Recipe
Begin by mixing 1/4 cup water with the ground flax. Let sit for a few minutes while you complete the next steps.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cream the sugars and butter together until well blended, smooth, and fluffy. 5-10 minutes.
Add in molasses, vanilla, and eggs, mixing well after each one.
In a separate bowl combine the flour, almond meal, hemp hearts, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
Mix the dry ingredients into the wet with a sturdy spoon.
Lastly, add in the oatmeal and your mix-in of choice…fruit, nuts, or chocolate chips.
Grease the 9×13 pan with butter, be sure to get the bottom and sides well covered.
Place a layer of parchment paper on the bottom of the pan.
Scoop the batter out and spread evenly across the pan. It is pretty thick so this will take a little doing.
Bake for 30-40 minutes. These bars are a dark brown from the whole wheat flour and the molasses. As they cool the middle will sink somewhat.
Allow the bars to cool in the pan, then slice in the pan or flip onto a cutting board.
I like to cut them in various sizes so I have an option for what size bar I might be hungry for.
Can You Use Fresh Whole Wheat Flour?
Yes! I made this batch of bars with entirely fresh-milled flour. They come out dense, chewy, and delicious.
More Homemade Baby and Mama Care
If you loved these homemade lactation bars then check out some more great DIY resources for mamas and babies.
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Homemade Lactation Bar Recipe
Equipment
- 13×9 baking pan
- Two bowls for mixing
- Whisk or hand mixer
- Parchment Paper
- Recipe
- Solid Wood Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Ground Flax
- 1/4 Cup Water
- 1 Cup Butter
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1/3 Cup Molasses
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 Whole wheat flour
- 1/4 Cup Almond meal or flour Hazelnut is another substitute
- 1/4 Cup hulled hemp hearts
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 Cups rolled oats
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips nuts, or dried fruit
Instructions
- Begin by mixing 1/4 cup water with the ground flax. Let sit for a few minutes while you complete the next steps.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream the sugars and butter together until well blended, smooth, and fluffy. 5-10 minutes.
- Add in molasses, vanilla, and eggs, mixing well after each one.
- In a separate bowl combine the flour, almond meal, hemp hearts, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet with a sturdy spoon.
- Lastly, add in the oatmeal and your mix-in of choice…fruit, nuts, or chocolate chips.
- Grease the 9×13 pan with butter, be sure to get the bottom and sides well covered.
- Place a layer of parchment paper on the bottom of the pan.
- Scoop the batter out and spread evenly across the pan. It is pretty thick so this will take a little doing.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes.
- Allow the bars to cool in the pan, then slice in the pan or flip onto a cutting board.
- I like to cut them in various sizes so I have an option for what size bar I might be hungry for.
- Store in the freezer for up to three months or the fridge for a few weeks.
