How To Make Your Own Cannabis-Infused Edibles At Home (Easy Step-By-Step Guide)

Cannabinoids are fat soluble.

That means you want to infuse your weed into fat, like butter or oil.

Then you use that butter or oil to make your edibles.

The key to a potent butter or oil is decarboxylation.

Decarboxylation converts the THCA in weed (which does not get you high) into THC (which does get you high).

Keep reading to learn how to decarboxylate your weed, how to infuse that weed into butter or nother fat, and how to use that butter to make brownies. Of course, you can also use the butter for anything for which you would use regular butter.

 

How To Make Your Own Cannabis-Infused Edibles At Home

We’ll begin with a list of equipment you will need to make your own marijuana edibles at home. The step-by-step instructions follow below.

 

Equipment Needed

Here is a list of the equipment needed to make cannabis-infused edibles at home:

 

For Decarboxylation Of The Weed

• A decarboxylation device such as Ardent FX (worth it if you plan on making a lot of edibles) OR
• A baking tray (if not using a decarboxylation device)
• Parchment paper or aluminum foil (if not using a decarboxylation device)

 

Measuring Tools

• Measuring cups for accurately measuring ingredients.
• Measuring spoons for precise measurements of smaller amounts.
• Kitchen scale for accurately weighing your cannabis and other ingredients.

 

Mixing Equipment

• Mixing bowls for combining ingredients.
• Whisk or spatula for stirring and mixing.

 

Cooking/Baking Equipment

• Baking pans for making brownies, cookies, or other baked edibles.
• A saucepan or double boiler for gently heating your cannabis with butter, oil, or other fats.
• Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer to strain out the plant material from your infusion.
• Silicone molds (optional): for making gummies or other shaped edibles.
• Candy thermometer (optional) for precise temperature control when making candies.

 

Kitchen Scale

• For accurately weighing your cannabis and other ingredients.

 

Storage Containers

• A mason jar or airtight container for storing your infused butter or oil.
• A container to store your finished edibles in a cool, dark place.

 

Steps To Make Your Cannabis-Infused Edibles

Follow these steps to make cannabis-infused edibles. The key to potent edibles is decarboxylation of the plant material, before you infuse it into butter or another fat.

 

Step 1: Pick Your Cannabis Strain

Different cannabis strains have different effects, depending on their THC content. You can choose the strain based on the benefits you want.

This can be pain relief, weight loss, relaxation, increased energy, etc. Always focus on understanding the THC: CBD ratio and the terpene profile of the strain.

 

Step 2: Decarboxylate The Weed

If you only make edibles occasionally, just decarboxylate your weed in the oven. Unless you have money to spend on a decarboxylation device, of course. But if you plan on making edibles regularly, a dedicated decarboxylation device is well worth the expense.

Here are the steps to decarboxylate weed using the Ardent FX decarboxylation plus infuser. Below, I will also give the instructions for doing it the old-fashioned way, with just a baking tray in the oven.

 

Using The Ardent FX

1. Plug in your Ardent FX after making sure it is clean and dry.
2. Break up your cannabis flower into smaller pieces (avoid grinding it into a fine powder). This ensures even heating.
3. Choose the decarboxylation setting. The Ardent FX has an A1 setting for activating THC by heating the cannabis to the optimal temperature. It also has a higher A2 setting, which is calibrated to activate CBD. This requires a slightly higher temperature to fully decarboxylate.
4. Place your cannabis in the inner chamber of the Ardent FX.
5. Close the lid securely and press the button corresponding to your chosen setting (A1 for THC, A2 for CBD). The device will begin the decarboxylation process, which typically takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
6. The Ardent FX will automatically stop when the decarboxylation process is complete.
7. Ideally, you should notice a nutty and toasty aroma. This is a good sign that the cannabis is decarboxylating properly.

Your decarboxylated cannabis is now ready to be infused into oil, butter, or any other fat-based medium for making edibles.

 

Using Your Oven

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 240° F (115° C) and allow it to preheat. This temperature is ideal to ensure proper decarboxylation without burning the cannabis.
2. Prepare the Cannabis: Break up your cannabis buds into smaller pieces, but do not grind them into a fine powder. This allows for even heating.
3. Line a Baking Tray: Line a baking tray or sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spread the cannabis evenly across the sheet to ensure uniform heating.
4. Bake the Cannabis: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating.
5. Cool Down: Once the cannabis turns a light to medium brown color and becomes dry, remove it from the oven. Let it cool completely before using it in your recipes or storing it.

 

Step 3: Cannabis-Infused Butter Recipe (Base Recipe for Most Infused Edibles)

We’ll begin with a list of ingredients you need to make cannabutter. The stp-by-step instructions follow.

 

Ingredients For Cannabis-Infused Oil Or Butter

• 2 cups of coconut oil, MCT oil, or melted butter
• ¼ oz (7 grams) cannabis (use more or less depending on the desired potency)
• 2 cups of water

You can use the cannabutter for your baked goods.

1. Place your melted butter or oil in a mason jar. Add an equal amount of water and the decarboxylated cannabis to the jar.
2. Place the mason jar in a saucepan. Fill the saucepan with water, making sure the water level in the pan does not reach the top of the jar. This prevents more water from getting into your infusion.
3. Place the saucepan on the stove. Set the heat to medium-low. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature, ensuring it stays around 200° F (93° C). Be careful not to exceed 211° F (100° C), because this could degrade the cannabinoids and alter the infusion.
4. Let the mixture simmer at this temperature for about 3 hours. During this time, periodically check the water level in the saucepan. Add more water as needed to maintain the level, ensuring it doesn’t drop too low.
5. After 3 hours, remove the mason jar from the heat and allow it to cool. Once cooled, strain the mixture through cheesecloth into a clean container. Be gentle when straining—avoid wringing the cheesecloth, because squeezing the dried cannabis can release unwanted bitter compounds and give your infusion an acrid taste. Discard the solid waste after straining.
6. Place the strained mixture in the fridge overnight to allow the water and any remaining solids to separate from the infused butter or oil. The next day, carefully scrape the solidified-infused butter or oil into a clean container, leaving the water behind.
7. Store your infused butter or oil in the fridge to keep it fresh and potent.

You can similarly infuse cannabis in your coconut or MCT oil and honey to make edibles of different kinds.

In the next step, I have a simple cannabis-infused brownies recipe for you. But you can basically use the butter to make anything that contains butter. You can even just spread it on a piece of toast if you’re being lazy (yes, I’ve done this many times!).

 

Step 4: Make Canna-Infused Brownies

Brownies are a classic, so I decided to go with a brownie recipe here. But as mentioned, you can use the butter for anything for which you would use regular butter.

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (4 oz) cannabis-infused butter (cannabutter)
• 1 cup (8 oz) granulated sugar + 1/2 cup (4 oz) brown sugar, packed
• 3/4 cup (3.75 oz) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup (2.25 oz) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup (3 oz) dark chocolate chips or chunks
• 1/4 cup (1 oz) chopped nuts (optional)

 

Steps

• Preheat your oven to 350° F (175° C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
• Melt the cannabis-infused butter over low heat. You can either microwave it or melt it in a double boiler.
• In a separate bowl, sift together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Stir granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract into the melted butter, and mix until well combined.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
• Gradually fold in the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
• Add the dark chocolate chips or chunks and the chopped nuts, if using.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into squares and serve.

The potency of these cannabis-infused brownies will depend on the strength of your cannabutter and the size of the portions. Start with a small piece and wait at least an hour (ideally two) to gauge the effects before consuming more.

 

How To Make DIY Cannabis Edibles: Final Thoughts

The key to cannabis edibles is infusing your weed into a fat, like butter or oil. And the key to a potent cannabutter or oil is decarboxylation. If you decarboxylate your buds correctly and then infuse them into an oil, you’re going to get a potent edible.

Whether you also get a delicious edible depends on your cooking skills. Mine are generally pretty bad, which is why I tend to use cannabutter in simple recipes, or just as a spread on toast or pancakes, or perhaps on something like a baked potato.

Once you have the cannabutter or oil, the possibilities are basically endless. You can do whatever you want with it to make a tasty snack that will also get you nice and high. You can also find some more edible recipes in my article on cooking with weed.