Quick answer: To make cannabutter, first decarb your THCA flower in the oven at 240°F for about 40 minutes. Then simmer it with butter and a little water on very low heat for 2 to 3 hours, strain it, and chill it. One cup of butter to 7 to 10 grams of flower is a good starting ratio.
For adults 21 and over. Label homemade edibles clearly and store them away from children and pets.
Why you have to decarb THCA flower first
THCA doesn’t turn into THC on its own. Smoking does it in a second. For edibles, you have to do it with gentle heat before the flower goes into the butter. Skip this step and your butter will be weak. Our full guide on how to decarb THCA flower covers times, temperatures and other methods.
What you need
- 7 to 10 grams of THCA flower or shake, for 1 cup of butter
- 1 cup (2 sticks) of unsalted butter
- 1 cup of water
- Baking sheet and parchment paper
- Saucepan or slow cooker
- Cheesecloth or a fine strainer
- A glass container with a lid
Shake works just as well as buds and costs less. See what is shake and browse THCA shake.
Cannabutter step by step
- Grind coarsely. Break the flower into small pieces. Too fine and it’s harder to strain.
- Decarb. Spread it on parchment and bake at 240°F for 40 minutes. It should turn light golden brown.
- Melt the butter with the water in a saucepan on the lowest heat. The water keeps the butter from burning.
- Add the flower and stir.
- Simmer low and slow for 2 to 3 hours, between 160 and 200°F. Never let it boil. Stir every 20 minutes or so.
- Strain through cheesecloth into a glass container. Don’t squeeze hard, or you’ll push plant bits through.
- Chill. Refrigerate until the butter is solid, then pour off the water underneath.
Slow cooker method
Put the decarbed flower, butter and water in a slow cooker on low with the lid on for 3 to 4 hours, stirring now and then. Strain and chill the same way.
| Step | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Decarb (oven) | 240°F | 40 minutes |
| Infuse (stove) | 160 to 200°F | 2 to 3 hours |
| Infuse (slow cooker) | Low | 3 to 4 hours |
How strong is homemade cannabutter?
You can estimate it from the THCA % on the lab report:
- Grams of flower × 1,000 = milligrams of flower.
- Multiply by the THCA % (for 25%, use 0.25).
- Multiply by 0.877. That’s how much of THCA’s weight is left as THC after decarbing.
- Multiply by about 0.7, since home infusing doesn’t pull out everything.
Example: 7 g of 25% flower × 1,000 × 0.25 × 0.877 × 0.7 ≈ 1,075 mg of THC in a cup of butter. That’s about 22 mg per teaspoon. That’s a strong edible, so start with a small piece, and wait at least 2 hours before having more. Edibles take longer to kick in than smoking.
Easy cannabutter brownies
- Heat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8 pan.
- Mix 1/2 cup melted cannabutter, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
- Stir in 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cool, then cut into 16 even squares so each piece has the same amount.
To make milder brownies, mix half cannabutter with half regular butter.
Storing cannabutter
Keep it in a sealed, labeled container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
FAQ
Can I use shake instead of buds?
Yes. Shake is ideal for cannabutter. Check its THCA % so you can work out the strength.
Why is my cannabutter weak?
Usually the flower wasn’t decarbed, or not long enough. Low infusion time or too little flower also lowers strength.
How long does cannabutter last?
About 2 weeks in the fridge and up to 6 months frozen.
Can I use THCA isolate instead?
Yes, but it also needs decarbing. Isolate gives a very predictable dose because it’s nearly pure THCA.
