Cannabutter, a cornerstone of cannabis-infused cuisine, has the potential to elevate your culinary creations to a higher level (pun intended). Whether you’re a seasoned cannabis enthusiast or a beginner, crafting your own cannabutter is much easier than you think! In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create your cannabis-kitchen-masterpiece while exploring essential topics such as the best ratio for cannabutter as well as a bonus holiday cannabutter recipe!
What is the best ratio for cannabutter?
When it comes to creating the perfect cannabutter, finding the right balance between cannabis and butter is crucial. The ideal ratio will depend on your personal preferences and tolerance, but a standard guideline is to aim for a 16:1 ratio of butter to decarbed cannabis. This ratio will equate to roughly 10 milligrams of THC per serving. The following recipe roughly translates to 30 milligrams of THC per tablespoon of butter.
Easy Cannabutter Recipe
Step 1: Decarboxylate Your Cannabis
Decarboxylation, or “decarbing,” is the first step in crafting high-quality cannabutter. This process involves baking cannabis flower to activate the cannabinoids, transforming THCA and CBDA into their active counterparts, THC and CBD. Follow these steps for decarbing your cannabis:
Ingredients and tools:
- ½ oz cannabis flower
- Parchment paper
- Glass baking dish or sheet pan
- Hand grinder or scissors (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 220°F.
- Break the cannabis buds into large pieces and evenly spread them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-60 minutes depending on how wet or dry your flower is. A good rule of thumb is 20 minutes for lower-quality or drier weed, 45 minutes for high-grade cured weed, or up to 1 hour for freshly harvested, wet cannabis.
- Periodically check and gently mix the cannabis to avoid burning.
- When the cannabis has reached a deep brownish-green color, this means that the decarboxylation process is complete.
- Once cooled, break up the decarbed cannabis to a fine, but not too fine, consistency. (You don’t want any of the particles to be able to slip through a cheesecloth).
Step 2: Infuse the Cannabutter
The infusion process is where your cannabis meets your butter, resulting in a potent and flavorful base for your recipes. Here’s how you can create your own cannabutter using the stovetop method:
Ingredients and tools:
- 1½ cups water
- 8 oz. clarified or unsalted butter
- ½ oz. decarboxylated cannabis
- Medium saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Thermometer
- Cheesecloth and/or mesh strainer
Instructions:
- In a medium saucepan over very low heat, add water and butter.
- Wait for the butter to melt, then add the ground decarboxylated cannabis. Mix well and cover with a lid.
- Simmer gently for approximately 4 hours, stirring every half hour, ensuring the temperature doesn’t exceed 180°F.
- After 4 hours, strain the mixture using cheesecloth or a mesh strainer into a container.
- Allow the cannabutter to cool to room temperature before using or storing.
Pro Tips:
The longer you infuse the decarbed cannabis with the butter, the more potent your cannabutter will become. If you want to create a nice middle-ground flavor that isn’t too grassy or overbearing, then sticking with a 4 hour infusion is ideal.
If you want to avoid the overly strong smell of cannabis in your kitchen during this process, you can also infuse the cannabutter in a crockpot on the lowest setting for 4 hours.
The Best Ways to Use Cannabutter
Now that you’ve got your homemade cannabutter at the ready, let’s explore the many ways to incorporate this into your own kitchen! Homemade cannabutter can be used for baking, cooking, or as a direct spread for any recipe you’d like!
How to Use Cannabutter for Baking:
To infuse your cannabutter with any sweet recipe like brownies or cookies, simply substitute 1 teaspoon of cannabutter per serving. For instance, if a recipe yields 24 cookies, you can replace 24 teaspoons, which is equivalent to 8 tablespoons or 1/2 cup of cannabutter, to achieve a 10-milligram dose per serving.
How to Use Cannabutter for Cooking:
You can also incorporate cannabutter into pasta sauces, risottos, or sautés for a unique culinary experience. Start with 1 teaspoon per serving and adjust according to your preferences.
Remember, it’s all about tailoring the dosage to your liking and maintaining a mindful approach to consumption.
Quick and Easy Holiday Cannabutter Recipe
Now that you’ve mastered the basics, let’s add a festive twist to your cannabutter experience with a holiday-themed recipe. This special holiday cannabutter can be used in various seasonal dishes to infuse them with a touch of holiday cheer.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of your homemade cannabutter
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine your homemade cannabutter with the ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Mix thoroughly until the spices are evenly distributed throughout the cannabutter.
- Store the holiday cannabutter in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer until you’re ready to use it in your favorite holiday recipes.
Mastering the art of cannabutter opens up a world of possibilities for incorporating cannabis into your culinary creations. Whether you’re looking to craft the perfect ratio for cannabutter or infuse a holiday twist into your dishes, following these steps will ensure a delightful and potent experience. As you explore the diverse applications of cannabutter, always remember to consume responsibly and enjoy the benefits of this versatile cannabis-infused ingredient. For even more information about utilizing marijuana in the kitchen, check out our post Cooking with Cannabis.