How to Make Cannabutter: The Complete Recipe, Ratios & Dosing Guide
Cannabutter — cannabis-infused butter — is the foundation of most homemade edibles. Whether you’re making brownies, cookies, pasta, or anything else that calls for butter, understanding how to make cannabutter properly is the skill that unlocks the world of DIY cannabis cooking. This guide covers everything: the ratio of weed to butter, step-by-step instructions, dosing guidance, storage tips, and answers to the most common questions.
What Is Cannabutter?
Cannabutter is simply butter that has been infused with THC (and other cannabinoids) from cannabis. When you eat butter-based edibles, the fat molecules in the butter bind to the THC and carry it into your bloodstream through digestion. This is why edibles hit differently than smoking — the THC is processed by your liver and converted to a more potent form, creating longer-lasting and stronger effects.
What You Need to Make Cannabutter
Before you start, gather these supplies:
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- Cannabis flower (decarboxylated — see below)
- Unsalted butter
- Water (helps regulate temperature and prevents burning)
- A saucepan or slow cooker
- Cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer
- A glass jar or container for storage
- A thermometer (optional but recommended)
Step 1: Decarboxylation — Don’t Skip This
Raw cannabis contains THCA, not THC. THCA won’t get you high unless it’s heated through a process called decarboxylation (“decarbing”). This is the most commonly skipped step, and it’s why many homemade edibles fail to produce any effect.
To decarb your cannabis: preheat your oven to 240°F (115°C). Break up your flower into small pieces and spread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 40 minutes, stirring gently every 10 minutes. The cannabis should turn from green to a light brown. Let it cool before proceeding.
Weed to Butter Ratio: How Much Cannabis to Use
The right cannabutter ratio depends on how potent you want your edibles to be. Here’s a quick reference chart:
| Cannabis | Butter | Potency |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5g (1/8 oz) | 1 stick (½ cup) | Mild |
| 7g (¼ oz) | 1 stick (½ cup) | Medium |
| 14g (½ oz) | 1 stick (½ cup) | Strong |
| 28g (1 oz) | 1 lb (4 sticks) | Standard |
For beginners, a ratio of 3.5g per stick of butter is recommended. You can always use more butter in a recipe to dilute the potency of the final edible.
Step-by-Step Cannabutter Recipe
This stovetop method works reliably and gives you full control over the temperature. Total time: about 3-4 hours.
- Melt your butter in a saucepan on low heat, adding 1 cup of water per cup of butter.
- Once the butter has melted, add your decarbed cannabis to the pan.
- Maintain a low temperature of 160-200°F (70-93°C). Never boil. Simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Strain through cheesecloth into a glass container, squeezing out all the liquid.
- Refrigerate until the butter solidifies on top. The water will separate below — discard the water.
- Store the solid cannabutter in the fridge (2-3 weeks) or freezer (up to 6 months).
Slow Cooker (Crockpot) Method
For an even easier approach with less risk of overheating, use a slow cooker. Add your butter, water, and decarbed cannabis to the slow cooker. Set to low heat and cook for 6-8 hours (or up to 24 hours for maximum extraction). Strain and refrigerate as above. The slow cooker method is gentler on the terpenes and produces a more consistent result.
How to Dose Cannabutter
Dosing homemade cannabutter is difficult because the exact THC content depends on the potency of your cannabis, how well you decarbed, and how efficiently the THC extracted into the butter. A rough calculation works like this: if you used 3.5g of cannabis at 20% THC, that’s approximately 700mg of THC total. Assuming 70% efficiency in the infusion process, you’d end up with about 490mg THC in your batch of butter. If that batch makes 24 brownies, each brownie would contain roughly 20mg THC — which is a moderate-to-strong dose for most people.
Start with a small serving (half a brownie, or ¼ teaspoon of butter) and wait at least 2 hours before consuming more. Edibles take much longer to kick in than smoking, and it’s easy to over-consume while waiting for effects.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cannabutter
What is the best ratio of weed to butter for cannabutter?
The most common ratio is 7 grams (1/4 ounce) of cannabis per 1 stick of butter (½ cup / 113g). This produces a moderately potent cannabutter. For milder results, use 3.5g per stick. For stronger results, use 14g per stick. It depends on the potency of your cannabis and your personal tolerance.
How long does it take to make cannabutter?
Including decarboxylation (40 minutes) and the infusion process (2-3 hours on the stovetop, or 6-8 hours in a slow cooker), making cannabutter typically takes 3-4 hours using the stovetop method. Add chilling time of 1-2 hours in the refrigerator for the butter to solidify.
What temperature should I cook cannabutter at?
The ideal temperature for infusing cannabutter is between 160°F and 200°F (70-93°C). Staying in this range preserves the THC and terpenes while allowing full extraction. Never let the mixture boil (212°F/100°C+) as this will degrade the cannabinoids and produce a harsher taste.
How much cannabutter should I use in a recipe?
Start by substituting half the butter called for in a recipe with cannabutter, and using regular butter for the rest. This allows you to control the potency. Once you know how your batch affects you, you can adjust the ratio in future batches. A common starting dose for new edible consumers is 5-10mg THC per serving.
How long does cannabutter last?
Properly stored cannabutter lasts 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator, or up to 6 months in the freezer. Store it in an airtight container and label it clearly. Keep it away from children and pets.
Does making cannabutter smell?
Yes — cooking cannabutter produces a noticeable cannabis smell, especially during the 2-3 hour stovetop infusion process. Good ventilation (open windows, exhaust fans) helps significantly. The slow cooker method tends to produce less odour than the stovetop method since it seals better and operates at lower temperatures.
Can I make cannabutter with stems and trim?
Yes, though stems and trim have a much lower THC content than flowers. You’ll need a significantly larger quantity of trim to produce the same potency as flower-based cannabutter — typically 3-4x the amount. Many experienced growers save their trim over time specifically for making cannabutter.
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