These Lactation Balls are no-bake energy balls packed with wholesome ingredients to increase milk supply.
They are easy to make in less than 15 minutes in a large batch to make ahead many snacks for busy mums.
You don’t need to be pregnant to make these lactation balls because, believe me, they are so good that I still make them now on a weekly basis.
In fact, these lactation energy balls are basically the same are classic energy balls, except they are loaded with more:
- Iron
- Potassium and magnesium
- Healthy fatty acids
Plus, these no-bake lactation energy bites are also natural:
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
- Dairy-free
- Refined sugar-free
How To Make Lactation Balls
Lactation balls like my lactation smoothie recipe are the easiest breastfeeding no-bake snack.
In fact, they are one of the mum’s favorites because they are quick to make, fulfilling, healthy, and they keep your energy up through the day.
Ingredients
All you need to make no-bake lactation balls are a few key ingredients:
- Medjool Dates – Or other date varieties, but Medjool dates are softer, sweeter, and also higher in anti-oxidants and fiber to help digestion.
- Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats – This adds fiber and iron to your body. Iron has been shown to be a significant factor in increasing breast milk supply.
- Brewer Yeast
- Flax Meal – I use ground golden flax seeds, which are less bitter than brown flax seeds. You must use ground flaxseed to get the benefits from the seeds.
- Peanut Butter or any nut butter you love. Other options are almond butter, cashew butter, or even sun butter for a nut-free option.
- Maple Syrup
- Chia Seeds
- Almond Milk or any plant-based milk you like, including oat milk or soy milk.
Optional ingredients I had for texture and flavors are:
- Chocolate Chips or dried cranberries
- Roasted Almonds- chopped
- Sea Salt Flakes
- Cinnamon
Preparation
For this recipe, you need a food processor with an S-blade attachment.
First, add the pitted Medjool dates and pulse them a few times until they come into a sticky dough.
Next, add the rolled oats, flax meal, peanut butter, maple syrup, chia seed, debittered yeast, and a minimum amount of almond milk.
Process on medium-high speed until it forms a soft, sticky batter. If too wet, add more flax meal teaspoon by teaspoon as this is high in fiber, you don’t need a lot to make the dough dryer.
Or, if the dough is too dry, add the extra tablespoon of almond milk and process to incorporate.
Flavoring
This recipe makes basic energy balls for breastfeeding mamas.
Feel free to stir in or pulse in more ingredients to create a range of energy bites flavors.
I personally recommend transferring the dough to a clean bowl and stirring in the ingredients with a silicone spatula or pressing them by hand, wearing gloves or oiled hands.
In fact, the pulse mode of the food processor is great, but for chocolate chips, it breaks them apart, turning the dough very chocolaty and dark.
So stir in any of the ingredients below:
- For extra proteins and healthy fats – stir in pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, or sunflower seeds.
- For a boost of sweetness – chocolate chips or dried cranberries.
- For more fiber – extra chia seeds.
- For taste – shredded coconut, and crushed peanuts.
Serving
These energy balls contain all the ingredients to support your breast milk production.
However, they don’t work instantly, so it’s better to eat them regularly throughout the day to see benefits.
For example, have some for your morning tea, as an on-the-go snack when walking baby outside, or as a snack when breastfeeding.
Storage Instructions
These lactation energy balls can be stored for up to one week in the fridge but can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
Thaw the balls in the fridge the day before.
Allergy Swaps
Below are some ingredient swaps ideas if you need to adapt the recipe based on food allergies.
- Nut-Free – Replace the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter or unhulled tahini. Both are a bit bitter, and you may like to add chocolate chips or dried fruits to counter the bitter flavor.
- Gluten-Free – Pick a gluten-free certified oat brand or swap the oats for toasted quinoa flakes or puffed cereals like puffed quinoa.
- Date-Free – You can use dried plums, dried apricots, or dried figs instead of dates.
- Brewer’s Yeast – This is not the same as nutritional yeast. Don’t swap it! If you don’t have brewer’s yeast, skip it, the recipe will work without it, no need to add something else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are my answers to your most common questions about these lactation balls.
Yes, lactation balls contain natural, wholesome ingredients safe for any adults or kids.
They are packed with more iron, proteins, and fiber to boost milk supply, but they are totally healthy for everyone.
Yes, you can add protein powder to the recipe, but it will dry out the mixture.
Start by adding 2 to 3 tablespoons of powder, and add more almond milk gradually until the dough is easy to form into balls.
There’s no number. You can eat as many as you feel like.
But keep in mind that Medjool dates are high in calories, so if you also want to stay healthy, don’t overeat snack food or replace a meal with lactation balls.
What makes breastmilk for babies is eating a variety of food to cover all the nutrients and vitamins your baby needs in your milk.
These no-bake balls are snacks or on-the-go breakfast replacements, better to eat twice a day to keep room for a healthy lunch and dinner packed with fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
More Lactation Recipes
If you need recipes that can help lactate, have a look at these:
Have you tried this no-bake lactation ball recipe? Share a comment or review below to connect with me.
Lactation Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup Medjool Dates
- 1 cup Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
- 3 tablespoons Flaxseed Meal
- 3 tablespoons Peanut Butter
- 3 tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 1 tablespoon Chia Seed
- 2 tablespoons Debittered Brewer's Yeast
- 3-4 tablespoons Almond Milk
Optional
- ¼ cup Chocolate Chips
- ¼ cup Roasted Almonds chopped
- 1 pinch Sea Salt Flakes
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
Instructions
- In a food processor, add the pitted Medjool dates and pulse them a few times until they form a sticky paste or tiny pieces of dates.
- Add rolled oats, flaxseed meal, peanut butter, maple syrup, chia seeds, debittered brewer yeast, and almond milk.
- Process on medium-high speed until everything comes together into a sticky dough that can be rolled into soft balls. If too wet, add 1-2 teaspoons of flaxseed meal or more almond milk if too dry.
- Transfer the dough to a bowl, add the optional ingredients, and use a spatula to stir and incorporate.
- Chill dough for 15 minutes if you have time. This makes it easier to roll into balls or roll now.
- Slight oil hands to shape balls. Place each lactation ball on a plate covered with parchment paper.
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month and thaw in the fridge the day before.
