For some, partaking in cannabis edibles is a rite of passage and for many, it is the first way they consume cannabis. With a wide array of edible products and applications, the cannabis industry is more accessible than ever to both newcomers and veterans alike. Designed to take the guesswork out of elevated treats, cannabis edibles have accurate doses, curated flavors, and consistent highs. While edible companies inch closer and closer to perfecting their infusion processes, did you know that many of the most popular products on the market started with an original recipe formulated in an in-home kitchen? From crockpots to stovetops, many edible companies started with little more than passion and a willingness to experiment.
To celebrate the many innovations within the edible cannabis industry, we’d like to welcome you to the Green Earth Kitchen where you can learn new ways to incorporate cannabis into your cooking repertoire. By championing your innovative spirit, sparking your creativity, and empowering you to experiment safely, we hope to make the cannabis culture more accessible and breed a new wave of cannabis innovators!
In honor of Green Earth Co.’s Get Baked weekend, let’s equip you with the basic tools needed to start baking with cannabis. While there are many baked goods on the market, sometimes nothing beats a homemade treat fresh out of the oven. But for many, baking with cannabis (and baking in general) can seem daunting. Plagued by visions of your cousin’s “special” brownies that were WAY too strong, you might be a little tentative to whip up a batch of your own. Luckily, we’ve made it our mission to equip you with the tools necessary to start experimenting with your own recipes. We’ve also provided simple, user-friendly recipes from around the net that you can use as a base to eventually branch out from to create your own! So let’s get started!
Generally speaking, cooking or baking with cannabis boils down (pun intended) to the use of cannabutter or some other form of cannabis oil. These are easy substitutes for any baking recipe that calls for the use of butter or some other fat. Butters and oils are generally the best way to infuse cannabis because of the way THC molecules bind to fats and the ability to evenly distribute THC throughout the dish. An important factor to consider when cooking with cannabis however is the use of high temperatures. Generally speaking, THC evaporates at around 355°F and CBD at around 392° F. So low and slow is the name of the game when cooking with cannabis. For baking specifically, 340°F has been found to be the optimal temperature.
Below, we’ve listed three recipes for cannabis butter and oils that you can use as the foundation of any baking recipe, all of which and more can be found in The Official High Times Magazine Cannabis Cookbook.
Simple Cannabutter
High Times Magazine
Butter is the base of most baking recipes and as such, it is the perfect place to start when thinking about infusing cannabis into your favorite treats! This simple recipe can be found in High Times Magazine and is one the most tried and true recipes for cannabis infusion.
MAKES ½ CUP
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter*
- ¼ ounce cannabis buds, finely ground
*Can use unsalted butter for a longer-simmer method
- Melt the butter on low heat in a saucepan. Add the ground buds, and simmer on low heat for 45 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Strain the butter into a glass dish with a tight-fitting lid. Push the back of a spoon against the plant matter, and smash it against the strainer to squeeze out
- every drop of butter available. When you’re done, discard the plant matter.
- Use your cannabutter immediately, or refrigerate or freeze until it is time to use. You can easily scale this recipe up for larger batches of cannabutter. 1 pound
- of butter (4 sticks) can absorb 1 ounce of cannabis, but you may want to simmer for up to 60 minutes.
- Drizzle this cannabutter over freshly cooked pasta or popcorn for instant satisfaction. Reserve large batches in the fridge or freezer for use in recipes.
- Note: For medical patients, I would recommend using 2 ounces of cannabis for each pound of butter, effectively making a double-strength cannabutter.
Cannabis Olive & Canola Oil
High Times Magazine
Offering a vegan-friendly alternative to cannabutter, cannabis-infused oil provides an even wider range of applications not limited to baked goods. Use infused-oil to make a batch of moist chocolate chip cookies or drizzle some on a fresh salad, the possibilities are endless!
MAKES 6 CUPS
- 6 cups olive oil or canola oil
- 1 ounce cannabis buds, finely ground, or 2 ounces trimmed leaf, dried and ground
- In a double boiler, slowly heat oil on low heat for a few minutes until you begin to smell the oil’s aroma. Add the ground cannabis slowly, stirring until it is
- fully coated before adding more cannabis. Simmer on low heat for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the mixture from heat and allow it to cool before straining.
- Press the plant matter with the back of a spoon to wring all the oil out of it.
- Compost the leafy remains and save the oil in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
Cannabis Coconut Oil
High Times Magazine
Coconut oil has a lot of advantages over animal products. It’s a saturated fat, allowing maximum absorption of cannabinoids, but it’s much more healthful for you than saturated animal fat.
MAKES 1¾ CUPS
- 1 ounce cannabis, dried, or 2 ounces trimmed leaf
- One 14-ounce jar coconut oil
- Fill a large stockpot halfway with water, and add your cannabis. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Then, add your coconut oil, and return
- to a simmer. Remove from heat. Let the coconut oil mixture sit for two days as it slowly extracts, in a covered pot at room temperature. Then, reheat the oil, cannabis, and water mixture until the oil melts.
- Strain the mixture, being sure to press the plant matter firmly against the side of the strainer. Refrigerate the oil and water mixture for at least 24 hours.
- Return the next day and separate the solidified oil from the water. Pat dry with a paper towel, then melt the cannacoconut oil in a saucepan until it is liquid. Measure into glass jars for easy dosing. Baby food jars work well.
Easy Cannabis Brownies
Standing on the shoulders of giants, many of the edibles that are easily accessible today owe much of their commercial (and legal) success to the classic cannabis brownie. A staple within the community for generations, “special” brownies have been constantly referenced in popular culture and remain one of the first things people think of when they think of edibles.
These delectable brownies come to us from Emily Kyle Nutrition, where you can find even more classic recipes!
Cannabis Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Bars
This creative recipe for shortbread bars comes to us from Baking With Chickens and uses dried flower provided by yours truly! These simple, crumbly but moist bars are a lemony treat that are great for your next brunch or dinner party. They also use cannabis fan leaves, integrating and honoring the whole cannabis plant!
Kiva Caramel Dipping Sauce
If you’re new to baking with cannabis, one of the best ways to start integrating cannabis into your kitchen is to use your favorite edible to enhance your homemade treat. Kiva has built its reputation on precise and accurate doses, making them one of the most prominent and successful brands of cannabis chocolate. This super simple recipe comes to us from Kiva Confections and uses their chocolate Churro Kiva Bar to make a dipping sauce that pairs perfectly with a mini-churro or any other dippable dessert!
Cannabis Infused Cupcakes
Born out of a simpler way to eat cake (we like to think someone tried to eat a whole cake on the go and it didn’t go well), the cupcake is a birthday, anniversary, christmas, halloween, office party classic. While you could easily use any one of the cannabis-infused oils we listed to make yours from scratch, there’s an even easier way to elevate your next batch of cupcakes. This recipe comes to us from Big Pete’s, one of the original brands of cannabis cookies! Just use your favorite cupcake mix and top it off with any one of Big Pete’s infused cookies!
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
If you’re looking to make your own batch of cannabis cookies, or if you’ve been sitting on a killer recipe that you whip out whenever you have a dinner party or depressive episode, maybe it’s time to take it to the next level. Again, while you can use any one of the cannabis-oils we listed in any cookie recipe that calls for them, there’s a simpler way to elevate your next batch! From Emerald Sky, this simple cookie recipe features melted infused peanut butter cups, to create a creamy cookie concoction that calls for immediate consumption!
