This is a basic recipe for cannabis butter. It is a compilation of information from numerous sources and extensive testing. We have found it to be a consistently high strength cannabis product with useable byproducts. Unlike Cannabutter 2, this method allows for the maximum extraction of butter from the plant matter, rendering the remaining plant material less potent. Not a big deal unless you have plans for good cannacapsules. Also, with this recipe, there is a wonderful brown liquid which can be used in soups and stews. Some swear by this method, others by Cannabutter 2.
Cannabutter 1

By November 13, 2012
Published:- Yield: 3/4 Cup
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 4 hrs 0 min
- Ready In: 6 hrs 10 mins
Basic Cannabutter
Ingredients
- 2 sticks butter
- 50 grams cannabis good bud makes the best
- 2 C filtered water (enough to cover plant matter)
Instructions
- Grind cannabis in blender or coffee grinder until fine. Shake and rub it through sieve or use a sifter to remove any remaining larger particles.
- Bake powdered cannabis on foil lined baking sheet at 230ยบ for 25 min. This process decarboxylates the cannabis changing inactive THCA to active THC.
- Melt butter in crockpot on low. Add processed cannabis and enough filtered water to cover the plant matter. Simmer on low for 4 hours, stirring frequently. Add more water as necessary to keep plant material covered.
- Let cool and place sieve over a bowl and pour in the simmered mixture. Press liquid out using the back of a spoon. Place strained plant matter back in the crockpot and cover with filtered water and simmer 15 mins. Pour into the sieve and press again. Discard plant matter or reserve for recipes or cannacapsules as we've found that there is an amount of butter lost to the processing because it just can't all be squeezed out of the plant matter.
- Place bowl in fridge. Butter will rise to the top. After about 2 hours the butter will be firm. Pour out liquid (can be reserved for soup or stew).
Store butter in airtight container in the fridge or, for longer storage, the freezer.
I have great luck with taste by using Absolute Vanilla in my cannabutter and I also clarify the butter first on low heat removing all the milk solids, casein and water which if you ever clarify butter you know the result is beautifully clear “liquid gold” in color. I have seen so many vids. online some actually made me ill. I take the preparation of something for someone to eat VERY seriously!!
Thanks for the tips and feedback! Definitely gonna try the Absolute vanilla!
Pierre, can you clarify how it is you’re using the liquor for this?
Hey Trevino: I’m sorry for any confusion Pierre’s comment may have left. It’s from an old recipe, where we had read somewhere that a shot of vodka would help the cannabinoids jump off the flower/leaf better. Of course this is totally wrong, but since this site is a place of learning, I keep the comments up even though I’ve since modified the recipe and there is NO NEED FOR ALCOHOL!! It does nothing to help your cannabutter become stronger or more potent. Again, sorry for any confusion. 95% ethanol (Everclear) does work very well for extracting cannabinoids, but that’s a whole different process for another day :)
1800 coconut tequila works great, especially in sugar cookies
I put my marijuana material in a cheese cloth or panty hose so when it cools down to handling temp I can just grab it and ring it out like a wet towel. Very little material in butter and fast clean up. Have been doing it this way for years and have had zero complaints. Enjoy!
Hi Dan: Thanks for sharing this! Yes, we do this too. Make sure to wait a bit until it cools and you can handle the whole oily weed ball much easier. Also, we’ve read about and found that if you take the whole ball and divide it up into 4-6 smaller balls, you can usually squeeze more butter/oil from the smaller balls!!!
I use a French press to strain. so easy;)
Excellent suggestion- another thing we’ve tried is an Aero Press coffee maker. Similar to French Press, but a bit easier to clean.
I am fairly new in making edibles. I’ve stuck to cannabutter receipts such as brownies, cookies, cakes etc. I’ve been looking for the receipt for hash oil and can’t find one, I need step by step instructions can you help me out? Thanks for all your advise and comments I’ve found them very informational.
Thank you. Please visit our friends at http://www.skunkpharmresearch.com for hash oil recipes. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes!
I find that using the Ardent Decarber and the Magical Butter machine makes making canna oils and butters for “medibels” very easy and pretty much fool proof. Well worth the investment.
We have a MB2 machine and it works great. We totally agree with you and if you can afford one, definitely pick one up!
When using the MB2 machine, can you just measure the melted butter in the brownie batter for example, or am i better off letting the butter cool off first before baking with it.
Hi Bryan: For a brownie recipe, I think you’d be good just using the melted butter. Not all recipes are this forgiving though- you’d never make chocolate chip cookies with melted butter- you’d use softened butter. I’m not a professional chef by any means, but think you’ll be okay for the brownie recipe using melted butter.