How to Make Cannabutter: The Best Recipe
When it comes to making cannabis edibles, how to make cannabutter is the key to success. If you want something that is:
- Easy to prepare with ingredients you probably already have at home – just cannabis, butter, and a stove
- Efficient in capturing THC and other cannabinoids from your cannabis
- Able to minimize the cannabis flavor and scent, so your edibles don’t have that overpowering weed taste (without compromising potency)
The best edibles start with potent weed butter that delivers great effects with minimal plant flavor. That’s why when seeking the best cannabutter recipe, I focused on these factors. With this approach, you can create delicious edibles with just the right amount of potency and flavor balance.
Butter vs. Coconut Oil: Which to Choose for Making Cannabutter?
When learning how to make cannabutter, you’ll come across two main fats: butter and coconut oil. Both are popular choices, but each has its pros and cons:
- Coconut oil is often seen as the healthier option. It’s mild in flavor and blends well with baked goods. It also helps mask the cannabis flavor, which is why I’ve used it for making canna caps. However, not everyone enjoys the taste of coconut, and some people may have allergies.
- Butter (or weed butter) is a classic choice, and in my experience, it works great for edibles. It has a delicious taste and is easy to substitute for regular butter in any recipe. This is why I chose butter for this guide—it’s the perfect starting point for making edibles like brownies, cookies, or candies.
The Best Weed Butter Recipe: Ingredients and Instructions
Here’s the cannabutter recipe you need for 1 pound of butter, which will yield:
- 15 “strong” portions
- 30 “regular” portions
- 50 “light” portions
Ingredients:
- 1 oz dried cannabis buds or 3 oz dried trim
- 1 pound butter (usually 4 sticks)
- Cheesecloth (to strain plant matter from the butter)
- Baking sheet
Optional but helpful:
- Turkey bags (helps reduce weed smell during the decarboxylation step)
How to Make Cannabutter: Step-by-Step
Step 1 – Decarboxylation
Decarboxylation is essential when learning how to make cannabutter. This step activates the THC in your cannabis, ensuring it’s as potent as possible.
- Preheat your oven to 250° F (120° C) and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Grind your cannabis lightly and spread it on the baking sheet.
- Alternatively, place your cannabis in a turkey bag or mason jar for less odor.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 250° F (120° C), keeping in mind that your house will smell if you don’t use a bag or jar!
- After baking, crumble the cannabis to ensure it’s evenly processed for the next step.
Tip: For more about why decarboxylation is critical for cannabutter, read this guide on decarbing cannabis.
Step 2 – Cooking Cannabutter
Now that you’ve decarbed your cannabis, it’s time to infuse the butter.
- Bring 4 cups (950 mL) of water to a boil.
- Turn the heat to Medium-Low, add the butter, and let it melt.
- Add your decarboxylated cannabis to the water and butter mixture.
- Simmer for 90 minutes on Medium-Low, stirring occasionally. Bubbles should gently rise but not boil.
Step 3 – Separate Butter from Water
This step will separate your potent weed butter from the plant matter and water.
- Line a large bowl with cheesecloth.
- Carefully strain the mixture through the cloth. Don’t burn yourself – use a spatula to press it out.
- Place the bowl in the fridge overnight. The butter will float to the top.
- Once solidified, use a knife to separate the butter from the water and plant material.
- Store your finished cannabutter in a container.
Storage and Usage Tips
You can use cannabutter in any recipe just like regular butter—just substitute 1:1. If you want to make cannabis-infused dishes like brownies or cookies, this weed butter is your best friend.
For storage, cannabutter will last about a week in the fridge, but it’s best kept in the freezer for long-term storage. Freezing won’t affect its potency and will keep it fresh for months.
Important Note: The potency of your cannabutter will depend on the strength of the cannabis used. Start with a smaller amount when trying edibles, as they can take 2-3 hours to take effect, especially on a full stomach.
