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For those of us who love our daily dose of THC, THC gummies are an easy way to get our daily dose. But taking gummies day in, day out, can feel a little monotonous. Learning how to make THC butter from oils or hemp flower opens up a whole world of options for making your own THC edibles
Making cannabutter (or cannabis butter) is the perfect way to start making THC edibles at home. This cannabis-infused butter serves as the foundation for countless edible recipes, from classic brownies to gourmet meals. Whether you’re using THCA flower, Delta 9 products, or other cannabis materials, understanding the proper techniques ensures you get the most from your ingredients while creating safe, consistent results.
You can also skip the homemade option and buy THC butter from Restart CBD and get straight to cooking!
Before creating cannabutter, you need to activate the cannabinoids in your cannabis through decarboxylation. Raw cannabis contains THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), which doesn’t produce psychoactive effects until heated and converted to THC. This process removes a carboxyl group from the THCA molecule, transforming it into the active THC compound your body can use.
The decarboxylation process happens naturally when you smoke or vape cannabis, but creating edibles requires intentional heating. Without proper decarboxylation, your cannabutter will have minimal potency, regardless of how much cannabis you use.
The type of cannabis you select significantly impacts your final product’s potency and effects. THCA flower from Restart CBD offers an excellent starting point for cannabutter making. THCA flower provides the raw cannabinoids needed for conversion while remaining federally compliant before decarboxylation.
When selecting flower, consider the strain’s effects profile. Indica-dominant strains typically produce more relaxing effects, perfect for evening edibles, while sativa-dominant varieties may provide more energizing experiences. Hybrid strains offer balanced effects that work well for all-day consumption.
Quality matters significantly when making cannabutter. Choose properly cured, trichome-rich flower that’s been third-party tested for potency and contaminants. Restart CBD’s hemp flower selection includes organically grown options with full lab reports, ensuring you start with premium materials.
Making cannabutter requires specific equipment to ensure safety and effectiveness. You’ll need a slow cooker or double boiler, fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth, mixing bowls, and a candy thermometer for temperature monitoring. Wooden spoons work best for stirring, as metal utensils can affect temperature distribution.
For ingredients, you’ll need unsalted butter and your chosen cannabis material. Some recipes include water, which helps regulate temperature and prevents burning. The water separates from the butter during cooling, making removal easy.
Consider the butter-to-cannabis ratio carefully. A common starting point uses one ounce of cannabis flower to one pound of butter, but you can adjust this based on desired potency and your tolerance level. New users should start with smaller ratios and increase gradually.
Proper decarboxylation requires precise temperature control and timing. Preheat your oven to 240°F (115°C). Break your cannabis into small, uniform pieces without grinding too finely, as this can lead to chlorophyll extraction and bitter flavors.
Spread the cannabis evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 40-60 minutes, stirring gently every 15 minutes to ensure even heating. The cannabis should turn golden brown and feel dry and crumbly when properly decarboxylated. Avoid exceeding 250°F, as higher temperatures can degrade THC into less desirable compounds.
Some cannabis users prefer longer, lower-temperature decarboxylation. Baking at 220°F for 60-90 minutes can preserve more terpenes, which contribute to flavor and may enhance effects through the entourage effect. Monitor your cannabis closely, as over-decarboxylation reduces potency.
Once your cannabis is decarboxylated, you’re ready to create the infusion. Using a slow cooker provides the most consistent results, though a double boiler works well too. Add your butter to the slow cooker and set it to the lowest heat setting.
As the butter melts, add your decarboxylated cannabis and, if desired, enough water to cover the mixture. The water helps prevent scorching and makes straining easier later. Maintain temperatures between 160-180°F throughout the infusion process. Higher temperatures can degrade cannabinoids and create bitter flavors.
Stir the mixture gently every 30 minutes, ensuring the cannabis remains submerged. The infusion process typically takes 2-4 hours, though some prefer longer infusions for maximum extraction. You’ll know it’s ready when the mixture has a deep golden-green color and strong cannabis aroma.
Proper straining removes plant material while preserving the cannabinoids dissolved in the butter. Set up a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth over a large bowl. Pour the mixture through slowly, allowing gravity to do most of the work.
Resist the urge to squeeze the plant material, as this can introduce chlorophyll and bitter compounds into your butter. Let the mixture strain for at least 30 minutes, then discard the plant material according to your local disposal guidelines.
If you used water in your infusion, refrigerate the strained mixture overnight. The butter will solidify on top, while the water remains liquid below. Carefully separate the butter from the water, then store your cannabutter in airtight containers.
Understanding cannabutter potency helps you create consistent, safe experiences. Calculate approximate THC content by multiplying your cannabis weight by its THC percentage, then dividing by the amount of butter used. This gives you milligrams of THC per gram of butter.
Remember that homemade edibles can have uneven distribution of cannabinoids. Start with small amounts (2.5-5mg THC equivalent) and wait at least 2 hours before consuming more. Edible effects typically peak 1-3 hours after consumption and can last 4-8 hours.
Keep detailed records of your ratios, timing, and effects. This information helps you refine your technique and create consistent products. Consider making test batches with different ratios to find your preferred potency level.
Several common mistakes can reduce your cannabutter’s effectiveness. Skipping decarboxylation entirely or using incorrect temperatures leads to weak potency. Grinding cannabis too finely creates bitter flavors and makes straining difficult.
Overheating during infusion degrades THC and creates harsh tastes. If your cannabutter tastes overly bitter, try using lower temperatures and fresh cannabis for your next batch. Green-colored butter often indicates chlorophyll extraction, which occurs from over-processing plant material.
Uneven mixing can create hot spots with concentrated cannabinoids. Stir regularly and maintain consistent temperatures throughout the process. If your butter separates or has an unusual texture, temperature fluctuations during cooling might be the cause.
Before making cannabutter, understand your local and state cannabis laws. Hemp-derived THCA flower like that available from Restart CBD remains federally legal, but state laws vary. Always purchase from licensed, reputable sources that provide lab testing results.
Store cannabutter securely, away from children and pets. Label containers clearly with contents, date made, and approximate potency. Never consume cannabutter and drive, and avoid mixing with alcohol or other substances.
Consider starting with CBD-rich varieties if you’re new to cannabis edibles. Restart CBD offers various hemp flower options that provide therapeutic benefits without intense psychoactive effects.
Experienced cannabutter makers often experiment with different techniques for enhanced results. Some use sous vide methods for precise temperature control, maintaining exactly 185°F for 2-4 hours. This technique preserves more terpenes and can create more flavorful butter.
Lecithin addition can improve cannabinoid bioavailability and create smoother textures. Add 1 tablespoon of sunflower lecithin per cup of oil during the final hour of infusion. This emulsifier helps cannabinoids bind more effectively with fats.
Consider clarifying your butter before infusion to remove milk solids and water content. Clarified butter has a higher smoke point and longer shelf life, making it ideal for high-temperature cooking applications.
Fresh cannabutter works well in most recipes calling for regular butter, though you may need to adjust for taste and potency. Start by substituting only a portion of regular butter with cannabutter until you determine preferred strength levels.
Baked goods like cookies, brownies, and muffins mask cannabis flavors well while providing consistent dosing when mixed thoroughly. Savory applications include pasta sauces, sautéed vegetables, and herb butter for bread.
Properly stored cannabutter lasts 2-3 weeks refrigerated or up to 6 months frozen. Portion into ice cube trays for convenient single-serving sizes. Vacuum sealing extends freezer life and prevents freezer burn.
Maintaining consistent quality requires attention to detail throughout the process. Keep detailed logs of temperatures, timing, and ratios used. This information helps replicate successful batches and identify problems in unsuccessful ones.
Visual and aromatic cues indicate proper processing. Well-made cannabutter should have a golden color without excessive green tinting. The aroma should be pleasant and cannabis-forward without harsh or burnt notes.
Consider starting with smaller batches until you perfect your technique. This approach reduces waste while allowing experimentation with different variables like temperature, timing, and ratios.
How long does it take to make cannabutter from start to finish?
The complete process typically takes 4-6 hours, including 40-60 minutes for decarboxylation and 2-4 hours for infusion. Allow additional time for cooling and straining. Planning ahead ensures you’re not rushing through temperature-sensitive steps.
Can I use stems and trim to make cannabutter?
Yes, stems and trim can create cannabutter, though potency will be lower than using quality flower. Increase the plant material ratio when using trim, and expect a more herbal flavor. Decarboxylation remains essential regardless of material type.
What’s the difference between using THCA flower versus regular cannabis for cannabutter?
THCA flower converts to THC during decarboxylation, just like traditional cannabis. The main difference is legal status and initial potency testing. THCA hemp flower from sources like Restart CBD remains federally compliant before heating while providing similar end results.
How can I reduce the cannabis taste in my cannabutter?
Several techniques minimize cannabis flavor. Use water during infusion to remove water-soluble compounds that contribute to taste. Strain thoroughly and avoid pressing plant material. Choose quality, properly cured flower, and maintain proper temperatures to prevent bitter compound formation.
Can I make cannabutter with Delta 8 or Delta 9 products?
While possible, using already-processed products like Delta 8 or Delta 9 edibles isn’t cost-effective for cannabutter making. These products work better when consumed directly. Raw flower provides the best value and control for homemade infusions.
Making cannabutter requires patience and attention to detail, but the results open up countless culinary possibilities. Start with quality materials from reputable sources, follow temperature guidelines carefully, and maintain detailed records for consistent results. With practice, you’ll create potent, flavorful cannabutter perfect for your favorite recipes.