The master ingredient behind most edibles — brownies, cookies, gummies, and more.
Quick answer: Decarb your flower first. Then gently simmer
1 cup butter + 1 cup water + 7–14g decarbed flower on very low heat (160–200°F / 70–95°C) for
2–3 hours, never letting it boil. Strain through a fine mesh, chill, and lift the hardened butter off the water. That's cannabutter.
The cannabutter ratio
The classic starting point is 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter to 7–14 grams of flower. Which end you choose depends on how strong you want it and how potent your flower is:
- ~7g per cup → milder, beginner-friendly butter.
- ~14g per cup → standard, everyday strength.
- 28g (¼ oz) per cup → strong; for experienced users only.
Don't guess your final dose — plug your flower amount, THC %, and servings into the free dosage calculator and it'll estimate the mg per serving before you cook.
Step-by-step cannabutter
- Decarb your flower (240°F / 115°C, ~40 min). This is non-negotiable — here's the full decarb guide.
- Melt 1 cup butter with 1 cup water in a saucepan over low heat. The water buffers the temperature so the butter can't scorch.
- Add your decarbed flower and stir. Optionally add 1 tsp sunflower lecithin — it helps bind the THC and makes your finished edibles dose more evenly.
- Simmer very gently for 2–3 hours at 160–200°F (70–95°C). You want a lazy bubble, never a rolling boil — boiling burns off THC. A thermometer takes the guesswork out.
- Strain through a fine-mesh nut-milk bag or cheesecloth into a container. Don't wring it hard — squeezing pushes bitter chlorophyll into your butter.
- Chill in the fridge for a few hours. The butter hardens and floats on top of the water; lift it off, scrape the bottom clean, and discard the water.
Want it hands-off and consistent? A dedicated infusion machine holds the ideal temperature for hours and squeezes out more of your THC than a stovetop. See the
Vetted Setup for the ones worth owning.
Storing cannabutter
Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for 2–3 weeks, or freeze it for several months. Always label it clearly with the strength and keep it away from kids and pets — cannabutter looks exactly like regular butter.
Using your cannabutter
Swap it 1:1 for regular butter in any recipe, keeping baking temperatures at or below 350°F. To keep the dose right, use part infused and part regular butter and always divide the total dose by the number of servings. Prefer oil for capsules and tinctures? See how to make cannabis oil.
Cannabutter FAQ
Why is my cannabutter not strong enough?
Almost always under-decarbed flower, or a boil that burned off THC. Decarb properly and keep the simmer gentle. Weak flower or too little of it will also do it — check the math on the calculator.
Do I need the water?
It's optional but recommended — it stops the butter from scorching and pulls some plant bitterness out. Just remember to separate and discard it at the end.
Can I use salted butter?
Yes, though unsalted gives you more control over flavor in baking. Either works.
How long does cannabutter last?
2–3 weeks refrigerated in an airtight container, or a few months frozen.
What does sunflower lecithin do?
It helps emulsify and distribute the cannabinoids so every cookie or gummy doses more evenly, and may aid absorption. A little goes a long way.
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