How to Make Cannabis Butter and Oil at Home (Beginner's Guide)
CookingEdiblesDIY · 9 min read
Making cannabis-infused butter or oil at home is easier than you think. With $20-30 worth of flower and basic kitchen equipment, you can make enough infused butter or oil to last months. Here's a foolproof guide.
Step 1: Decarboxylation (The Critical Step)
Raw cannabis contains THCA, which isn't psychoactive. You must heat it to convert THCA into THC. This process is called decarboxylation, and skipping it is the #1 beginner mistake.
Preheat oven to 240°F (115°C)
Break your cannabis into pea-sized pieces (don't grind to powder)
Spread evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet
Bake for 40 minutes, stirring halfway through
The cannabis should turn from green to golden-brown and smell toasty
Too hot or too long = destroyed THC. Too cool or too short = unconverted THCA. 240°F for 40 minutes is the sweet spot backed by most testing.
Step 2: Calculate Your Dose
This is where most homemade edibles go wrong — people don't calculate, and the results are unpredictable.
Quick formula:
1 gram of 20% THC flower = approximately 200mg THC
After decarb and infusion, you retain about 80% = ~160mg THC per gram
If you use 7g (quarter ounce) in 1 cup of butter, that's ~1,120mg per cup
1 tablespoon = ~70mg THC (strong!)
Recommended Starting Amounts
Experience Level
Flower per Cup of Butter
Approx mg/tablespoon
Beginner (mild)
3.5g (eighth)
~35mg
Moderate
7g (quarter)
~70mg
Experienced
14g (half ounce)
~140mg
Remember: you can always use less infused butter in a recipe and supplement with regular butter.
Step 3: Infuse
Cannabis Butter (Cannabutter)
Melt 1 cup unsalted butter in a saucepan with 1 cup water (water prevents burning)
Add decarbed cannabis
Simmer on low heat (160-180°F) for 2-3 hours. Never let it boil
Stir occasionally. The mixture should gently bubble, not roil
Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer into a container
Squeeze the cheesecloth to get every drop of butter out
Refrigerate. The butter solidifies on top; pour off the water underneath
Cannabis Oil
Same process, substitute coconut oil or olive oil for butter. Coconut oil is preferred because its high saturated fat content absorbs cannabinoids efficiently. No water needed since oil doesn't burn as easily as butter.
Step 4: Use It
Cannabutter and oil substitute 1:1 for regular butter/oil in any recipe:
Brownies: The classic. Replace the butter or oil in your recipe
Cookies: Chocolate chip cookies hide the cannabis taste well
Toast: Spread on toast or a bagel for a simple edible
Pasta sauce: Stir a tablespoon into finished sauce
Coffee: Blend a teaspoon into hot coffee with cream
Golden rule: Don't cook above 340°F with infused butter/oil — higher temperatures degrade THC. This rules out frying and high-temp baking but works for almost everything else.
Common Mistakes
Skipping decarb: Raw cannabis won't get you high no matter how much butter you use
Grinding too fine: Powder makes the butter taste grassy and is hard to strain. Coarse break-up only
Overheating: Boiling destroys cannabinoids and terpenes. Low and slow
Not testing the dose: Try a small amount (half teaspoon) first and wait 2 hours before eating more
Not labeling: Mark your infused butter clearly. You don't want someone using it for regular toast
Storage
Cannabutter keeps in the fridge for 2-3 weeks or the freezer for 6 months. Wrap tightly in plastic or use an airtight container. Cannabis oil lasts slightly longer — 2-3 months refrigerated.