Lemon Poppyseed Cookies (Vegan Lactation Recipe)

Name: Lemon Poppyseed Cookies (Vegan Lactation Recipe)
Prep time: 70 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 85 min
Ingredients: 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flaxseed with 5 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk or water); 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar; 1¼ cup vegan butter (melted); 3 cups gluten free rolled oats; 1 1/2 cups gluten free all purpose flour; 6 tablespoons brewers yeast; 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 tbsp Lemon zest; 3 tbsp poppyseeds (divided); Lemon juice powdered sugar glaze:; 1/2 cup powdered sugar; 4 1/2 tsp lemon juice

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Medically reviewed by Abbey Sharp, Registered Dietitian (RD), BASc.

These Lemon Poppyseed Cookies are gluten-free, vegan and packed with nutritious ingredients to help increase breast milk supply for breastfeeding mamas.

Birds eye view of lemon poppyseed cookies on a cooling rack.

Is there anything more lip puckering and delicious than the combination of lemon poppyseed ANYTHING? Didn’t think so. While this is a classic muffin flavour (and let’s be real- it’s a delicious one), I thought I would pack those same flavours into an oatmeal cookie. But this is not your grandma’s boring cookie. These are for us mamas who are struggling with our breast milk supply and need a little boost (and a treat for all our hard work!!). They are exactly what you’re going to look forward to postpartum.

I’ve already shared a few of my favourite lactation cookies on the blog like these classic salted chocolate chunk and these carrot cake lactation cookies. They have been such a hit in my house among literally anyone who tries them (breastfeeding and not) that I had to get back at it with these sweet and tangy lemon poppyseed cookies.

Why This Recipe Works
Key Ingredients
How to Make This Recipe
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQs
More Recipes You Might Like

Why This Recipe Works

There are a couple key reasons why I always recommend these lemon poppyseed cookies to all my fellow mamas.

Gluten-free and vegan – perfect for every dietary need
A delicious way to increase breast milk supply
Enjoyable for the whole family (not just breastfeeding mamas)

Key Ingredients

Pile of lemon poppyseed cookies garnished with a glaze on a plate.

Flaxseed – To keep this recipe vegan, I used a flax egg.
Light brown sugar – I love the added depth of flavour with brown sugar.
Vegan butter – You can swap for regular butter if you’re not vegan.
Rolled oats – One of my favourite affordable whole grains.
All purpose flour – To keep things simple.
Brewers yeast – This is the secret ingredient, packed with minerals and B vitamins.
Salt – Never skip the salt, it does wonders for enhancing flavour.
Vanilla extract
Lemon zest and lemon juice – This is our key for that citrusy zing.
Poppyseeds
Powdered sugar

How to Make This Recipe

Hand holding lactation cookie above a plate of cookies drizzled with a glaze.

Step One: Prepare the flax eggs and let them sit in the fridge for 30-60 minutes.

Step Two: Preheat oven to 350 F and prepare two baking sheets with silpats.

Step Three: In a bowl, beat together the butter and brown sugar until creamed. Add in the flax eggs, oats, flour, yeast, flax, baking powder, soda, salt, vanilla, lemon zest and 2 tablespoons of poppyseeds.

Step Four: Scoop out a 2-tablespoon ball of cookie dough and roll into a ball. Flatten out onto the silpat. The cookies require a lot of space to spread, so you’ll likely want to put 8 per pan. Repeat with the other pan. I do two batches, so that’s equal to 4 pans depending on the size of your pans. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of poppyseeds.

Step Five: Bake in the middle of the oven for 14-15 minutes, or until lightly golden around the edges. Allow the cookies to cool on a cooling rack.

Step Six: Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix together the powdered sugar with lemon juice and transfer to a piping bag. Drizzle the cooled cookies with the lemon glaze. Enjoy and happy nursing mamas!

Expert Tips

If you’re having a hard time rolling out the dough, chill in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.

You can also batch make these cookies and freeze the raw dough. They bake from raw, but may take a couple extra minutes in the oven.

Recipe FAQs

Do these lemon poppyseed cookies ACTUALLY increase breast milk supply?

Meh, it’s debatable. While the oats, flax and brewers yeast are known galactagogues, there isn’t much research in the area of foods that increase breast milk supply (I’ve written about it here). However, calories DO help, so making sure you have tasty and nutritious snacks around can help when you feel yourself getting a little low on energy.

Can I eat lactation cookies if I’m NOT breastfeeding?

OMG yes. There is NO danger in eating these lactation cookies and starting to lactate. HA, don’t we wish it was that easy. Seriously though, my husband has eaten an entire batch of these and he had yet to grow boobs or breastfeed our son. Unfortunately.

Are these lemon poppyseed cookies gluten-free?

Yes! I used a gluten-free all purpose flour and gluten free rolled oats, but if you’re not gluten-free, just use whatever oats and regular whole wheat flour for extra nutrition.

Pile of lemon poppyseed lactation cookies on a plate.

More Recipes You Might Like

Lactation recipes are one of the fun ways to pump up mamas about breastfeeding. Here are some more yummy ones you can try it when you need a snacky pick-me-up!

Now mamas, tell me – have you found that lactation cookies help with your supply? What has helped you boost your breast milk production? Leave me a comment below with your thoughts!

Abbey Sharp

Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.