Chocolate Oatmeal Lactation Cups

OMG. Chocolate. Do I really need to say more? I looooove chocolate. It is a weakness. Especially dark chocolate. What I love even more is the excuse to have my chocolate fix disguised as a healthy treat!! These chocolate oatmeal lactation cups are so good, good for you, and have ingredients some people believe to promote milk supply as well. Let's not forget about the chocolate, which I swear by as a magic, milk flowing, miracle treat. Here's why:

One of my favorite tips for pumping moms is to associate pumping time with something pleasurable, like eating chocolate, and there is a good reason for it! When you are feeling anxious, your body tenses (including your nipples!) and when your nipples are tense, it can hold back your milk. If you can relax, and enjoy something while pumping, your body will relax, your nipples will relax, and your milk will flow!!! (This is actually the reason why eating Oreos is associated with higher milk output. The Oreos don't do anything at all to increase your milk supply, but they give you something yummy to focus on while you're pumping, and it let's the stress melt away and your milk flow! I actually plan to write more on this topic later.)

DISCLAIMER: I am a firm believer that the only thing necessary to make plenty of milk for your baby is to JUST NURSE YOUR BABY. Outside of rare, biological circumstances, having an efficient, pain free latch, and adequate time at the breast is all you need to do to make plenty of milk for your baby. If you believe you are struggling with milk supply, please reach out for support, or download our GUIDE FOR INCREASING MILK SUPPLY.

Also, some affiliate links may be added to recipe posts. Purchases made through these links help support this blog, our online community, and the content and resources Successful Breastfeeding LLC provides free of cost to the families we serve.

Chocolate Oatmeal Lactation Cups

Ingredients:

Coconut Oil
2 Large Eggs
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
2 cups Cinnamon Applesauce (or 2 large ripe bananas mashed)
1 Tablespoon Raw Honey
2 1/2 cups Oatmeal
1/8 cup Flax Seeds, preferably ground
1/8 cup Chia Seeds
1/4 cup Hemp Hearts
1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon Pink Sea Salt
1 1/2 cups Unsweetened Almond Milk
1/2 cup Dark Chocolate Chips (or other topping or choice like fruit or nuts- Blueberries are also great with this!)

You'll also need a muffin tin and cupcake liners, a large glass bowl, a small glass bowl, fork, and wooden spoon. 

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line your muffin tin with the cupcake liners, and grease the top with a little bit of coconut oil. Set aside.

In a small glass bowl combine the eggs, vanilla, applesauce, and honey. Mix thoroughly with a fork. Set aside.

In a large glass bowl, combine the oatmeal, flax, chia, hemp, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Mix well with a fork to combine all ingredients evenly.

Next, add your egg mixture to your oatmeal mixture in the large bowl and stir well with a wooden spoon. Then, add your almond milk milk to the mixture and stir until combined. Your mixture will be a bit "soup-y", and that is perfect!

Lastly, spoon your oatmeal mixture into your lined muffin pan. I like to use my gravy ladle, any large spoon would work. Fill the cups all the way to the top, then top with your chocolate chips (or blueberries, nuts, or other topping). 

Bake immediately in your 350 degree preheated oven for 20-24 minutes! 

Cool in the muffin tin until cool enough to handle. Enjoy one warm, and store the rest in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to a week! Enjoy for breakfast on the go, a pumping time snack, or even for dessert! (Note: The liners will peel off more easily after the cups have been refrigerated.)

Take a picture, and share it with me in the comments below!!!! I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

Bloopers

Just to show all of you that I am a real human, I want to share with you the mishaps I experienced while this post was in production. 

Mishap #1: Un-Penetrable Applesauce

I could not open this jar. I tried every trick to get this dang thing open!!! I even tried gripping it with silicone oven mitts. Nothing. Luckily I had an oyster shucker handy, and was able to stab it open. lol. Thank God for ingenuity, and quick thinking. 

Mishap #2: The Almond Milk Killed My Wet Ingredients

I realized part way through taking all of my pictures I had forgotten to take out the Almond milk. This was right after I had measured my dry and wet ingredients and had the bowl set out, ready for a picture. When I got the milk, I dropped it and almost knocked over my dry ingredients. In the successful attempt to save my oatmeal, I took out the wet ingredients, which resulted in applesauce on the counter, eggs on the floor, and my bowl landing into the recycling bin we have next to our block island. 

Thankfully I had enough ingredients to try again, and enough of a sense of humor I could take some pictures, laugh it off, and make a blooper section of this post. 

Hopefully your baking experience goes smoothly. Even if not, these treats are worth the effort!!!