Quick answer: The easiest way to make CBD butter is to gently melt unsalted butter and whisk in a measured amount of CBD oil, then stir as it cools and portion it into moulds. That gives you the most predictable amount of CBD per serving. You can also use CBD-rich flower: decarb it at about 240°F (115°C) for 40 to 60 minutes, then infuse it in butter and water at 160 to 200°F (70 to 93°C) for 2 to 4 hours and strain. Homemade butter is always an estimate, so start with a small portion and check your product label for THC.
CBD butter lets you add CBD to anything you’d normally butter: toast, oatmeal, pasta, vegetables or baking. The key to doing it well isn’t a secret recipe; it’s control. You need to know how much CBD you started with, keep the heat gentle, mix evenly and portion carefully. Here are two reliable methods and the math behind them.
Which Method Should You Use?
| CBD oil method | CBD flower method | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy, about 15 minutes | Hands-on, 3 to 5 hours |
| Decarb needed? | No, the oil is already activated | Yes |
| Dose accuracy | Most predictable | Estimate only; some CBD is lost |
| Flavour | Mild | More plant flavour |
| Best for | Precise servings | Using CBD flower you already have |
What You’ll Need
- Unsalted butter (salted works too; it’s a taste preference)
- CBD oil with the mg/mL on the label, or CBD-rich flower with its CBD % on the label
- A digital scale and measuring spoons, or an oral syringe for oil
- For flower: an oven thermometer, a probe thermometer, a slow cooker or double boiler, and cheesecloth
- A silicone mould (a mini ice cube tray works) and labels
Method 1: CBD Butter With CBD Oil
- Do the math first. Divide the total CBD you want by the oil’s strength. Example: for 300 mg total with a 30 mg/mL oil, you need 10 mL.
- Melt the butter on very low heat until it’s just liquid. Don’t let it simmer.
- Measure and add the oil with a syringe or measuring spoon, then whisk well.
- Stir as it cools. Keep stirring while it thickens so the CBD stays evenly spread.
- Portion and chill. Spoon into a mould, one teaspoon per cube, and refrigerate until firm.
Method 2: CBD Butter With CBD Flower
- Weigh and grind. Note the flower’s CBD % from the label. Grind it medium-coarse, like dried oregano; powder is harder to strain and tastes grassier.
- Decarboxylate. Spread it thinly on parchment and bake at about 240°F (115°C) for 40 to 60 minutes. Use an oven thermometer, since ovens often run hot. It should look a little darker and smell toasty, not burnt. Here’s why decarbing matters.
- Infuse. Combine the flower with butter and about 1 cup of water in a slow cooker or double boiler. Hold at 160 to 200°F (70 to 93°C) for 2 to 4 hours, stirring now and then. Don’t let it boil.
- Strain. Pour through a double layer of cheesecloth. Don’t squeeze it, which pushes bitter chlorophyll into the butter.
- Separate. Chill until the butter firms on top of the water, then lift it off and pat it dry.
- Remelt, stir and portion. Warm it gently, stir as it cools and spoon it into moulds.
How to Work Out the CBD per Serving
Use this simple formula: total CBD (mg) ÷ number of servings = mg per serving. One cup of butter is 48 teaspoons, and half a cup is 24.
| Example | Total CBD | Batch | Per teaspoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mL of a 30 mg/mL oil | 300 mg | ½ cup (24 tsp) | About 12.5 mg |
| 7 g of 12% CBD flower (7 × 120 mg) | Up to 840 mg | 1 cup (48 tsp) | Up to about 17.5 mg, likely less |
For flower, multiply the CBD % by 10 to get mg per gram (12% = 120 mg/g). The real amount in your butter will be lower, because some CBD stays in the plant or is lost to heat. These are illustrative numbers; use the figures on your own product’s label. Here’s how to read a CBD label.
Tips for Using CBD Butter Safely
- Check for THC. Some CBD products contain THC. If yours does, your butter will too, so treat it like a THC edible and start very small.
- Start with one small portion and wait before having more; edibles can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to kick in.
- Keep notes on weights, temperatures and times so you can repeat a batch you like.
- Talk to a pharmacist or doctor first if you take medication, since CBD can interact with some drugs.
- Don’t share it with pets. Cannabis products aren’t approved for animals in Canada.
- Homemade is for personal use only. Making cannabis edibles at home is legal for adults 19+, but you can’t sell them.
New to CBD? Start with what CBD is and what the research says, and see THC edibles vs CBD edibles.
How to Store CBD Butter
Keep it sealed in the fridge for about 2 to 3 weeks, or freeze portions for several months. Label it clearly, because infused butter looks exactly like regular butter, and keep it out of reach of children and pets. More tips are in how to store cannabis edibles.
Ways to Use CBD Butter
Use it anywhere you’d use regular butter: on toast, stirred into oatmeal, tossed with pasta or vegetables, or in baking. Our cannabis brownies recipe works with CBD butter too. Keep in mind that baking spreads the butter across servings, so redo the per-serving math for your recipe. Shop CBD products and oils and tinctures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to decarb CBD oil before making butter?
No. Commercial CBD oil is already activated, so you can whisk it straight into melted butter.
Will CBD butter get me high?
CBD on its own isn’t intoxicating, but some CBD products contain THC. Check your label; if it has THC, your butter can make you feel high.
How much CBD is in a teaspoon of CBD butter?
Divide the total CBD you added by the number of teaspoons. For example, 300 mg in half a cup of butter (24 teaspoons) is about 12.5 mg per teaspoon.
Can I use coconut oil or ghee instead of butter?
Yes. Both work with the same methods and the same math.
How long does CBD butter last?
About 2 to 3 weeks sealed in the fridge, or several months in the freezer.
Weekday orders (Monday to Friday) placed before noon (12:00 PM EST) are delivered the same day; see our London, Ontario delivery page for details. Cannabis is for adults 19+ in Ontario.
Buy weed online in Canada · Same-day weed delivery in London, Ontario on weekday orders placed before noon (12:00 PM EST).
