Now that you have a tub of cannabutter staring you in the face, it’s time to put that bad boy to good use. After cooking that scrumptious mixture all day long, you’re probably not in the mood to slave over a hot cooker for another hour or two to come up with another gourmet creation.

To help you out, here are 8 fast & easy ways to use cannabutter. Depending on how much you like the flavor, some of these will be much tastier than others.

In the rapidly growing cannabis edibles market, cannabutter remains a consistent and highly regarded ingredient. Decades ago, using cannabutter was the manner in which home bakers infused their cookies and brownies with activated tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In today’s age of infused cooking oils and cannabis recipe books, cannabutter remains as popular as ever.

Once created, cannabutter can be used in a variety of ways for both cooking and baking. Let’s learn how to make this time-tested cooking ingredient, as well as discover some great ways to use it.

Creating Cannabutter

Making cannabutter includes heating butter and cannabis together to activate the THC in the cannabis and infuse the butter. Activating the THC with heat is a process known as decarboxylation.

• Grind 1 ounce of high-quality cannabis flower and layer a cookie sheet with the crushed flower.
• Preheat your oven to 245 degrees Fahrenheit, and place the cookie sheet with cannabis into the oven for a half hour, turning the sheet once or twice while it heats to distribute the heat evenly. When you remove the crushed cannabis after a half hour, it will be very dry.
• In a large saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to a boil. With the water boiling, place a pound (four sticks) of butter in the water until it melts completely.
• Place the cannabis in the water and butter mixture, mix the solution, and set it on low so it slightly simmers. The cannabis should remain slightly above the bottom of the pan, not on the bottom. Cook for 2½ to 3 hours. The top of the mix should appear glossy and have a thick consistency. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Use a large, heatproof bowl, and place a double layer of cheesecloth over the top, securing it with tape or twine.
• Slowly strain the marijuana mixture through the cheesecloth and into the bowl, When the pan is empty, remove the twine or tape and lift the cheesecloth supporting all four corners. Squeeze out any butter that remains. Allow the butter mixture to cool.
• Place the butter mixture in a refrigerator until thoroughly cooled. The infused butter will rise to a solid top layer. Run a sharp knife around the perimeter of the butter and lift it from the bowl. Remove any remaining water from it.
• Your cannabutter is complete! Place it in the refrigerator for later use.

(You can make half this amount by using half of the ingredient ratios mentioned.)

Savory Cannabutter Recipes

Although cannabis edibles often feature sweet dessert items, an increasing number of great recipes are being created to produce tasty savory dishes as well.

Bacon Blue Cheese Dip

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons softened cannabutter
• 2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
• 3 teaspoon minced garlic
• 16 ounces softened cream cheese
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 6 ounces blue cheese crumbles
• 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• ¼ cup chopped chives, divided
• ¼ cup chopped pecans, divided
• 1 French bread baguette

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
• In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter and swirl melted butter in the pan to coat the edges. Add garlic and cook on low until lightly golden. Remove from heat.
• Pour garlic and melted butter into an electric mixing bowl (mixer should be fitted with a paddle attachment). Add cream cheese and mix on low until smooth. Slowly add heavy cream, mixing until combined.
• Add blue cheese crumbles, bacon, 2 tablespoons chopped chives, and 2 tablespoons chopped pecans to the mixture. Spread mixture on the bottom of a buttered cast-iron pan.
• Place the dip in a preheated oven, and bake for 20 minutes until bubbly. Allow to cool slightly. Top with remaining chives and pecans. Serve the warm dip with cannabuttered baguette slices (see below).

Cannabuttered Baguette Slices

• Cut baguette into rounds and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
• Toast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown, about 10 minutes or less.
• Liberally spread each baguette round with cannabutter and return to the oven very briefly until melted. Remove baguette rounds from the oven and enjoy with blue cheese dip.

Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• ½ cup cannabutter
• ½ cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Black pepper to taste
• 4½ cups whole milk, separated
• 4½ cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

• Boil a large pot of lightly salted water. Add elbow macaroni, stirring occasionally until cooked al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain.
• Melt cannabutter in a saucepan over low heat.
• Stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth (about 5 minutes).
• Slowly pour milk into butter-flour mixture, stirring continuously until mixture is smooth and bubbling (about 5 minutes).
• Add 4 cups cheddar cheese to milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted (about 2 to 4 minutes).
• Fold macaroni into cheese sauce until thoroughly mixed.
• Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese on top of hot macaroni and cheese

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons cannabutter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1½ cups chopped yellow onion
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 3-pound butternut squash, peeled
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• 6 cups chicken stock
• Heavy cream (optional, to drizzle on top for garnish)

Instructions

• Cut the squash into cubes, toss in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper to coat. Place squash on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and roast in a preheated 350-degree (F) oven for a half hour or until the squash is golden and caramelized. Place squash cubes in a bowl and set aside.
• Melt the cannabutter in a soup pot over low heat, then add the onion, salt, and pepper, and heat on low-to-medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently so the butter doesn’t burn.
• Add the roasted squash cubes and cinnamon. Stir for a couple of minutes.
• Add the chicken stock, bring to a low boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer for 2 minutes.
• Puree the soup with an immersion blender (you can also cool the soup slightly and puree in a blender in batches).
• Taste, and adjust the seasonings to personal preference.
• Drizzle a small amount of heavy cream on top and serve.

Sweet Cannabutter Recipes

Dessert recipes baked with cannabutter are one of the most popular and traditional ways to use this infused butter. Although tasty, proceed with caution, and don’t eat too many of these tasty treats.

Bud Brownies

Ingredients

• ½ cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup cannabutter, melted over low heat
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder

Instructions

• Prepare the ingredients.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Grease a 9- by 9-inch baking pan.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and cocoa powder.
• In another small bowl, whisk together the melted cannabutter and eggs.
• Combine the cannabutter and egg mixture with the flour mixture.
• Stir until just combined.
• Bake the brownies for 25 to 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Cut into squares and serve.
• Spread with chocolate frosting or serve with vanilla ice cream.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour measured, then sifted
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1½ cups cannabutter, softened
• 2½ cups granulated sugar (1½ cups granulated for recipe, 1 cup for rolling
• 2 eggs
• 1¼ tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line four baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
• Place the softened cannabutter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Cream the butter and sugar together on high until light and fluffy (a few minutes) Then, turn the mixer on low and add the eggs and vanilla extract.
• With the mixer running on low, slowly add the flour mixture.
• Scrape the bowl and beat again for 30 seconds.
• Use cookie cutters to form the dough into shapes and place on greased cookie sheets.
• Bake each sheet of sugar cookies for 10-11 minutes until the edges are slightly golden and the centers are just barely set.
• Cool completely on cookie sheets.

 Toast, Muffins, Bagels – Any Bread, Really

If you didn’t think about this one all by your lonesome, put the cannabutter down! The fumes have already done you in. Simply spreading this delicacy on baked goods is the easiest & fastest way to enjoy a little cannabutter relaxation.

 Liven Up Your Pancakes

Depending on whether you go with frozen or homemade, this only takes a few more minutes than a slice of toast. Drench your pancakes in cannabutter your next breakfast of champions! You won’t win any marathons, but it’ll be an interesting morning.

 Bake Some Cookies

Almost every cookie recipe needs a big stick of butter, so why not substitute your cannabutter? If you’re in a hurry or you’re super stoned, go with a packaged mix. It’ll only take you about 15 minutes per pan to create some THC-enriched goodness that’ll last all week long!

 Pour It Over Popcorn

If you’re wore out from all that cooking, pop a DVD into the player and enjoy a big bowl of hot popcorn seasoned with cannabutter. For the perfect evening, make it a weed-centric movie like a Cheech & Chong classic or Pineapple Express.

 Mac & Cheese, Please!

Nothing satisfies a stonking case of the munchies like a big bowl of macaroni and cheese! And this recipe does double duty – it can give you the munchies and fill you up at the same time. If you’re not up for homemade mac, there’s nothing wrong with pulling out a box of the instant. Simply replace the traditional butter with cannabutter.

 PB&J&Cannabutter

If you’re not so sure about cannabutter’s unique flavour, mask it with something even stronger. Our vote is for a classic PB & J with a little cannabutter thrown in for good measure. Here’s what you do. Spread a little cannabutter on each slice of bread followed by a thick layer of gooey peanut butter and your favourite jelly. Yum!

 Frosting Worth Licking The Bowl Over

Buttercream frosting is extremely easy to make. It’s basically just powdered sugar, butter, milk and a little vanilla. You don’t even have to start the cooker for this one – simply plug in the mixer & you’re golden. Here’s a hint – bake the cake while the cannabutter is setting up, buy one at the local bakery or just scarf this frosting down by the spoonful!

 Eat It Off The Spoon

If you’re completely desperate or you’re a total cannabutter fiend, just dig in! By the fingerful or the spoonful, it’ll go down smooth as silk as long as you love the flavor. Enjoy this potent edible in moderation – too much straight cannabutter could leave you down and out for the extended count!