Easy Cannabutter Recipe: Double-Boiler Method Plus a Vegan Coconut Oil Version

A simple cannabutter recipe

To make cannabutter, you decarb ground weed in the oven, infuse it into melted butter in a double boiler for about half an hour, then strain it and let it set. As the name says, cannabutter is simply butter infused with cannabis. It's free of plant matter and carries the plant's natural compounds, like THC and CBD.

Usually, cannabutter is used to make cannabis edibles, especially baked goods like brownies, cookies and cakes, but you can use it in anything that calls for butter. Toss it with pasta, spread a little on your morning toast or drop a spoonful on a pile of mashed potatoes.

The good news: you don't need to be a chef or a cannabis connoisseur to make good cannabutter. You just need to know what you're doing and be  patient and organized. Cannabutter is a super efficient way to consume cannabis. It's discreet, versatile and easy to get into. 

Something REALLY important to keep in mind: with edibles, none of the cannabinoids go up in smoke (THC/CBD). When you smoke, a big share is lost to combustion, and when you eat THC, your liver turns it into a more potent compound. Bottom line: it hits way harder. Respect the doses, don't overdo it, and enjoy.

Decarboxylation

Baking your ground cannabis first is a form of “decarboxylation,” which activates the THC, CBD and other cannabinoids. It also helps the fats in butter and oil bind easily to the cannabis for the best infusion.

What you'll need:

• 25 g (just under 1 oz) cannabis flower
• A grinder or scissors
• A baking dish

The steps are dead simple. Preheat the oven to 110 °C (230 °F) and put your ground or chopped cannabis (not too fine) into the baking dish, ideally a glass one. 

Slow-bake it for 20 to 45 minutes. Check on it and stir it every 15 minutes or so. 

Now for the butter

You'll need:

• 250 g butter (about 2 sticks plus a little extra)
• 1/2 liter (about 2 cups) water
• A saucepan
• A heatproof glass bowl for a double boiler
• Your decarbed cannabis
• Cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer

Pro tip: next harvest, save all the resin-covered “leftovers” (trim and sugar leaves) for exactly this kind of thing.

Bring the water to a boil and set the bowl with the butter on top of the saucepan. Once the butter melts, add the cannabis. Stirring for half an hour is key, so the resin comes off the flower and ends up in the fat. The heat also keeps the decarboxylation going, which activates the cannabinoids. 

Finally, strain the butter, transfer it to a container and let it cool for at least 6 hours. Use it to cook other recipes or spread it on your breakfast toast and start the day strong.

But what if you're vegan? Here's a super simple oven-baked option for vegan cannabutter! You'll need 15 grams (about 1/2 oz) of ground cannabis, a cup of coconut oil and a glass baking dish. Decarb the weed first. Chop the decarbed cannabis well and add the coconut oil to the same dish. With the oven at 110 °C (230 °F), bake the decarbed, ground cannabis with the coconut oil for 3 hours, stirring roughly every half hour. After 3 hours, the oil takes on a light greenish-yellow tint, which tells you it's ready to come out of the oven.

Last step: strain it through a very fine strainer, whether cloth, metal mesh or even a tea strainer.  Once it cools, store the jar in the fridge. Use it just like regular butter in anything that calls for butter.

How do you eat cannabutter?

To use cannabutter, follow these steps:

1. Make the cannabutter: There are lots of recipes out there, but one of the most common methods is infusing cannabis straight into butter. First, grind your weed finely. Then melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat and add the ground cannabis. Simmer gently for about 2 to 3 hours, stirring now and then. This lets the cannabinoids infuse into the butter. Once it's done, strain out the plant material and store the butter in a suitable container.

2. Cook with it: Once your cannabutter is ready, you can use it in all kinds of dishes. Swap it in for regular butter in cookies, brownies, cakes, breads or other baked goods. You can also stir it into sauces and dressings, or even use it to sauté veggies.

Pay attention to dosing and start small, because eaten cannabis can hit harder and last longer than smoked. Onset time and intensity can also vary, so be patient and wait at least an hour before having more, to see how it lands.

How do you decarb weed for cannabutter?

Decarbing cannabis is an essential step to activate its cannabinoids, like THC and CBD. To decarb, preheat your oven to between 110 and 120 °C (230-250 °F). Break the buds into smaller pieces and spread them evenly on a baking sheet. Bake for about 30 to 45 minutes, which lets the acidic cannabinoids convert into their active forms. Once that's done, your decarbed weed is ready for all kinds of preparations, like edibles or extractions.

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