Elevate your homemade edibles with this quick and easy cannabis-infused butter recipe. Cannabutter, short for cannabis-infused butter, is a fundamental base ingredient for many edible infusions. It’s an extremely versatile ingredient that can be used in various dishes, from the classic pot brownie to a savory cannabis-infused pizza.
This specific recipe calls for decarbed cannabis. To minimize the smell while decarboxylating, i like to decarb in the same mason jar that i will be adding my oil and cannabis flower into.
About This Recipe
CannaButter, short for cannabis-infused butter, is a versatile ingredient that allows you to create homemade weed-infused edibles. Made by combining butter, or ghee, with decarboxylated THC or CBD flower, cannaButter is a staple ingredient for many cannabis edibles.
If you are working with raw flower that is not “activated”, I highly recommend checking out my How To Decarboxylate Cannabis Guide, where I walk you through the decarbing process. For this recipe, we will be using decarboxylated cannabis flower (or concentrate) and a double boiler method to create my cannabis-infused butter!
Before we continue, lets go ahead and gather up our ingredients and supplies. For cannabis-infused butter we will need..
- decarboxylated cannabis flower or concentrate
- unsalted butter (clarified butter or ghee will also work)
- glass mason jar heatproof
- medium-sized saucepan
- thermometer
- fine-mesh strainer
- cheesecloth
Tips & Tricks
Calculate Potency: Take note of the total starting THC/CBD percentage of the cannabis flower or concentrate, (flower typically ranges from 10-35% THC, while concentrates range from 70-90% THC) and estimate the potency of the cannabutter using an online THC/CBD calculators.
Keep the Temperature ~170F: Never let your cannabis-infused butter exceed over 190°F during the infusion process. If you don’t own a thermometer, a good rule of thumb is not to allow the water in the pot to boil; maintain water at a slow and constant simmer.
Avoid Water Contamination: If you’re using the mason jar method, ensure the jar stays upright in the saucepan. If the jar feels unstable, try adding more butter or weed to weigh it down.
Be Gentle When Straining: When straining, do not over-squeeze the plant material, as this can release chlorophyll into your final product and give it a grassy taste.”
Label Correctly: Label your cannabutter with the infusion date and store it in a cool, dark spot. Proper storage will help maintain its freshness and potency.
Cannabutter Recipe
Ingredients
- 14 grams decarboxylated cannabis flower or concentrate
- 1-1/2 cup butter melted
Instructions
- Place your decarboxylated cannabis into a mason jar and pour in melted butter into the jar, ensuring the cannabis is fully submerged.
- Infuse Using a Double Boiler Method: Fill a saucepan or pot with water, enough to come halfway up the mason jar. Place the mason jar in the water and place on low-medium heat (this will act as a double-boiler method; the cannabis should not touch the water). Heat butter and cannabis mixture to a range of 160°F to 180°F . Let the butter infuse for 2-3 hours, mixing occasionally. I usually aim for a temp of 170°F for my cannabis-infused butter
- Strain the Butter: Remove the jar from the water bath and let it cool slightly. Place a fine mesh strainer (and cheesecloth) over a clean jar. Carefully pour the contents of the mason jar through the strainer to separate the plant material from the infused butter.
- Cool and Store: Let the butter cool to room temperature, before storing in the refrigerator. Store the cannabis-infused butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks, or freeze for longer storage.
FAQ
What other types of oils can you infuse with cannabis?
Cannabutter can be used in almost any recipe that calls for regular butter. Since cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD) are fat-soluble, you can infuse any oil with cannabis. My recommendations and favorites to keep in my pantry include, Infused Olive Oil, Infused Coconut Oil, and Infused Alcohol Tincture.
What is the shelf-life of cannabis-infused butter?
Your THC-butter should be stored in the refrigerator, where it can last for up to 1 month, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Ghee and clarified butter have a much longer shelf life because of the lack of milk and water solids, cannabis-infused ghee and clarified butter can last you up to 6 months in the fridge and a year or longer in the freezer.
Can I make cannabutter without decarboxylating cannabis?
The decarboxylation step is crucial making edibles, unless you’re using certain cannabis concentrates like distillate or RSO. These don’t need to be decarbed since they’ve already undergone decarboxylation during the extraction process.
Can I make cannabutter without decarboxylating cannabis?
Hate to say it, but the decarboxylation step is crucial when making edibles. I do have another method of making Cannabis-Infused Oil that incorporates the decarbing and infusing into one step.
Conclusion
Once strained, your cannabis-infused oil is ready to start using in any cooking and baking recipes! My favorite methods of using this infused cannabutter is in cookies, classic pot brownies, and infused rice krispies. Start by consuming a small portion; wait 45-60 minutes for the effects to take hold before deciding whether to consume more for a stronger experience. You can always take more but cannot take less so handle with care.
