You know those recipes that you make over and over again (liiiike…weekly), but each time you do something a little different and it just gets better with every batch? Well this recipe is a product of experimentation gone ~oh so right~ based on what I had in the pantry and what was on sale. Over time, and with the birth of Sloan, this turned into “lactation” granola with the addition of a few specific ingredients, and it will honestly never be anything but from here on out.
To make this granola even more conducive to milk production, I added brewer’s yeast and cashews, but I’ll be honest…these additions will be a staple even after I’m done breastfeeding. Not only are they high in fiber and protein, but they also add a rich and nutty flavor that can’t be matched.
I bet you can’t not lick the spoon with this one-
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- ½ cup cocoa nibs
- ½ cup flax seeds
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 cup chopped nuts
- I do cashews for their higher iron content, which promotes lactation, but any nut(s) will work great.
- You could also substitute dried fruit here. Apricots are especially high in phytoestrogens and calcium, which help with milk production. If you do add fruit, just be sure to add it to the mix AFTER baking.
- ⅓ cup butter
- ⅓ cup nut butter
- This is another great place to customize the recipe to your taste, and also another opportunity to add those iron-rich cashews.
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 Tbsp cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp brewer’s yeast
Directions
- Heat oven to 350° F.
- Mix oats, nuts, seeds, coconut, and cocoa nibs in a large bowl.
- Combine all other ingredients in a pan and cook over low heat on the stove until everything has melted, about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add the melted mixture into the bowl with the oat mixture. Stir to combine until there are no dry spots.
- Spread the mixture onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Stir mixture after 10 minutes in the oven.
- Allow the granola to cool before eating.
My favorite thing about this recipe is that it’s 100% customizable. You can change up the nuts, swap out seeds, add dried fruit, you name it. Sometimes I even get feisty and use almond extract instead of vanilla ~gasp~. This really is a “choose your own adventure” kind of recipe, which is why it’s never turned out the same for me twice…until I found THIS combo.
Just like my lactation balls recipe, this granola checks all the boxes for “paleo” except for the oats. But we can’t leave those out because one- it wouldn’t be granola! And two- oats are great for milk production.
Now I recommend specifically calling this “lactation” granola around your house, because it may afford you a few more bites to yourself before the rest of the family catches on and eats the rest. At least that’s what happened in the Davis home. When Bob tried this, he informed me (mid bite) that I need to make two batches next time.
Seriously…this chocolate-y, nutty, crunchy goodness is great by itself, on top of yogurt with a drizzle of honey, or mixed into ice cream. I’ve even been known to eat it like cereal and it’s almost good enough to curb my near constant cocoa krispies craving.
When you give this a try, will you let me know?? I’m so curious to hear what you think and how you make this recipe your own. You can find me on instagram at @make.manifest, and I’d love nothing more than seeing you enjoy this treat. And if you’re more of a Pinterest kinda person, may I recommend pinning this to your go-to recipe board? I have a feeling you’re going to want to come back to this one again and again.
Enjoy!
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. No pressure, but I have a feeling you’re gonna like what I’ve taken the time to put my recommendation behind.
