How to Make Cannabutter

In the growing complex world of all things cannabis, marijuana edibles stand out for MANY reasons. They’re delicious, potentially nutritious – and almost always unpredictable. If you’ve decided to tread on the complex path of making edibles then a recipe for how to make cannabutter should be one of your top priorities. Why? Because cannabutter, also known as cannabis-infused butter or weed butter, is foundational to many cannabis goodies! So to get you started, here’s our recipe for how to make cannabutter in 5 easy steps.    

Before Tips

Although cannabutter is a common ingredient in marijuana-infused recipes, it’s fairly tricky to make. Without the correct method, procedural flaws can render your pot butter practically impotent. In order to activate its psychotropic potential, the cannabis flower must be heated slowly at a low temperature, which is a process called decarboxylation. Decarbing through the simmer method of over low and slow heat activates THC, allowing it to slowly infuse into the fat with flavor while also imparting the desired “feel good” qualities of the herb into the butter. This method is analogous to how chefs toast their spices before cooking as a means of activating flavoured compounds. The recipe below will arm you with all the information on how to make cannabutter.

Ingredients for Cannabutter

The truth in the matter is that your cannabutter will only be as good as the ingredients you make it with – as goes for any recipe you create. As such, aim to cook with unsalted butter. You will be able to coax out more of it since it has less moisture/water. Below is a summary and list of all required ingredients to make your very own cannabutter.

• 1 cup of water
• 1 lb of unsalted butter
• 1 oz of high quality lightly ground cannabis bud or trim

Equipment

• Baking sheet or oven pan
• Medium saucepan
• Metal strainer
• Spoon
• Airtight container

How to Make Cannabutter Method

Step 1: Decarboxylation

Preheat your oven to 215°F/102°C. Over a large pan, break apart your bud into smaller pieces but be cautious to not overdo it. Spread them evenly over the surface of a baking sheet or pan and cover with aluminum foil. Place the pan in the oven and let bake for 30-40 minutes. It should be noted that this decarboxylation process is crucial in ensuring that the marijuana’s psychoactive properties are activated and that your cannabutter comes out potent!

Step 2: Melt the Butter

By now, your bud should be light brown in color and dried out. This will later give your cannabutter a nice roasted, nutty taste. In a medium saucepan, simmer the butter and water on low heat for 45 minutes. By mixing in the water, your butter will prevent from burning. Add the ground buds to the melted butter a bit at a time while stirring frequently. If you would like a less potent result, add less cannabis to get a less potent ratio of cannabis to butter.

Step 3: Strain Out the Buds

After 45 minutes, strain the butter into the container using a metal strainer. This will help filter out the ground buds from your cannabutter.

Step 4: Squeeze Out Any Leftovers

Press a spoon against the ground bud in the strainer to further squeeze out any leftover cannabutter into the container.

Step 5: Refrigerate Your Cannabutter

What is left should be your cannabutter in its container! It should have a green tinge to it. Cover the mixture and place it in the fridge for hardening. As it cools, the water will resurface to the top of the butter which you can use a spoon to dispose of. Now, you can use the cannabutter to make edibles! 

Dosing and Storage Tips for Your Cannabutter

Edibles can be tasty treats yet fickle beasts. Determining its potency can be extremely unpredictable and may lead many to over consume. Potency levels depend on many factors from how long and hot it was cooked for to the potency level of your starting material. Nevertheless, it is always wise to spread a quarter to half a teaspoon of cannabutter on a snack and test its effects after an hour. From this point forward, you can use this method as a baseline for sampling potency in cannabutter. Now that you know how to make cannabutter, you’ll be able to make goodies anytime! Cannabutter can be stored in the fridge for up to a month or can be frozen for up to 6 months provided that it is kept in an airtight container.  Happy baking!