The Ultimate Guide on How to Make Butter from Cannabis at Home

Cannabis butter, often called “cannabutter,” is a simple yet powerful ingredient that can transform regular recipes into enjoyable cannabis-infused treats. This versatile ingredient brings the benefits of cannabis into the kitchen so you can make everything from brownies to savoury dishes.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through every step of how to make butter from cannabis. We’ll explain the entire process and teach you how to prepare cannabis butter recipes with ease.

What is Cannabutter?

Cannabutter is butter infused with cannabis and is a staple ingredient for many edible products. You can use it in a variety of recipes, from baked goods like brownies and cookies to savoury dishes like pasta sauces and mashed potatoes. This infusion creates a versatile base that allows you to enjoy cannabis in a convenient, edible form.

Cannabis is commonly infused into butter because the fat in butter helps absorb cannabinoids like THC and CBD. This absorption is key for creating potent, long-lasting effects when consumed. Using cannabis butter also allows for easier dosing and more consistent effects compared to smoking or vaping, which makes it a popular choice for those looking for a controlled edible experience.

Benefits and Uses of Cannabutter

Cannabutter is a popular choice for cannabis enthusiasts who want to create weed edibles at home. Here’s why it’s so well-loved and versatile:

1. Endless Recipe Options: Cannabutter works in both sweet and savoury dishes. Use it in classic desserts like brownies, cookies, or cakes, or add it to savoury meals like pasta, soups, or sauces for a cannabis twist.
2. Control Over Potency: With cannabis butter recipes, you can measure and adjust the dosage easily. This lets you create consistent effects across different dishes.
3. Balanced Effects: Cannabutter gives a reliable edible experience, helping you avoid unpredictable effects from other methods of consuming cannabis.
4. Easy Infusion into Everyday Cooking: Since butter is already a common ingredient, cannabis butter can blend seamlessly into many recipes, making it a convenient way to enjoy cannabis in your regular meals.

Getting Started: Key Ingredients and Equipment

To start making cannabis butter, gather the following essential ingredients and tools. This setup ensures a smooth process and effective results.

Ingredients

• Cannabis: Choose a strain with your desired potency. Make sure it’s properly dried and ready for infusion.
• Unsalted Butter: Use unsalted butter to avoid altering the taste of your cannabis butter recipe.
• Water: Adding water helps regulate the temperature and prevents the butter from burning during the infusion.

Equipment

• Saucepan: A medium-sized saucepan works well for heating the ingredients together.
• Grinder: Grind the cannabis lightly to allow even infusion without over-processing it.
• Cheesecloth: Essential for straining out the plant material from the butter after infusion.
• Jar or Airtight Container: Use a clean, airtight container for storing your cannabis butter once it’s ready.

Optional Tools

• Measuring Tools: Use for accurate quantities of butter and cannabis.
• Thermometer: Helps you monitor the temperature, keeping it at the right level for optimal infusion without burning the butter.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Make Butter with Cannabis

Making cannabis butter, or cannabutter, is a straightforward process that can bring your favorite recipes to life with cannabis infusion. By following a few simple steps, you can transform regular butter into a potent, edible-friendly ingredient:

Step 1: Decarboxylate the Cannabis

Decarboxylation is the first and most important step. Heating your cannabis before infusing it activates the cannabinoids, like THC and CBD, making them available for absorption. Skipping this step will prevent the butter from delivering the desired effects, so it’s essential to do it correctly.

• How to Decarboxylate: Preheat your oven to 245°F (120°C). Spread the ground cannabis evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Timing: Bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to ensure even heating. The cannabis should turn a light golden brown when done.

Step 2: Infuse the Butter with Cannabis

Once the cannabis is decarboxylated, you’re ready to infuse it into butter. This step involves slow heating to extract the cannabinoids into the butter’s fat, creating the cannabutter base you’ll use in recipes.

• Melt the Butter: Add 1 cup of unsalted butter and 1 cup of water to a saucepan. Heat on low until the butter melts.
• Add the Cannabis: Add the decarboxylated cannabis to the melted butter. Simmer on low (around 160–200°F or 70–93°C) for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. Avoid boiling to prevent burning and uneven potency.

Step 3: Strain and Store

After infusion, the next step is straining out the plant material. This helps improve the texture and taste of your cannabis butter, leaving you with a smooth, infused product.

• Strain the Mixture: Place a cheesecloth over a glass jar and pour the mixture through it, allowing the cannabutter to strain while catching the plant matter.
• Storage: Seal the jar with an airtight lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or freeze for a longer shelf life.

Alternative Methods for Making Cannabutter

If you’re looking for a different approach, there are several other ways to infuse cannabis into butter, such as:

1. Slow Cooker Method: Combine butter, water, and decarboxylated cannabis in a slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours. Stir occasionally for an even infusion.
2. Double Boiler Method: Use a double boiler to melt butter and mix in cannabis, heating slowly to prevent burning. Infuse on low for 2-3 hours, then strain and store.
3. Using Pre-Infused Oils or Extracts: For quicker preparation, use pre-infused cannabis oils or extracts as a substitute. This method requires no additional cooking and offers a fast alternative to traditional cannabutter.

How to Dose Cannabutter Safely and Effectively

Proper dosing is essential for an enjoyable experience with cannabis butter. Here’s a straightforward approach to calculating, testing, and adjusting cannabutter dosage so you can feel confident using it in recipes.

Calculating Dosage

To estimate the THC or CBD content in your cannabutter, start with the amount of cannabis and its potency. A simple formula can help:

1. Basic Formula: Multiply the total grams of cannabis by the THC percentage. This gives the total milligrams of THC.
2. Per Serving Dosage: Divide this total by the number of servings the cannabutter will make. This gives an approximate dosage per serving.

Testing Potency

Since homemade cannabis butter can vary in potency, it’s best to start with a small amount when trying a new batch. Take ¼ teaspoon and wait up to two hours to gauge the effects. If the dose feels right, use this amount as your guide for future recipes. Adjust up or down based on how strong the effects are.

Adjusting for Recipes

To control the potency of cannabutter in recipes, consider these options:

• Lowering Dosage: Use part cannabutter and part regular butter if you want a milder effect. This allows you to balance the flavor and effects.
• Increasing Dosage: For stronger effects, use more cannabutter in place of regular butter, but keep servings in mind to avoid overconsumption.

How to Store and Preserve Cannabutter

Proper storage of cannabis butter, or cannabutter, ensures it stays fresh, potent, and safe to use over time. For short-term storage, keep your cannabutter in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to two weeks when stored properly. Place it in an airtight container to prevent odors and moisture from affecting it.

For longer storage, freeze the cannabutter. In the freezer, it can last up to six months or more. Use freezer-safe, airtight containers, or wrap individual portions in plastic wrap before sealing them in a bag. This allows you to defrost only the amount you need.

Use of Airtight Containers

Airtight containers are essential for keeping cannabutter fresh. They prevent exposure to air, which can degrade the cannabinoids over time. Airtight storage also helps keep unwanted odors from spreading and protects the butter from moisture that can cause spoilage.

Labeling for Safety

Clearly label all containers with “Cannabis-Infused Butter” to prevent accidental consumption. This is especially important if you share a kitchen with others. Including a date on the label can also help you track freshness and potency over time.

Easy Recipes with Cannabutter

Cannabis-infused butter opens up many options for creative cooking. Here are some classic and savory recipe ideas that let you enjoy cannabis butter in a variety of dishes, plus tips on how to substitute it in your favorite recipes.

Classic Recipes

1. Cannabis Brownies: Brownies are a classic way to enjoy cannabutter. Replace the regular butter in your brownie recipe with cannabis butter. The rich chocolate flavor pairs well with the taste of cannabis.
2. Cannabis Cookies: Try using cannabutter in cookies for a simple yet effective edible. Swap cannabutter for regular butter in recipes for chocolate chip, oatmeal, or sugar cookies.
3. Cannabis-Infused Banana Bread: For a comforting treat, substitute cannabutter in your banana bread recipe. The butter blends well with the flavors, creating a satisfying edible option.

Savoury Ideas

1. Cannabis-Infused Pasta Sauce: Add cannabutter to pasta sauces for a savoury twist. Stir a small amount into your favorite sauce just before serving for an even infusion.
2. Sautéed Vegetables with Cannabutter: Use cannabutter to sauté vegetables for a flavorful side dish. It adds a subtle cannabis taste to veggies like mushrooms, spinach, or bell peppers.
3. Cannabis-Infused Garlic Bread: Spread cannabutter on baguette slices, sprinkle with garlic and herbs, then bake. It’s a great way to create a tasty, cannabis-infused side.

Tips for Substituting Cannabutter in Other Recipes

To substitute regular butter with cannabutter in existing recipes, start with a small amount. Replace all or part of the regular butter, depending on the desired potency. Be mindful of heat—overheating can reduce potency, so avoid cooking at high temperatures. Experiment with different amounts to find the right balance for each dish.

Common Issues with Cannabis Butter and How to Solve Them

Making cannabis butter can sometimes lead to problems with potency, flavor, and texture. Here’s how to address these common challenges to create smooth, consistent cannabutter.

Uneven Potency

Uneven potency, or “hot spots,” can happen when cannabinoids aren’t distributed evenly throughout the butter. To prevent this, stir the cannabis butter regularly during infusion. This helps ensure the cannabinoids are spread evenly. Maintain a low, consistent heat throughout the infusion process. Avoid temperature spikes to keep potency uniform across the batch.

Flavor Concerns

The strong taste of cannabis might not be appealing to everyone. To minimize the cannabis flavour in your cannabutter, incorporate herbs like rosemary or thyme during infusion to balance the taste. Mix the cannabutter into dishes with strong flavors, such as chocolate desserts or garlic bread, which can help mask the cannabis taste.

Texture and Separation

If the cannabutter has a gritty texture or separates too much, you might need to adjust your infusion method. After infusing, strain the butter through a cheesecloth to remove plant material that can cause grittiness. Mixing a small amount of water with the butter and cannabis during infusion can help prevent separation. After cooling, the water separates from the butter, allowing you to discard it easily.

Final Words

Making cannabis butter is a simple, rewarding process that can elevate your cooking with minimal effort. With just a few basic steps, you’ll have a versatile batch of cannabutter ready to infuse into various dishes. 

Ready to start cooking? Try incorporating cannabutter into a range of dishes, from savoury meals to baked treats, and explore new ways to enjoy cannabis in the kitchen. For quality ingredients and cannabis products to support your culinary creations, visit ARCannabis. We have an array of options, including edibles for cooking, cooking-specific products, and even cannabis-infused sugar, perfect for sweet recipes. You’ll also find a variety of CBD edibles, lozenges, and flower for other cannabis-infused options.

For those interested in adding more concentrated flavors or effects, we offer concentrates and oils to enhance any cannabis cooking experience. Get creative in the kitchen, and don’t hesitate to share your favorite recipes and experiences!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much cannabis do you need to make a pound of butter?

The amount of cannabis needed for a pound of butter depends on the desired potency. Generally, a common ratio is 1 ounce of cannabis for each pound of butter. However, for a milder butter, you might use less, like half an ounce. Always adjust based on individual preferences and tolerance.

How much butter for 1 ounce of cannabis?

For one ounce of cannabis, you typically use around one pound of butter. This amount allows for the cannabis to be fully infused into the butter for an ideal potency. You can adjust the butter amount to increase or decrease the strength. More butter with the same cannabis amount results in a milder butter.

Are cannabis oil and butter the same?

No, cannabis oil and cannabis butter aren’t the same. Cannabis oil uses an oil base, like coconut or olive oil, while cannabis butter uses regular dairy butter. Both are used for infusing cannabis into foods, but they have different textures and flavors. Oil is also a better option for those who prefer non-dairy products.

How much trim per pound of butter?

For cannabis trim, a common ratio is 2-4 ounces of trim per pound of butter. Trim is usually less potent than flower, so using a bit more can ensure a strong infusion. You can adjust this based on how strong you want the final product. Always consider that trim has a lighter concentration of cannabinoids than flower.

How long does it take to make cannabis butter?

Making cannabis butter generally takes about 2-3 hours. This includes decarboxylating the cannabis and then simmering it with butter to infuse. Decarboxylation is key as it activates the THC or CBD in cannabis. While it’s possible to do it faster, a slow simmer enhances the infusion and flavor.

How to make brownies with cannabis butter?

To make brownies with cannabis butter, simply substitute the regular butter in your brownie recipe with cannabis butter. Follow the rest of the recipe as usual, mixing the cannabis butter with the other ingredients. Remember to measure the cannabis butter carefully for consistent potency. Bake as directed, and let the brownies cool before serving.

How to make cannabis butter fast?

To make cannabis butter faster, you can use a stovetop on low heat for about 45 minutes to an hour. Ensure the cannabis is finely ground and simmer it directly in the butter without adding water. This faster method may produce a slightly different flavor but will still infuse the butter. Just be careful to keep the heat low to avoid burning.

How to make cannabis butter with no smell?

To make cannabis butter with minimal smell, use a slow cooker and cover it tightly to contain odours. Alternatively, you can cook it outdoors or use an Instant Pot with a sealing lid. Adding a small amount of water during cooking also helps reduce the smell. Odorless butter-making machines are another option for those seeking a low-smelling method.