How to Make Cannabis Butter at Home: A Complete Guide for Beginners

How to Make Cannabis Butter at Home: A Complete Beginner's Guide to Crafting Edibles

If you're looking to master the art of making cannabis-infused foods, making cannabutter is the essential first step. This easy-to-follow guide will walk you through every aspect of making cannabutter, from decarboxylation to proper storage, ensuring your butter is both potent and flavorful. Whether you're a novice or an experienced chef, this guide is perfect for you!

Why Choose Homemade Cannabutter?

Making your cannabutter is cost-effective, customizable, and offers full control over both potency and quality. Whether you're making edibles for medical or recreational purposes, making your cannabutter ensures a satisfying experience tailored to your preferences.

What is Cannabutter?

Cannabutter is simply butter infused with cannabis, serving as the foundation for many edible recipes. Infusing butter with cannabinoids such as THC and CBD allows you to incorporate cannabis into foods and beverages seamlessly.

💡 Fun Fact: Cannabutter can also be made using ghee or coconut oil, offering vegan and health-conscious alternatives.

Ingredients and Equipment Needed to Make Cannabutter

Essential Ingredients:

- 1 cup unsalted butter (or alternative like coconut oil)
- ½ ounce of decarbed cannabis flower (adjust based on desired potency)
- 1 cup of water (prevents scorching during the simmering process)
- Baking tray and parchment paper
- Saucepan, double boiler, or slow cooker
- Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Glass jar or airtight container

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Cannabutter at Home

Step 1: Decarboxylation – Activating THC and CBD

Decarboxylation is a critical step in making potent cannabutter, as it activates the cannabinoids in your cannabis. Without decarboxylating, your butter won’t have the desired effects.

How to Decarb Your Cannabis:- Preheat your oven to 230°F (110°C).
- Break apart your cannabis flower into small pieces.
- Spread it out evenly on a parchment-lined baking tray.
- Bake for 30–40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes for even heating.

💡 Pro Tip: A light golden-brown color indicates the cannabis is properly decarbed.

Step 2: Infusing Butter with Cannabis

The infusion process is where the magic happens—cannabinoids are transferred into the butter. There are two common methods for infusion: stovetop and slow cooker.

Stovetop Method:- In a saucepan, melt butter and water over low heat.
- Add the decarbed cannabis and stir to combine.
- Simmer on low for 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally. Keep the temperature under 200°F to preserve cannabinoids.
- Add butter, water, and cannabis to your slow cooker.
- Set the temperature to low and let it cook for 4-6 hours, stirring every hour.





Step 3: Strain and Solidify Your Cannabutter

After infusion, the next step is to strain the plant matter from the butter.

- Set a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer over a glass jar.
- Slowly pour the infused butter through, allowing the liquid to drain.
- Avoid squeezing the plant matter to prevent bitterness.
- Refrigerate the jar until the butter solidifies. Discard any water that separates.
- Short-term Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Long-term Storage: For longer storage, freeze your cannabutter in small portions for up to 6 months.
- Baking: Add it to brownies, cookies, or cakes for a sweet, cannabis-infused treat.
- Cooking: Stir it into sauces, pasta, or mashed potatoes for a savory dose of cannabis.
- Drinks: Mix it into coffee, hot chocolate, or smoothies for an easy way to enjoy cannabis edibles in liquid form.

Dosing Guidelines: How to Calculate the Potency of Your Cannabis Butter

Accurate dosing is crucial to avoid overconsumption. Here’s how to calculate your THC or CBD dosage:

- Know your cannabis potency: Calculate the THC or CBD percentage of your cannabis (e.g., 15% THC = 150mg THC per gram).
- Estimate total potency: Multiply the weight of cannabis by its THC/CBD content to determine total potency.
- Calculate per serving dosage: Divide the total potency by the number of servings.
- Skipping Decarboxylation: Raw cannabis won't have psychoactive effects unless decarbed.
- Overheating: High temperatures above 200°F can degrade THC and CBD.
- Uneven Mixing: Stir your infusion regularly to ensure even distribution of cannabinoids.Conclusion: Master the Art of Making Cannabis-Infused Butter

By following this guide, you’ll be able to create your own cannabutter at home, providing you with a powerful ingredient for all your cannabis-infused recipes. From sweet treats to savory dishes, cannabutter adds endless possibilities to your culinary creations.

Start crafting your perfect cannabutter today and explore the creative freedom of homemade edibles!

FAQs About Cannabutter Recipe

Can I make cannabutter without decarboxylation?

No, decarboxylation is essential to activate the cannabinoids (like THC and CBD) in cannabis. Without this process, your cannabis butter will lack the psychoactive or therapeutic effects.

How much cannabis should I use to make cannabutter?

A common ratio is 1 cup of butter to ½ ounce of cannabis. Adjust the amount based on the potency you desire and the THC/CBD content of your cannabis.

How do I calculate the potency of my cannabis butter?

To calculate potency:

- Determine the THC/CBD content of your cannabis (e.g., 15% THC = 150 mg per gram).
- Multiply by the amount of cannabis used.
- Divide by the number of servings to estimate the THC/CBD per serving.
How can I mask the taste of cannabis in my cannabutter?

The herbal flavor can be masked by:

- Adding vanilla, spices, or extracts to your recipe.
- Using strong flavors like chocolate or peanut butter.
- Infusing with complementary herbs like mint or rosemary during preparation.
What’s the best way to strain cannabutter?

Use a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or nut milk bag to separate the butter from plant material. Avoid squeezing the plant matter, as this can release chlorophyll, making your cannabis butter bitter.

How long does cannabutter last?

When stored properly:

- In the refrigerator: up to 2 weeks.
- In the freezer: up to 6 months.
Can I use trim or stems instead of flower?

Yes, trim and stems can be used but may result in lower potency. They’re a cost-effective option for making large batches of weed butter.

Is there a way to make cannabutter odor-free?

Cannabis has a strong smell during decarboxylation and infusion. Using a sealed slow cooker or adding aromatic herbs like lavender can help minimize odors.

What are some alternative fats for making cannabis butter?

Coconut oil, olive oil, or vegan margarine are excellent alternatives. Coconut oil is particularly popular for its high-fat content, which efficiently binds cannabinoids.

Can I use weed butter in drinks?

Yes! Blend weed butter into hot beverages like coffee, tea, or hot chocolate for a creamy, infused drink. Use a blender to ensure the butter emulsifies evenly.

What should I do if my cannabutter is too strong?

Dilute the cannabis butter by mixing it with regular butter or other fats. Alternatively, use smaller portions in recipes to reduce the overall potency per serving.

Is it safe to eat cannabutter directly?

Yes, but consume with caution. Eating cannabis butter directly may deliver a high dose of THC or CBD. Start with a small amount to gauge its effects.

What happens if I overheat my cannabutter?

Overheating (above 200°F) can degrade cannabinoids, reducing the potency of your cannabutter. Always use low and steady heat during infusion.

How can I ensure my cannabutter has a consistent potency?

To achieve even potency:

- Stir the mixture regularly during infusion.
- Use pre-measured molds for portion control when storing.
How to make cannabis butter with hash oil?

To make cannabutter with hash oil:

- Begin by melting your butter in a saucepan over low heat.
- Add the hash oil, stirring constantly to ensure even mixing.
- Simmer on low for 30-60 minutes, ensuring it doesn’t boil.
- Once cooled, strain the mixture and refrigerate.

Using hash oil simplifies the process, creating a faster and more potent infusion without the need for decarboxylating the cannabis.

How to make cannabis butter in a slow cooker?

Making cannabis butter in a slow cooker is straightforward and needs minimal effort:

- Place butter in the slow cooker and melt it on the lowest heat setting.
- Add the decarbed cannabis and mix it in well.
- Allow the mixture to cook for 4–6 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Strain the butter through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer.

Using a slow cooker ensures a steady, low heat that helps retain cannabinoids and terpenes, giving you a high-quality infusion.

How to make cannabis butter with kief?

Kief is a potent cannabis concentrate that works great in cannabutter:

- Heat butter in a saucepan over low heat.
- Add kief to the melted butter and stir well.
- Simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Strain the mixture and allow the butter to solidify in the refrigerator.

Kief makes a potent infusion, so be mindful of the quantity used to avoid overly strong butter.

How to make cannabis butter with leaves?

Using cannabis leaves to make butter is an economical choice:

- Rinse the leaves to remove any dirt and impurities. https://getbudslegalize.com/how-to-make-cannabis-butter-at-home-guide/