With the general public’s stance on marijuana decidedly different than it was a decade ago thanks to changes throughout the US, allowing both medical and recreational usages in various states, a happy byproduct is that we have better information than ever when it comes to making weed edibles — a delivery system that continues to reinvent the way that people get high.
While weed edibles these days run the gamut from Thanksgiving recipes to cupcakes, there is no denying that baking cookies or brownies remain an all-time classic. However, knowing how to make edibles requires a certain amount of knowledge, both of cooking and marijuana, to craft the perfect batch.
After all, people are looking for something that both tastes good and is potent. Unfortunately, you can’t get that by simply slapping some pre-bought mix on a cookie sheet, adding crumbled weed, and lobbing it in the oven. Never fear, though. We’ve got you covered when it comes to how to make weed edibles and the perfect edibles recipe.
The actual items you need
So you’ve got some weed and want to start making edibles. That’s a good start. In fact, many might be more at ease handling the marijuana aspect of this gambit than the cooking. But rather than think of your weed edibles potency as the number one goal, instead think of getting some quality chocolate, such as Guittard or Scharffen Berger.
From there, you’ll want to also pick up six large eggs, two sticks of unsalted butter, vanilla extract, sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and kosher salt. From a utilitarian perspective, you’ll also need a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, a weed grinder, food processor, wooden spoon, cheesecloth, and two large pots.
Still with me? Good. Then let’s learn how to make edibles so that these weed cookies can eventually turn into weed cake in the future.
Pick your strain
Like with junk food, picking the right strain for making edibles depends on the mood you’re in and the social situation you’re planning for. A simple question to ask is, “Daytime cookie or nighttime cookie?” Although weed impacts everyone differently, sativas give users energy and indicas are better for relaxation and sleep.
Want your cookies to make you want to get up and conquer the world? We suggest Sour Diesel, White Widow, Casey Jones, Golden Goat, or Lemon Skunk. But if you prefer something for you, your Netflix account, and a planned rendezvous with your bed, opt for strains like Bubba Kush, Granddaddy Purple, or White Fire Alien OG.
Infusing coconut oil with cannabis
Coconut oil comes in a few different styles and densities.
- Organic cold pressed: stronger coconut aroma and flavour, usually pure white in colour and solid at room temperature.
- Refined: no or little coconut aroma and might not be as pure white as organic. It can still be solid but may not be as firm at room temperature.
- Liquid oil: clear white oil with a sweet coconut smell.
Pick the oil that best suits your recipe. I like to use organic coconut oil in my infused cannabis brownies.
To make this cannabis infusion you will need:
3.5g decarboxylated cannabis*
100g coconut oil
0.5g sunflower lecithin
Infusing butter with cannabis
I actually love butter. I fell in love with it while I was working as a young chef in Switzerland and France. Grass fed dairy cows produce wonderful milk and cream that is then made into butter. You can find some European style butters in your local market, but it is worth searching out a specialty store that carries imported butters.
For a butter and cannabis infusion you will need:
3.5g decarboxylated cannabis*
454g butter
0.5g sunflower lecithin
See base technique to finish the preparation.
Side note on butter: After heat is applied the butter will separate over the course of a few hours and start to become clarified. To separate the oil from the milk solids, place the infusion vessel in the fridge overnight. The next day the fat will be easily removed; if there is liquid left in the bottom of the vessel, this buttermilk can be used for savoury applications like cheddar and dill tea biscuits.
Infusing olive oil with cannabis
My favourite is Arbequina olive oil from the region of Catalonia, Spain. These olives have colourful shades of purple, green, and silver and a high concentration of oil. The flavour is well balanced with fruity notes that can pair wonderfully with CBD strains, but can also stand up to a strong hybrid indica strain.
To make cannabis infused olive oil you will need:
2.5 g decarboxylated cannabis high in limonene*
1 lemon zest
100ml Arbequina Olive oil
0.5 g sunflower lecithin
Infusing glycerin with cannabis
Glycerin is commonly used in the food industry as a sweetener, but it can also be used to infuse cannabis in a syrup. I would first add decarboxylated cannabis to a small amount of glycerin then add it to a syrup for later use. Glycerin is quite sweet so it’s best to use sparingly.
To make cannabis infused glycerin you will need:
2.5g decarboxylated cannabis*
50ml glycerin
See base technique to finish preparation.
Optional herbs and spices can be added to your infusions to enhance the terpene profile in your strain. A few favorites of mine are rosemary, citrus zest, black pepper, chili flakes, ginger, and sage.
For those who simply don’t have the time (or energy) to make their own infused oils, there are many cannabis oils available for purchase on the market today. These products offer an easy-to-use alternative to homemade infusions that make cooking with cannabis easier than ever.
*Cannabis doses vary based on personal preference. This dose is not a recommendation on behalf of Zenabis. For more information on dosing, remember to “start low and go slow” and reference Health Canada for Guidance.
Bonus
Perhaps you’re someone who prefers salty snacks over savory ones. Well, you’re in luck. Popcorn has become a go-to choice for edibles in recent years and is simple to make if you’ve already created your cannabutter using the above method.
But before you go shoving your weed in your microwave, it’s important to note that you’ll be making popcorn the old-fashioned way using unpopped kernels heated in a saucepan. Simply combine two or three cups of kernels with two tablespoons of coconut oil and two tablespoons of cannabutter, add salt and pepper for taste, et voila, you’ve got “potcorn.”And there’s even more good news. So now you know how to make an edible, you can use it to get healthy.
TIP: You can basically infuse anything that contains oil or butter as example spaghetti sauce. (Before you put your weed in the fat you have to decarboxyde it. That by simply baking the buds for 20-30 min. At 250° F )