Butter has been a staple ingredient in many different dishes for hundreds of years. Today, you can add CBD butter to your meals to give them an extra boost! The versatility and various benefits of CBD have contributed to its swift rise in popularity. Numerous brands and companies have begun to add CBD to their products to provide added wellness benefits.
CBD-infused butter is an easy-to-make recipe that you can create right from the comfort of your own home. You can cook with it in place of regular butter, or spread it on your toast to easily incorporate CBD into your daily routine. This article will explain everything you need to know about CBD and teach you how to make CBD butter!
What Is CBD Butter?
CBD butter is basically your everyday butter infused with cannabidiol (CBD). There are many pre-made CBD edibles, like CBD chocolates or CBD gummies. However, CBD butter allows people to make their own delicious CBD recipes.
Many people use butter to give their recipes a rich, creamy, fatty boost. Now imagine those dishes that use butter —like steak, pasta, cookies, or eggs— and add the therapeutic benefits of CBD. With CBD you can take your butter and health to the next level.
Butter is commonly used in many different foods for flavor and texture, and adding CBD makes it an effective soothing ingredient. CBD butter is not widely sold, but fortunately, it is not hard to make yourself.
Is CBD Butter Legal?
Yes, CBD and CBD-infused products from hemp are 100% legal. Hemp is a cannabis plant that is often confused with its cousin, marijuana. Hemp has high amounts of CBD and little to no THC (0.3% or less), the psychoactive compound that gets you high. Marijuana has high THC levels and is still illegal under federal law, though it is legal in many states.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid that comes from hemp or marijuana. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, all hemp-derived products are federally legal for sale and manufacturing. So, as long as the product does not contain more than 0.3% THC, it’s federally approved. You can often find CBD-infused goods in local smoke shops, dispensaries, or online stores.
What Are the Benefits of CBD Butter?
One of the main benefits of using CBD butter is that you can incorporate it into many different recipes. Instead of adding CBD into each individual recipe, you can make the butter once and use it for all types of dishes. You can add CBD-infused butter to something simple like toast, or an extravagant steak dinner, making it one of the most versatile ingredients in your kitchen.
Cannabidiol is calming and can help you feel mellow and relaxed. CBD is a great new product that people have started using for its overall wellness properties. Its many potential benefits can help promote a more robust and healthier lifestyle.
Some of the many areas CBD can help you with may include:
- Trouble sleeping or restlessness
- Apprehensive or nervousness
- Body aches or tension
- Upset stomachs
- Reduce appetite
- And much more!
Types of CBD
There are three types of CBD oil that you can use to customize your food experience – full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. Full spectrum CBD is the most commonly used variation because it has the strongest effects and provides an “entourage effect” for its users, thanks to its low THC levels (0.3% or less).
The entourage effect occurs when all the compounds (cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes) in the product react with each other. This interaction creates a synergy that can provide even stronger benefits than the compounds by themselves. Full spectrum CBD oils are often the base for many CBD products, such as lotions, tinctures, and pet treats.
Although the THC levels in full spectrum are very low, repeated use may cause THC to build up in the body. This can be a concern for people who take drug tests since the build up can potentially trigger a positive result. Broad spectrum CBD products have all the cannabinoids from hemp except for THC. By removing this cannabinoid, broad spectrum CBD is great for people who would rather stay away from THC for personal or career purposes.
The last type of cannabidiol we’ll discuss is CBD isolate. This is the purest form of CBD, and it does not contain any other compounds. Like CBD oil, isolates are very versatile and can be used to boost your meals or even beauty products. Unlike CBD oil, however, CBD isolates can be smoked. Isolate typically comes in a tasteless powder or crystal form, which allows you to get creative! For more information on how CBD works with your body, check out this article.
Are There Any Side Effects with CBD Butter?
One of the many great things about CBD is that there are very few side effects. CBD is well-tolerated by the majority of people and has very mild side effects if any.
Some of the possible side effects that may occur are:
- Dry mouth
- Change in appetite
- Slight drowsiness
- Mild nausea
Can CBD Butter Get You High?
No, CBD butter cannot get you high. Here’s why:
1. Non-Psychoactive Nature of CBD: CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, CBD does not produce a “high” or any mind-altering effects.
2. Source of CBD: CBD butter is typically made from hemp-derived CBD, which legally contains less than 0.3% THC. This trace amount of THC is not enough to cause any psychoactive effects, ensuring that CBD butter remains non-intoxicating.
3. Health and Wellness Focus: CBD butter is often used for its potential health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, alleviating pain, and promoting relaxation. Users can enjoy these therapeutic effects without the concern of experiencing a high.
4. Versatile Usage: CBD butter can be incorporated into various recipes, allowing users to add it to their favorite foods and beverages. Whether used in baking, cooking, or spreading on toast, it provides the benefits of CBD in a versatile and enjoyable form without any psychoactive side effects.
5. Safe for Daily Use: Because CBD butter does not induce a high, it can be safely used daily as part of a regular wellness routine. Users can enjoy the benefits of CBD without any impairment, making it suitable for consumption at any time of day.
In summary, CBD butter is a non-psychoactive product that offers the therapeutic benefits of CBD without the risk of getting high. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking natural wellness solutions without the mind-altering effects associated with THC.
Related: How to Make CBD Pizza [Recipe Inside]
How To Make CBD Butter
There are a few ways to make CBD butter, depending on if you use CBD hemp flower or CBD hemp oil as your base. Using CBD oil is faster as the CBD has already been extracted and made safe for consumption. Using hemp flower can take longer, but it is still not too difficult.
Ingredients & Tools
- Either CBD oil (160mg for regular potency or 320mg for stronger potency)
- OR 7 grams of CBD Flower (this amount can be changed based on your tolerance)
- 1 stick of unsalted butter (2:1 butter to water ratio)
- 1 cup of water
- Baking pan (if using flower)
- Skillet or steel pot
- Strainer
- Cheesecloth
- Funnel
- Containers
Recipe & Process
Using CBD Oil
- When using CBD oil, start melting butter on low heat (around 170 degrees Fahrenheit) in a large skillet or pan on a stove. Some people even use a slow cooker. Once the butter is melted, add in the CBD oil. Low heat also prevents the butter from having a bitter or burnt taste, so keep the stove on this temperature the entire time.
- Let the mixture simmer for roughly 15 minutes. Keep stirring every few minutes and remember to keep on low heat, so the CBD does not burn.
- You can add water throughout the process to help regulate the temperature of the CBD butter mixture during simmering. This will help keep the butter from burning. Don’t worry about adding too much water (within reason, you don’t want to overflow the pan) because it will separate from the butter during the cooling process and can be drained easily.
Using CBD Flower
Measuring your dosage is more difficult with CBD hemp flower, however, cooking with flower is a very popular method. Using seven grams of CBD hemp flower is recommended for one stick of butter. However, you can adjust this amount if the flower is very strong, or more docile.
- When using CBD hemp flower, the first step is to make it easy for consumption since the flower is typically smoked. Grind the flower to increase surface area for maximum CBD extraction.
- Preheat the oven to 220-240°F. CBD will begin to evaporate at temperatures higher than 320 degrees Fahrenheit, so be careful. Place the ground-up flower onto a baking sheet and put it in the oven for 30 – 45 minutes. This process is called “decarboxylation,” which removes an acid group from the flower and activates the beneficial compounds.
- Melt the butter on low heat (170 degrees Fahrenheit) in a large skillet or pan. Once melted, add in the ground flower. Leave the burner on low heat.
- Let the mixture simmer for 3-4 hours and keep stirring every 30 minutes. You can add water throughout the process here as well, to keep the butter from burning. The water will be drained later, just make sure not to overdo it!
Related: How To Make CBD Oil From CBD Flower: Step By Step Guide
After Simmering
Using CBD Oil:
- After simmering is done, remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool to room temperature. Once it cools to room temperature simply return it to whichever container you choose and place it in the fridge. You do not need to strain this mix, unless there is leftover water.
- Refrigerate your CBD butter for it to solidify. This can take several hours.
Using CBD Flower:
- Once the simmering process is complete, turn off the burner and use the cheesecloth to separate the melted butter (into a container) from the plant material. Be sure to use some heat protective rubber gloves as the ingredients will be hot.
- Squeeze out all the leftover oils in the cheesecloth to not waste any butter or CBD. Throw away the plant material and allow the butter and any water to cool. Once the butter has solidified you can easily separate it from any excess water and store it in the fridge in an airtight container.
- Place your CBD butter in the fridge and wait for it to solidify. This can take several hours.
Completion
All done! Now you have your very own CBD-infused butter that you can use to cook. CBD butter will last up to two months in your fridge and six months in your freezer. You can use half CBD butter and half regular butter in your recipes to improve the taste. CBD butter can have a slightly earthy taste that may affect the flavor of your dish. By using with regular butter, it can also prolong the life of your CBD butter batch!
IMPORTANT: Keep track of how much CBD you are adding to the butter. Effects may be too strong or too weak if you aren’t tracking the amount of CBD that is used. Start with a lower amount if you aren’t sure and gradually add more CBD as desired. If you need help calculating your CBD dosage, use our dosage chart!
Related: How to Make Your Own CBD Infused Drinks [5 Amazing Recipes!]
How Do You Use CBD Butter?
You can use CBD butter in everything that you use regular butter for. Some ideas are baked goods, savory dishes, and other great-tasting recipes. Get creative and find out the many things you can use your CBD-infused butter!
A few dish suggestions for adding your CBD butter into:
- A rich pasta dish with meat and veggies for a nice, elegant dinner
- Add to your morning eggs or pancakes to get a head start on the day
- Drizzle over popcorn for a fun movie night!
- Bake CBD brownies or cookies for a tasty CBD snack on-the-go
- Cook into a soup to help you relax during a cold night or after a long day
CBD Butter Alternatives
If you prefer not to use butter for various reasons, you can substitute olive oil, coconut oil, or hemp oil in place of butter. These oils are all safe for cooking and will have similar effects to CBD butter. You can also turn CBD-infused coconut oil into a topical solution. Add a few drops of essential oils, apply the mixture to your skin and feel CBD’s soothing effects!
Final Thoughts – CBD Butter
CBD can be a fantastic addition to many different recipes and provides a whole new range of possibilities when infused into butter. The great thing about CBD is that you can experiment and try new things however you want. As the popularity of CBD continues to grow, we will continue to discover new ways to incorporate CBD into our lives and get a much-needed boost to our daily lives.
Additional Resources: Shop for CBD Gummies
