With the Halloween holiday approaching, many celebrators are planning for the best costume party of the year. Halloween is a special time for tricks and treats alike, so why not enjoy some spooky, cannabis-infused desserts for this year’s festivities?
Easy Cannabutter Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Material (Cannabis trim, flowers, kief, concentrates, etc.)
When using dried flowers, make sure it’s break up larger pieces or ground, and spread evenly on a baking sheet. [1] If using concentrates like shatter, divide into smaller pieces where possible, or thinly spread oils to promote more exposed surface area.
Step 2: Decarboxylation
Decarboxylation is both the most important and overlooked step of the edible-making process. THC in its non-activated, acidic form, requires “activation” in order to produceintoxicating effects. This is done through heating the cannabis product, which releases carbon dioxide from the acidic cannabinoid through a process called decarboxylation. Decarboxylation methods typically involve placing the starting material in the oven at 220-245°F for approximately 30-40 minutes. [1] Note: ovens are not really designed for extreme temperature accuracy; some companies, like Ardent, have developed home decarboxylators that are said to achieve more accurate/stable temperatures.
Step 3: Combine “Activated” Starting Material with Oil or Butter
After decarboxylation, the next step in making ediblesis to combine the starting material with a baking ingredient such as coconut oil or butter. This makes the active ingredient in cannabis, THC, more bio-available to the body as THC is only fat soluble. One of the most efficient methods of making cannabis-infused butter is the double-boiler method.
This method involves filling a medium to large sized saucepan with 3-4 cups of water on medium heat, then adding a second saucepan on top of the first which will contain the cannabis-butter mixture. The water residing between the two saucepans acts as a heat regulator and provides an effective means of extracting the psychoactive compounds in the cannabis.The general rule of thumb for this method is one ounce of decarboxylated cannabis to one pound of butter, though individual tastes and preference of potency will vary from person to person. Allow the butter to melt before adding your starting material, then let the mixture simmer for 30-40 minutes while stirring regularly. After simmering, strain the cannabis-infused butter through cheesecloth into a large-sized bowl for use and storage.
Step 4: Bake with Infused Oil or Butter
The potency of the finished product varies depending on the potency of the starting material, oxygen and heat degradation, and efficiency of the above method. This method will produce 24 tablespoons of usable cannabis butter after simmering and straining. If using an ounce of dried cannabis with a 10% THC content, the end product will contain 42.8 mg of THC per tablespoon.
It’s best to approach the idea of potency with caution, as overdoing it can result in an unpleasant experience. Starting off with small amounts of a cannabis-infused products is recommended as one can adjust the dose more easily.
The cannabis-infused butter can now be used in traditional baking recipes. Use your cannabis-infused ingredients in place of regular cooking oil or other ingredients. Do not forget to label any leftover infused ingredients as well as the finished product!
Reference
[1] Wise, T., “How to Safety and Effectively Create Your Own Infusions at Home”, Terpenes and Testing Magazine, Issue 10.
