DIY cannabutter: Easy-to-follow recipe for beginners
Cannabutter—AKA cannabis-infused butter or weed butter—is an essential ingredient in many marijuana edibles.
It’s essentially regular butter infused with cannabis, and it’s used to make everything from sweet baked goods to savory dishes.
Making weed butter yourself is often the cheapest way to get it, and with our straightforward recipe, it’s also super easy (even if you’re not exactly a whiz in the kitchen).
Table of contents
Cannabutter preparation
1. Gather your ingredients and tools
Making cannabis butter takes just a few tools to get right—and you probably already have them in your kitchen.
And if not? You can easily get what you need at the grocery store.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Butter. For the best cannabutter, use unsalted butter. The lack of salt makes for a purer infusion process and better-tasting edibles.
- Cannabis flower. Choose your favorite strain based on the effects you’re looking for. We have some pointers for picking the perfect strain for your cannabutter below.
- Bakeware. You’ll need a baking sheet, parchment paper, a medium saucepan, a slow cooker (ideal but optional), a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, a hand grinder, and an airtight container.
2. Decarb your weed
Before you start the infusion process, You’ll need to decarboxylate, or “decarb,” your weed before you start the infusion process.
Decarbing activates the THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana that gets you high). Check out our guide to decarbing cannabis.
Once that’s done, you’re ready to start the cannabis infusion into your butter.
How to make cannabutter: Step-by-step recipe
- Combine the ingredients. Place one cup of unsalted butter in a medium saucepan. Add a cup of water to help regulate the temperature and prevent the butter from burning. Melt the butter over low heat.
- Add decarbed cannabis. Once the butter has melted, add your decarbed cannabis. The typical ratio is one cup of butter to half an ounce (about 14 grams) of cannabis.
- Simmer. Keep the mixture at a low heat (around 160-200°F) and let it simmer for two to three hours. Stir occasionally and make sure it never reaches a full boil. Alternatively, you can use a slow cooker to make cannabutter.
- Strain. After the infusion, strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a mason jar or an airtight container to remove the plant material.
- Cool and store. Let the cannabutter cool at room temperature before storing it in the refrigerator. It should solidify and be ready to use in your favorite recipes.
Tips for making the perfect batch of cannabutter
Use high-quality butter
We know food is expensive (thanks, inflation), but don’t just pick the cheapest pack of butter on the shelf.
Higher-quality butter yields better-tasting cannabutter, and will make a big difference in the quality of edibles you make.
Control the heat
Low and slow is the name of the game. Too high heat can degrade the THC.
Don't rush it
Allow the full two to three hours for infusion to ensure the best potency and flavor.
How to store cannabutter
While some types of butter can be kept on your kitchen counter, cannabutter should only be stored in the fridge. The reason: Weed butter can go bad.
The good news: When stored properly in the refrigerator, your cannabutter can last up to two months.
Mason jars are the perfect container for cannabutter because they seal tightly and keep out moisture and air, which are the arch-enemies of freshness.
If you want to extend its shelf life even further, consider freezing it.
Your cannabutter can stay good for up to six months in the freezer. Just let it thaw at room temperature or in the fridge before using it.
Other cannabutter storage options
- Portion and freeze. Use an ice cube tray to divide your cannabutter into single-serving sizes. Once frozen, pop the cubes out and store them in a freezer-safe bag or container.
This method makes grabbing what you need easy without thawing the entire batch.
- Use a vacuum sealer. Vacuum sealing removes all the air from the packaging, reducing the risk of oxidation and freezer burn.
Vacuum-sealed cannabutter can last even longer in the freezer—up to a year!
- Roll it up. It won’t work in a joint, but you can roll your cannabutter into a log using parchment paper, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
This method is great for keeping in the fridge or freezer and allows you to slice off as much as you need.
- Pour into molds. Molds, often used for candies or chocolates, are excellent ways to store portioned cannabutter.
Once set, you can pop out individual pieces as needed. This is especially handy when using your cannabutter to bake edibles or prepare savory dishes.
- Colored glass jars. Store your food in colored glass jars, like amber or cobalt blue, to avoid any potential light exposure that could degrade it.
These block out more light than clear jars, helping preserve your cannabutter’s quality.
Label your containers with the date made and potency, if known. This will help you keep track of its freshness and ensure you’re using the right dosage.
You should also store your cannabutter in the back of the fridge or freezer, where the temperature is most stable and there is less exposure to light each time the door opens.
Best cannabis strains for weed butter
Here are some marijuana strains that are great for making cannabutter.
Blue Dream
Blue Dream is a balanced hybrid that’s perfect for relaxation without heavy sedation.
Girl Scout Cookies
Girl Scout Cookies (GSC) is known for its euphoric effects and delicious flavor profile.
OG Kush
OG Kush is a classic strain that provides strong euphoric effects and is ideal for a variety of edibles.
White Widow
White Widow offers a balanced high that’s both euphoric and relaxing, great for daytime or evening use.
Sour Diesel
Sour Diesel is an energizing strain that’s perfect for edibles meant to keep you active and creative.
How to dose cannabutter
Finding the right marijuana dose is tricky, no matter how you’re using it.
The general rule is to “go low and slow,” meaning start with a very small amount to see how it affects you before adding more.
A general rule of thumb is to start with a dose of around 5-10mg of THC and wait at least two hours before consuming more.
Remember: It’ll take you longer to feel the effects when you consume cannabis orally, so you might not feel anything right away—that’s normal.
Don’t make the mistake of taking too much because you’ll regret it once your body digests it and the active cannabinoids make their way into your bloodstream.
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