If you’re a fan of cannabis, then we’ve got an awesome infused butter recipe for you – perfect for making edibles at home.
Recreational cannabis recently became legal to purchase in Canada where we live, and we’re here for it! We know that cannabis isn’t for everyone of course – each individual has their own opinion about the plant, and in many countries it still carries a ton of stigma. We’re lucky that Canada is very progressive with their views on cannabis, and even that is a very recent change (thanks Prime Minister Trudeau!).
If you’re a cannabis user, then you’re likely familiar with the countless benefits it can offer, like easing anxiety, allowing for better sleep, helping to relieve arthritis, nausea, headaches and more. This list could get lengthy, but you get the idea.
Many people who use cannabis for medicinal purposes opt for edibles. Smoking can be harsh on the lungs, and edibles offer an entirely different kind of high. It’s way more of a body buzz. You can literally become one with your couch. If you’re new to edibles, this description may seem totally foreign to you, but I’m sure some of you are nodding your heads right now.
Whether you’re already an avid fan of edibles or you’re about to make your first foray, it’s a great idea to make them yourself. Here’s why: the world of edibles, at least in Canada, is like the wild wild west right now. While cannabis is legal, the selling of edibles isn’t just yet. However, you can still find some for purchase – and the volume in each dose can vary wildly. And it’s very important to be aware of how much THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, a crystalline compound that is the main active ingredient of cannabis responsible for getting you high) you’re ingesting. But, when you’re making your own edibles you have control over how much THC you’re consuming, and can test the butter beforehand to get a better sense of just how strong it is before making a recipe.
It’s important to take ingesting edibles seriously. Before you get started, definitely read the seven tips we’ve compiled based on our own experience – think of it like edible-eating best practices:
- Do Your Research: Hands down, the number one tip we have for you is to do your homework before eating. Please pull up Google and look beyond the tips we’ve laid out for you. Read up about what to expect, dosing guidelines and more. It can be downright uncomfortable to ingest an overly potent edible – trust me, I’ve done it. I felt anxious, incurably thirsty, a touch paranoid and couldn’t seem to close my mouth. It can also cause nausea – though usually you just end up falling into a deep, deep sleep and wake up incredibly groggy.
- Patience is a Virtue: The second most important tip is to be patient. It will take anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes for an edible to kick in – and once it does it can last a few hours. Some people can get impatient and think the edible is “not working” and eat more before the high kicks in – and then it hits them all at once – woah! Don’t be that person. Plus, if you consume an edible on an empty stomach it will make the high more powerful, so be mindful of that. If you choose to eat a meal just before consuming an edible, understand the high may take slightly longer to kick in.
- For Goodness Sake, Start Small: If you’re a first timer, start with a very small portion. Everyone reacts to THC differently, and it’s important to connect with how you’re feeling with a small dose. You can always work your way up from there. Most U.S. states where edibles are legal for purchase require one dose to be no more than 10 milligrams of THC. If you’re experienced consuming edibles, this might be nothing for you, but if you’re new to edibles this will likely be plenty. The challenge with making your own butter is that it’s very difficult to tell how much THC you’re consuming – as it’s all based on the cannabis you’re working with, and there are many strains out there. When you purchase cannabis, it should provide you with a percentage level or range of THC – but that doesn’t directly translate into milligrams. You can however, test your cannabis butter before making a recipe. You can learn more about testing your cannabis infused butter here, but essentially they recommend trying 3/4 of a teaspoon on a toast or cracker and taking notes about the effects.
- Might We Suggest Netflix & Chill?: Another tip for first-timers is to consume edibles in your own home, or a safe space. We also recommend nibbling with at least one other person you feel comfortable with. Consuming an edible with a large group or new friends may make you feel self-conscious once it kicks it – which may make you anxious. Chilling at home with Netflix on is always a good option. If you’ve never seen Blue Planet high, you haven’t lived.
- Too High? Don’t Panic, There’s Options: Leafly has a great guide to counteract a cannabis high that’s too intense here – which includes CBD (Cannabidiol – a naturally occurring compound found in the resinous flower of cannabis), chewing on black pepper (Neil young swears by it!), taking a shower, light snacks (you should have no problem there – hello munchies!) and more.
- Put Down the Booze: we don’t recommend drinking and eating edibles. Plus, an edible high is pretty great, so you shouldn’t feel the need to reach for a beer.
- Combat Pasties, Stay Hydrated: You will 100% get pasties, so keep refreshing, non-alcoholic beverages around. We’ve got a great recipe for you below.
We’ve shared a pretty great vanilla cake recipe for you below – which we modified slightly from our girl Martha Stewart, but you can make any recipe that calls for butter, and swap in a portion of our cannabis infused butter recipe – which you can download below.
For the Cake:
-
- 2 tsp of cinnamon
- Green food colouring (optional)
For the Frosting:
The cake:
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 8-by-2-inch cake pans, tapping out excess flour. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
-
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. With mixer on low, beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture; add in green food colouring just as you add in the last bit of flour (volume is dependent on how green you want it!), mix just until combined.
-
Divide batter between pans; smooth tops. Bake until cakes pull away from sides of pans, 32 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pans and invert cakes onto a wire rack. Let cool completely.
-
Place one cake, bottom side up, on a cake stand. Tuck strips of parchment paper underneath. Using an offset-spatula or table knife, spread top with frosting. Top with remaining cake; frost top, then sides.
The frosting:
In a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water, combine egg whites, sugar, salt, and water. Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until sugar has dissolved (or mixture registers 150 degrees on an instant-read thermometer), 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high until glossy, stiff peaks form (do not overbeat), about 3 minutes; reduce speed to low, add vanilla extract, and beat just until combined. Use immediately.
Now, we know we promised a refreshing drink to cure those pasties – and we’ve got one. The Mint Basil Sparkler has everything you want in a thirst quencher. You can grab the recipe here.
There is not a single Sublime song on this playlist, and we like it that way.