At Hightops Premium Cannabis Dispensary, we are all about thinking outside the box. Our valuable customers deserve the best information and the best products, and cooking can be one of the greatest joys of a weekend or a simple afternoon. If you’re looking for an alternate way to enjoy the medical benefits cannabis other than traditional smoking, why not consider cooking with cannabis?

Often referred to as edibles, food infused with cannabis’ popularity has grown exponentially over recent years. When consumed responsibly, edibles can be a solid medical choice for relief. Edibles are potent and body-focused, meaning they are perfect for people who suffer from pain, nausea, or lack of appetite. In our previous Hightops blog post, we taught you how to cook with cannabis flour and also included an easy delicious recipe!  Here, we’ll teach you exactly how to make a wonderful cannabutter that you can use as a spread or even add to a favorite recipe you already use in your own kitchen! An important thing to keep in mind is when creating and enjoying edibles, ‘start low and go slow’ to allow for the steady signs of effects to take place from the cannabis. There is nothing worse than feeling too high, and everybody is different.

Cannabutter is an essential ingredient in many marijuana recipes that can be used in place of regular butter or oil. In addition to baking with cannabutter, you can even drizzle it over freshly cooked pasta or popcorn, and reserve large batches in the fridge or freezer for use in your other favorite recipes.

Here is a simple cannabutter recipe to make your own delicious creations! (Makes 28 servings)

What you’ll need:

    • 1 cup of water
    • 1 lb of butter, unsalted or salted
    • 1 oz of your favorite Hightops cannabis bud, ground

Tools you’ll use:

    • Tupperware or container with air-tight lid
    • Twine 
    • Glass or ceramic bowl, refrigerator and heat safe
    • Stainless Steel Pot
    • Oven
    • Spatula
    • Knife
    • Coffee Filter or Cheesecloth
    • Baking Sheet or Oven Pan

Step 1 – Break up the Bud

Tear or coarsely grind the bud (cannabis) into small grainy pieces and spread evenly over the surface of the baking sheet or pan. Cover with aluminum foil.

Step 2 – Bake that Bud

Baking, or decarboxylation, is simply heating the cannabis to release the substances responsible for the healing and psychoactive properties. The process of decarboxylation is easy. Simply preheat your oven to 215°F (or 102°C) and bake your cannabis for 30-35 minutes. After cooking, the cannabis will be light brown and dry.

Step 3 – Butter Up

In your cooking pan, add the 1 lb. of butter and 1 cup of water and simmer on the stovetop on low. Adding water to the butter prevents it from burning. As the butter begins to melt, start to add the 1 oz of ground, baked cannabis. (Hightops Canna Tip: if this is too strong for your liking, consider doing a smaller ratio of cannabis to butter).

Step 4 – Simmer the Sweet Mixture

Keep the butter, water, and cannabis simmering on the stovetop for about 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Do not let it reach a boil. (Hightops Canna Tip: your home may start to smell of cannabis during this process, so investing in a floral or detoxifying room spray may help!)

Step 5 – Cool the Canna Butter

After a few hours, remove the mixture from the stovetop and let it cool so that it is safe to touch and handle.

Step 6 – Time for the Twine

Take your coffee filter or a cheesecloth and cover a glass or ceramic bowl with it and tie it around the rim with the twine. From the pan, carefully pour the hot mixture into the bowl container while straining it with the coffee filter or cheesecloth. This will strain the plant substance from your butter.

Step 7 – Harden in the Fridge

After straining, remove the coffee filter or cheesecloth and discard. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap, then place in the refrigerator so it can harden. While in the fridge, the butter will separate from the water. (Hightops Canna Tip: If using salted butter, salt will also separate in the mixture and you may need to remove it.)

Step 8 – Separate Butter from Water

Using a spatula or other handy tool, remove the cannabutter from the water and dispose of the remaining water. Place the canna butter in your desired container. Your cannabutter will store great in the fridge, but if softening is desired, just let it sit at room temperature.

Now it is time to enjoy your cannabis butter! When you are ready to use it, let it sit at room temperature if it needs to soften. You can use this wonderful mixture in recipes in place of regular butter or oil. Remember to always use high-quality cannabis like the kind you will find here at Hightops Premium Dispensary in Colorado Springs (we also have the best prices!) Many of our patients take the initiative to make their own cannabis edibles, whether it’s because of dosage control or dietary conditions, and we are here to help. Come by either of our two convenient locations today to chat with our friendly budtenders who will help you determine which strain is best for your medical needs and your cooking adventures!