DIY cannabutter: Easy-to-follow recipe for beginners
Cannabutter—AKA cannabis-infused butter or weed butter—is an essential ingredient in many marijuana edibles. Think of it as your gateway to magical brownies, next-level cookies, and even savory dishes with a special twist.
Basically, it’s regular butter that’s been infused with cannabis.
And guess what? Making it at home is usually cheaper than buying it from a dispensary.
Plus, it’s super easy—even if your cooking skills are more “burnt toast” than “chef extraordinaire.”
Let’s dive in.
Table of contents
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Cannabutter preparation
1. Gather your ingredients and tools
Making cannabis butter requires just a few basics, most of which are probably hanging out in your kitchen already. And if you’re missing something? A quick trip to the store will fix that.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Butter: Go for unsalted butter—your taste buds and future edibles will thank you. Unsalted helps with a cleaner infusion process.
- Cannabis flower: Choose your favorite strain depending on your desired effects (we’ve got some stellar strain suggestions below).
- Bakeware and tools: A baking sheet, parchment paper, medium saucepan, slow cooker (optional but amazing), fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, hand grinder, and an airtight container like a mason jar.
2. Decarb your weed
Before you jump to the butter-making magic, you’ve gotta decarboxylate (or “decarb”) your weed.
This step is crucial because it activates the THC—the compound that gives cannabis its psychoactive kick.
When raw cannabis is heated, the THC-A (THC’s non-psychoactive form) is converted into THC.
This process makes the cannabinoids ready to bind to the fat in your butter, meaning you get the full effect in your edibles.
Without decarbing, your weed won’t deliver that signature high.
For a full guide, check out our detailed instructions on how to decarb your cannabis. Once that’s done, you’re ready to get cooking.
How to make cannabutter: Step-by-step recipe
- Combine the ingredients: Toss a cup of unsalted butter into a medium saucepan. Add a cup of water (this helps prevent the butter from burning) and melt it over low heat.
- Add decarbed cannabis: After the butter melts, stir in your decarbed cannabis. The golden rule? Use one cup of butter for every half-ounce (around 14 grams) of cannabis.
- Simmer away: Let the mixture simmer at low heat—somewhere between 160-200°F—for two to three hours. Give it a stir now and then, but don’t let it hit a full boil. (Pro tip: If you have a slow cooker, it’s perfect for this.)
- Strain the mixture: Once your butter and cannabis have had time to mingle, strain the mix through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer into a mason jar to remove the leftover plant bits.
- Cool and store: Let the cannabutter cool at room temperature, then store it in the fridge. Once it solidifies, it’s ready to use in your favorite recipes.
Tips for making the perfect batch of cannabutter
Use high-quality butter
We get it—food prices are through the roof, but cannabutter is worth splurging a little. Higher-quality butter tastes better and helps create edibles that’ll knock your socks off (in a good way).
Control the heat
Low and slow is the key. Keep that temperature steady and avoid boiling at all costs, or you’ll risk degrading the THC.
Patience here pays off big time!
Don't rush it
You’ve waited this long to make your cannabutter—don’t rush through the final steps.
Let it simmer for the full two to three hours to get the best potency and flavor.
How to store cannabutter
Unlike regular butter, weed butter needs to chill in the fridge.
Left on the counter, it’ll go bad. But, stored in an airtight container in the fridge, your cannabutter can stay fresh for up to two months.
The freezer is your best friend if you want it to last longer (because who wouldn’t?).
Frozen cannabutter stays good for up to six months.
Other cannabutter storage hacks
- Portion and freeze: Make single-serving portions using an ice cube tray. That way, you can grab a cube without thawing the whole batch when you need one.
- Vacuum sealing: If you’re all about that air-tight life, vacuum sealing your butter will extend its freezer life up to a year.
- Roll it up: Shape your cannabutter into a log using parchment paper, then wrap it in plastic or aluminum foil. Slice off what you need and keep the rest in the fridge or freezer.
- Pour into molds: Candy or chocolate molds are perfect for making small, portioned pieces of cannabutter.
Remember to label your containers with the date and potency (if you know it). This makes it easy to track how fresh the product is and ensures you’re dosing correctly.
Best cannabis strains for weed butter
Not all cannabis is created equal, and choosing the right strain can take your edibles to the next level.
Here are some of the best strains for making cannabutter:
Blue Dream
Blue Dream is a balanced hybrid known for relaxation without that couch-lock feeling.
Its fruity flavors make it an excellent choice for desserts.
Girl Scout Cookies
Girl Scout Cookies (GSC) is a fan favorite for its euphoric effects and sweet, earthy taste.
Perfect for just about any edible.
OG Kush
OG Kush is a strong, euphoric strain that brings out bold flavors—ideal for sweet and savory recipes.
White Widow
White Widow offers a balanced high for daytime or evening use. It’s mild and perfect for beginners.
Sour Diesel
If you want to stay active and creative, this energizing strain is your go-to.
Sour Diesel is great for any edible that needs an uplifting kick.
How to dose cannabutter
Dosing edibles can be tricky, but the golden rule is “start low and go slow.”
When you eat cannabis, it takes longer to feel the effects (up to two hours!), and it’s easy to take too much if you’re impatient.
Trust us, you’ll want to avoid that mistake.
If you’re new to edibles, start with a low dose—around 5-10mg of THC—and wait at least two hours before deciding whether to consume more.
This helps you gauge your tolerance and avoid overdoing it.
How to calculate the THC content in your cannabutter
For a more precise approach, you’ll need to calculate the THC content of your cannabutter based on the strain of cannabis you’re using.
The THC percentage of the strain is the key factor here.
Step-by-step process
Know the THC percentage
First, find out the THC percentage of the cannabis strain you’re using. This information is usually available on the packaging if you buy from a dispensary. Let’s say your cannabis strain contains 15% THC.
Know the THC percentage
THC percentages tell you how much THC is in a gram of cannabis. A 15% THC percentage means that 1 gram of cannabis contains 150mg of THC (since 15% of 1,000mg = 150mg).
Multiply by the amount of cannabis used
If your recipe calls for 7 grams (a quarter ounce) of cannabis, multiply the amount of THC per gram by the total grams of cannabis:
150mg multiplied by 7 grams = 1,050mg THC
So, the total THC content in your batch of cannabutter will be 1,050mg.
Divide by the number of servings
Divide by the number of servings: Suppose you use 1 cup of cannabutter to make 20 brownies.
To find out how much THC is in each brownie, divide the total THC in the batch by the number of servings:
1,050mg divided by 20 servings = 52.5mg THC per brownie
Each brownie would contain 52.5mg of THC, which is a pretty potent dose for most people.
In this case, you might want to cut the brownies into smaller pieces or use less cannabutter in your recipe.
Example: Dosing your batch of cannabutter
Let’s say you’ve decided to make a batch of cannabutter with the following ingredients:
- Strain: Blue Dream (15% THC)
- Amount of cannabis: 7 grams (¼ ounce)
- Butter: 1 cup of unsalted butter
Total THC in the batch
THC per gram of cannabis = 150mg (15% of 1,000mg)
- Total cannabis used = 7 grams
- Total THC in butter = 150mg × 7 grams = 1,050mg THC
Determine the servings
If you plan to use this 1 cup of cannabutter to make a batch of 20 cookies, you’d divide the total THC by the number of servings:
1,050mg 20 cookies = 52.5mg THC per cookie
Adjust for your desired dose
Since 52.5mg per cookie is quite potent, you can either:
- Eat a portion of the cookie: Cut each cookie into quarters, so each piece will contain about 13mg of THC, which is a moderate dose for many users.
- Use less cannabutter: If you want each cookie to contain 10mg of THC, use only 1/5th of your total cannabutter in the recipe (i.e., 0.2 cups instead of the full cup).
That would give you 10mg per cookie:
1,050mg divided by 5 = 210mg
210 mg divided by 20 cookies = 10.5mg THC per cookie
The bottom line
If you’re ever unsure, err on the side of caution and take it slow. Edibles take longer to kick in than smoking or vaping, but once they hit, they’re powerful. Starting with a small amount (5-10mg) and giving your body time to adjust is the best approach, especially for beginners.
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