Let's Make Some Butttaahhhh!
Making Canna-Butter
Cannabis butter, also called canna-butter, is the most tried and true cannabis-infused recipe known to the culinary cannabis world. Easy to make, the taste of "weed" is more subtle than in other cannabis infusions, and a lot of recipes use butter as a main ingredient. Canna-butter is one of the essential cannabis recipes for anyone who is making edibles at home because of its versatility and how fast and easy you can whip up a batch. You can even spread a little on your morning toast if you want.
Before you get started, let me share one thing that I can't say enough. First, there is no "right way" to cook with cannabis. Secondly, you can always add more cannabis to a recipe but you can't take it away. Start by using small amounts of cannabis infused products and learn what your tolerance is and dial in what works for your body. Every person has their own tolerance level and experimentation is the only way to learn what works for you. Additionally, you may dial in what works for you in a specific cookie and then try a brownie with the same amount of cannabis product in it and you may have an entirely different experience. The process is trial and error for every single type of edible you consume. The positive, you get to try all types of edibles!
Let's get started with the process of creating some canna-butter. There are many ways to decarb (decarboxylation) your cannabis and in this post I'm going to share the process I use the most. In a future post, I'll share some other methods.
*Side Note / I will promise I will eventually have links to explain all these huge words like decarboxylation. In the meantime, there's this site called google. :)
Before you get started, let me share one thing that I can't say enough. First, there is no "right way" to cook with cannabis. Secondly, you can always add more cannabis to a recipe but you can't take it away. Start by using small amounts of cannabis infused products and learn what your tolerance is and dial in what works for your body. Every person has their own tolerance level and experimentation is the only way to learn what works for you. Additionally, you may dial in what works for you in a specific cookie and then try a brownie with the same amount of cannabis product in it and you may have an entirely different experience. The process is trial and error for every single type of edible you consume. The positive, you get to try all types of edibles!
Let's get started with the process of creating some canna-butter. There are many ways to decarb (decarboxylation) your cannabis and in this post I'm going to share the process I use the most. In a future post, I'll share some other methods.
*Side Note / I will promise I will eventually have links to explain all these huge words like decarboxylation. In the meantime, there's this site called google. :)
Begin with these General Guidelines:
Did you know that raw cannabis flower does not naturally contain high amounts of THC or CBD, but does contain high amounts of cannabinoid acids THCA and CBDA, which are part of the full-spectrum of cannabinoids. Say that ten times fast!
To experience the intoxicating ‘high’ effect of cannabis, you want to convert that CBDA and THCA into CBD and THC, respectively, with a process called decarboxylation. Decarboxylation can occur with heat and/or solvents. There are two primary ways to decarboxylate when making canna-butter. The first method involves decarboxylating the cannabis in the oven before infusing with the butter. The second method involves allowing the cannabis butter to cook for twice as long using fat for the solvent, allowing decarboxylation to occur over time.
*Side Note / I did some googling here when I first began cooking with cannabis and cut and paste all types of information like the above statements. Time has passed and I have no which site I found this or if I found information on couple of sites. I always want to give credit to those who have done the intense research in the cannabis field.
- Choose your decarboxylation (or decarb) process
- Don’t use margarine or other types of ‘fake’ butter
- Be careful not to overheat the butter while cooking
Did you know that raw cannabis flower does not naturally contain high amounts of THC or CBD, but does contain high amounts of cannabinoid acids THCA and CBDA, which are part of the full-spectrum of cannabinoids. Say that ten times fast!
To experience the intoxicating ‘high’ effect of cannabis, you want to convert that CBDA and THCA into CBD and THC, respectively, with a process called decarboxylation. Decarboxylation can occur with heat and/or solvents. There are two primary ways to decarboxylate when making canna-butter. The first method involves decarboxylating the cannabis in the oven before infusing with the butter. The second method involves allowing the cannabis butter to cook for twice as long using fat for the solvent, allowing decarboxylation to occur over time.
*Side Note / I did some googling here when I first began cooking with cannabis and cut and paste all types of information like the above statements. Time has passed and I have no which site I found this or if I found information on couple of sites. I always want to give credit to those who have done the intense research in the cannabis field.
OPTION 1: DECARB IN THE OVEN
This is my preferred way to decarb because it cuts my cooking time in half. First, bake the dried cannabis flowers in the over at 240 F for 40 minutes. Once the baking is done, combine the cooked cannabis with your butter and allow them to infuse together for 4 hours in a crockpot, slow cooker, or on the stovetop. Everyone has their preferred method.
OPTION 2: DECARB WHILE COOKING
You can also decarb your cannabis while cooking and many prefer this method because it eliminates the need to decarb in the oven ahead of time. Sometimes we forget to decarb before infusing. I'm sure you never have but the rest of us certainly have "forgotten" a time or two. Some people do skip the step of decarboxylation in the oven, but it's important to know that you will have to extend your cook time to achieve a full decarb.
WHY BUTTER?
There are both culinary and scientific reasons why butter is an excellent choice for making homemade edibles.
From a culinary perspective, butter is extremely versatile and can be used in so many recipes, ranging from sweet to savory dishes.
From a scientific perspective, cannabinoids are lipophilic, meaning that they dissolve in and bind to fat.
When cannabinoids are extracted with fat, they are more easily absorbed and thus more bioavailable in our bodies.
Most butter purchased from the grocery store is on average 80-82% milk fat, 16–17% water, and 1–2% milk solids, which are mostly protein and sometimes referred to as curd. During the cooking process, we will evaporate the water and remove the milk solids, leaving a pure, infused butter.
WHAT TYPE OF BUTTER SHOULD I USE?
I recommend to use unsalted butter when making your canna-butter because it is less impurity in the butter itself. While both salted or unsalted butter will work, many Chefs prefer infusing unsalted butter in general for cooking. As a general rule of thumb, the higher quality of the butter you use to start, the higher quality your final product will be. Kerrygold is a commonly recommended brand because the butter comes from the milk of grass-fed cows free of growth hormones. Additionally, Kerrygold unsalted butter has a higher butterfat content, meaning more opportunity for cannabinoid infusion and fewer impurities to remove.
HOW LONG TO COOK CANNABUTTER IN THE CROCKPOT?
You will cook your canna-butter in the crockpot for 4-hours with pre-decarbed cannabis and 8-hours with non-decarbed cannabis.
CAN I COOK CANNABUTTER IN A PAN OF BOILING WATER?
Why yes, yes you can!
For this recipe, I am using a crockpot because it is easier to maintain a constant temperature and and you can leave it and let it do it's thing but honestly, you don’t need to use a crockpot.
What I often do is place the decarboxylated cannabis flowers, unsalted butter, and 2 cups of water in a medium-sized saucepan.
Then I bring it to a boil and allow it to cook on the stovetop for 4 hours. Once the cooking process is over, allow the entire pan to cool.
The finished butter will harden and solidify, or float on top, while the unwanted water will remain on the bottom. Pour off the water and discard it, and you will be left with your final product, canna-butter!
DO I NEED TO ADD WATER?
You do not need to add water to the mason jars if you are cooking in a crockpot, but you will be using a water bath.
When cooking in a crockpot, a water bath helps to maintain a constant temperature.
You will need to add water to the pot if you are cooking your butter on the stovetop. When cooking on a stovetop, the temperature can fluctuate quite a bit.
The water helps to regulate the temperature of the butter, preventing it from getting too hot and ultimately burning your butter and denaturing your cannabinoids.
You will cook your canna-butter in the crockpot for 4-hours with pre-decarbed cannabis and 8-hours with non-decarbed cannabis.
CAN I COOK CANNABUTTER IN A PAN OF BOILING WATER?
Why yes, yes you can!
For this recipe, I am using a crockpot because it is easier to maintain a constant temperature and and you can leave it and let it do it's thing but honestly, you don’t need to use a crockpot.
What I often do is place the decarboxylated cannabis flowers, unsalted butter, and 2 cups of water in a medium-sized saucepan.
Then I bring it to a boil and allow it to cook on the stovetop for 4 hours. Once the cooking process is over, allow the entire pan to cool.
The finished butter will harden and solidify, or float on top, while the unwanted water will remain on the bottom. Pour off the water and discard it, and you will be left with your final product, canna-butter!
DO I NEED TO ADD WATER?
You do not need to add water to the mason jars if you are cooking in a crockpot, but you will be using a water bath.
When cooking in a crockpot, a water bath helps to maintain a constant temperature.
You will need to add water to the pot if you are cooking your butter on the stovetop. When cooking on a stovetop, the temperature can fluctuate quite a bit.
The water helps to regulate the temperature of the butter, preventing it from getting too hot and ultimately burning your butter and denaturing your cannabinoids.
