Learn How To Make Cannabis Coconut Oil In This How To Guide.

This easy, step-by-step beginner’s guide will teach you how to make cannabis coconut oil at home. It is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to make a Cannabis coconut oil that is dairy-free, plant-based, and can be used as a base for many cannabis-infused recipes and self-care products.

Edible recipes with coconut oil

You can make almost any kind of edible you can imagine with just a little cannabis coconut oil. It can be made various strengths according to personal preference and has the least “dirt” aftertaste that is common across all edibles. Here are two easy to follow DIY recipes for making your own coconut oil tincture.

Method 1 – Oven

To Make this one you will need:

• Oven-safe bowl
• Heat Resistant Container
• Cheesecloth
• Elastic or twine

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of coconut oil
• ½ oz of bud (this amount is optional and can be raised or lowered according to preference)

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. It will need to stay set at this temperature for the remainder of this recipe.
2. Grind your bud either by pulling apart with your hands or with scissors. Remove all stems and pour into an oven safe bowl.
3. Once the oven is preheated to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, bake the bud in the oven-safe bowl for 25 minutes. This step converts THC A (acid) into THC so that it’s hallucinogenic effects are maximized.
4. Remove bowl from oven and carefully pour in ¼ cup coconut oil. Stir.
   Return mixture to the oven and bake for another 45 mins. This is the first stage of extraction.
5. After 45 minutes have passed, remove the bowl with the mixture from the oven and allow it to cool enough to handle.
6. Fasten your cheesecloth to a heat safe container with elastic or twine. (A fine mesh metal strainer can make this step easier but is not necessary.) Strain the mixture slowly through the cheesecloth ensuring to remove all plant matter from the mixture. Set aside heat safe container of oil to cool.
7. Place plant material left in the cheesecloth back into the oven-safe bowl and pour the remaining ¼ oil over it. Stir.
8. Put the bowl back into the oven for another 45 minutes.
   Strain the second batch of mixture using cheesecloth.

Now your second batch will not be as strong as the first, so at this point, you can mix them or store them separately. Now it’s ready to cook with!

Method 2- Crockpot Method

This one can be handy for those who don’t have access to a full kitchen. The crockpot method is a little slower but tends to yield the best results as far as potency.

To make this one you will need:

• 1 knife
• Elastic or twine
• 1 metal spoon
• 1 large Funnel
• 1 crockpot
• 1 pack of 3 cheesecloth
• Heat resistant container

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. of dried bud
• 3 drops of vanilla extract
• 1 cup of coconut oil

Instructions

1. Turn your crockpot on and set to the highest setting.
2. Put vanilla extract and coconut oil into the crockpot. Wait approx. 10 minutes for the solution to heat mixing constantly.
3. Pull apart buds by hand or with scissors and add your bud to the crockpot.
4. Cover and leave for 8 hours. There is no mixing required.
5. Once 8 hours has passed, turn off the crockpot. Allow to cool until the pot feels a safe enough temperature to handle.
6. Use an elastic to secure the cheesecloth over the open mouth of the funnel. Then you can slowly strain the mixture into your heat resistant container. You want to remove all residual plant matter. (I use heat-safe glass jars so that my funnel rests on the mouth of the jar to make this step easier.)
7. Cover container and allow to cool to room temperature before using.

Finally, enjoy your cannabis infused coconut oil!

DAIRY-FREE CANNABIS COCONUT OIL

Cannabis coconut oil can serve as a cannabutter alternative and is also an important staple recipe for any cannabis consumer to master alongside cannabis-infused olive oil.

Making infused cannabis coconut oil is a fairly straightforward process that uses both heat and fat to decarboxylate the cannabis flower and extract the cannabinoids from the plant.

This process extracts a full-spectrum of cannabinoids and other plant compounds from the plant.

The final product is a cannabis-infused oil that can then be used to make more specific cannabis recipes like the ever-popular cannabis brownie, cannabis chocolate chip cookies, and more.

 

DON’T FORGET TO DECARBOXYLATE

Before getting started it is important to note that consuming dried or raw cannabis flower buds will provide little to no intoxicating effect at all.

This can be good or bad depending on your desired experience. If you do not decarboxylate, you may reap the health benefits of CBDA or THCA.

However, most cannabis consumers want to feel the full effects of activated CBD hemp flower or THC cannabis flower when making edibles.

In order to reap the benefits of activated CBD or THC, cannabis decarboxylation must take place before cooking, baking, or extracting oil from the dried flower buds of the cannabis plant.

For this recipe, we decarboxylated our cannabis flower in the oven before combining it with the coconut oil and placing it into the crockpot, therefore, we can have a shorter cooking time, about four hours.

 

IF YOU FORGET TO DECARB (IT’S OK-ISH)

While I recommend going through the full decarb process for maximum benefits, truthfully, you can skip the decarboxylation process altogether.

You will simply increase your cooking time. I recommend infusing the coconut oil for longer than the typical 4 hours, going for at least 8 hours.

This longer cooking time helps to decarboxylate the flower for you. If you accidentally forget to decarb, you can relax, all is not lost

Coconut oil is the perfect substitute for butter when making dairy-free and vegan cannabutter.

The coconut oil performs similarly to the butter in regards to extracting the cannabinoids from the plant matter, and it remains solid at room temperature like butter.

Coconut oil is naturally dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, plant-based, and allergen-friendly and this is the product we use and recommend when making our own at home.

This cannabis coconut oil oil is a great option for anyone who is following a specialty diet or just looking for an alternative to traditional cannabutter.

IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER

If you asked 100 different Chefs, you would likely get 100 different variations on how to make your own cannabis coconut oil or butter at home.

There are a lot of factors that can affect your end results when cooking with cannabis.

Here are a few additional considerations to keep in mind:

 

TEMPERATURE CONTROLS

It is important to keep tight temperature control applying cannabis to various culinary applications.

While heat is needed to decarboxylate the acids into the active form of cannabinoids our bodies can use, extreme temperatures can destroy many of the important plant materials that contribute to positive health outcomes, like terpenes.

Each individual terpene may have it’s own therapeutic health benefits, but also carries its own sensitivity to heat.

If cannabis is heated above 300 degrees Fahrenheit, you run the risk of denaturing many important plant compounds.

For this reason, we recommend using an instant digital-read thermometer during your cooking process to ensure you never go above the safe temperature threshold.

THE STRAIN OF CANNABIS USED

The strain of cannabis flower you are using will impact decarboxylation time and temperature recommendations.

Each cannabis strain contains varying amounts and ratios of different cannabinoids and terpenes.

Because each cannabinoid and terpene decarboxylates at a different temperature, you will want to consider the best temperature and cooking time for your particular strain.

Additionally, the final potency and intoxicating effects will vary depending on if it is a THC or CBD dominant strain. There are CBD dominant hemp flower options and THC dominant cannabis flower options to choose from.

THE FRESHNESS OF PRODUCT

You will have noticeable differences in the final product depending on the freshness of the material you start with.

Cannabis coconut oil can be made with raw cannabis leaf trimmings to make a CBDA dominant oil and it can also be made with traditionally dried and cured flower buds.

The concentration of cannabinoids will vary with the freshness of the starting material, the cannabinoid concentration of the material, and this will ultimately impact the potency of your final product.

EQUIPMENT VARIABILITY

You can make cannabis coconut oil with various pieces of equipment like a crockpot or slow cooker or instant pot, but there will be small variables in the cooking equipment which may impact your final product.

Different crockpots will have different temperatures when setting to the same setting, which is why we recommend a digital thermometer be used throughout the cooking process.

WHAT TYPE OF OIL TO USE

There are many different types of coconut oil on the market today, the three most common being unrefined coconut oil, refined coconut oil, and MCT coconut oil.

It is ultimately your decision on which type of oil you want to infuse, but here are some important considerations when making your decision.

VIRGIN OR UNREFINED COCONUT OIL

Virgin or unrefined coconut oil is about as close to the natural substance as you can get. Unrefined coconut oil is made from the ‘meat’ of fresh coconuts and then cold-pressed, leaving just the oil which has a pure coconut flavor.

Unrefined coconut oil has a more natural, more prominent, topical coconut taste and smell. Like refined coconut oil, unrefined coconut oil is 63% MCTs and 50% lauric acid, meaning it infuses exactly the same.

If you choose to use unrefined coconut oil, this is the organic virgin unrefined coconut oil we recommend.

REFINED COCONUT OIL

Refined coconut oil is an oil made from dried coconuts that have been put through additional processing. Some companies use harsh chemicals to bleach the coconut to remove the taste and flavor, while others use steam to refine the oil.

The biggest draw to refined coconut oil is that it has a very neutral taste and flavor, making it easier to work within certain recipes where the coconut taste is not wanted.

Many people prefer refined coconut oil because it has a less prominent coconut taste. Like unrefined coconut oil, refined coconut oil is 63% MCTs and 50% lauric acid, meaning it infuses exactly the same.

If you choose refined coconut oil, you will always want to make sure you choose a sustainably farmed organic steam refined coconut oil like this one we recommend.

MCT COCONUT OIL

MCT coconut oil is a type of saturated fat extracted from coconuts that are rapidly digested and absorbed by the body. Many people prefer liquid MCT coconut oil for infusions because it is tasteless and some people find it easier to digest.

“Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are a unique type of fatty acid naturally found in coconuts that support the metabolism and are easily digested and burned by the body for energy and fuel” (1).

The process for infusing MCT cannabis oil is exactly the same as refined or unrefined coconut oil.

One important thing to note is that MCT oil in large amounts may cause digestive distress in some individuals.

If you choose to use type oil, this is the MCT oil product we recommend.

CAN I INFUSE COCONUT OIL WITH FECO OR RSO?

Yes, you can infuse coconut oil with full-extract cannabis oil, FECO (or RSO), instead of cannabis flowers.

Because of the sticky, molasses-like texture of the FECO, many people prefer to mix in a carrier oil which will help to dilute the FECO and make a more viscous, tincture-like oil.

One of the most popular carrier oils to mix FECO with is the MCT coconut oil mentioned above.

I recommend mixing 1mL of FECO with 30mL of MCT coconut oil for a strong batch, but you can choose to mix 1mL FECO with your desired amount of oil.

DO I NEED TO ADD LECITHIN?

Lecithin is a natural phospholipid substance derived from soybeans, sunflowers, eggs, and avocados. Traditionally, lecithin is used as a binder to keep opposing ingredients together in recipes like olive oil & vinegar dressings.

Many at-home cannabis chefs swear by adding lecithin to their infusions to make them stronger or the cannabinoids more easily absorbed by the body, although the actual science is still out on whether or not it actually works and how well.

In theory, using lecithin will make valuable cannabinoids like CBD and THC more bioavailable, or ready for use by the body, ultimatley making the edible stronger.

Alternatively, other chefs only use lecithin as a binder when combining oil with other ingredients to make recipes like homemade gummies.

Like MCT oil, some people anecdotally report that lecithin causes digestive issues.

You will definitely still have a great infused cannabis oil if you don’t use lecithin, it’s not a make or break ingredient for this recipe.

We personally don’t use it but feel free to use it if you want. Its ultimately personal preference.

SUNFLOWER LECITHIN VS SOY LECITHIN

As a registered dietitian nutritionist, my vote is for choosing sunflower lecithin over soy lecithin. Soy is a heavily genetically modified crop that often exacerbates health problems in certain individuals.

Sunflower lecithin is available in powder and liquid form, but the liquid is easier to work within this recipe.

If you choose to use sunflower lecithin in this recipe, this is the sunflower lecithin product we recommend.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THE LEFTOVER PULP?

After the straining process to separate the plant matter from your infused oil, you will be leftover with a ball of spent cannabis flower, also called leftover pulp or sludge.

While some folks say it’s garbage and simply throw it away, we’ve heard too many success stories of people using the pulp in many awesome pulp recipes with great results.

While it would be extremely difficult to guestimate the potency of what is leftover in the cannabis pulp, an educated guess as a registered dietitian tells me that at the very least, there would be important plant nutrients like dietary fiber.

Anecdotally, many people have reported still receiving pleasant, intoxicating high effects when consuming the pulp, supporting the theory that at least some percentage of cannabinoids are left behind in the plant matter.

CROCKPOT CANNABIS COCONUT OIL RECIPE

yield: 16 OUNCES prep time: 30 MINUTES cook time: 4 HOURS total time: 4 HOURS 30 MINUTES

This easy, step-by-step beginner’s guide will teach you how to make cannabis coconut oil at home. It is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to make a dairy-free, plant-based, cannabis-infused coconut oil that can be used as a base for many cannabis-infused recipes and self-care products.4.6 Stars (720 Reviews)PRINT

INGREDIENTS

• 16 ounces (1 pound, approximately 2 cups) organic, virgin unrefined coconut oil
• 1 ounce cannabis flower, pre-decarb
• 1 teaspoon liquid sunflower lecithin, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Lay a clean tea towel down on the bottom of the crockpot. This will create a buffer between your mason jars and the crockpot, potentially preventing any jar moving or cracking during cooking.
2. Fill your crockpot with enough warm to hot water to cover the top of the mason jars you plan on using by an inch to create a water bath.
3. Place the digital instant-read thermometer into the water. Start the crockpot heat on high. When a temperature of 185° F is reached, turn the crockpot to low.
4. While the water bath is heating in the crockpot, measure and decarb the cannabis flower in the oven at 240° F for 40 minutes. Click here for a full cannabis decarboxylation tutorial, if needed.
5. Evenly divide the coconut oil between the mason jars you plan on using. You can either use pint-sized or half-pint sized jars, it’s you’re preference, just be sure they fit in your crockpot. No matter the size, be sure to leave a 1/2 inch headspace from the top.
6. If you plan on using sunflower lecithin, add it to the mason jars now.
7. Evenly divide the decarbed flower between the coconut oil filled jars. Wipe the rim of the jars with a clean paper towel and place the lid on. Tighten the metal ring to finger-tip tightness, it does not have to be tightened all the way. Do not tighten too tightly.
8. Once the water bath reaches a temperature of 185° F, carefully place the jars into the water bath.
9. Place the lid on the crockpot and leave alone to infuse for 4 hours.
10. After 4 hours, carefully remove the lid, followed by the jars from the hot water. Set them aside to cool.
11. Once cool enough to handle, you will want to strain the cannabis oil through a paper filter and funnel or cheesecloth to separate the plant-matter from the coconut oil.
12. Save the leftover cannabis pulp for use in future recipes. Then return the prepared cannabis coconut oil to whatever jar you would like to store it in. We use a mason jar.
13. Store the prepared cannabis coconut oil in a cool, dry place. It will last longer if stored in the refrigerator and even longer if stored in the freezer.

NOTES

**Yields: ~1 pound / ~16 ounces / ~2 cups

*We recommend you sanitize your jars by keeping them submerged in the 185° F crockpot for 10 at least minutes. This step is not necessary, but good practice for safety and hygiene.

*Sometimes the mason jar will float when placed in the water bath. This is no need for concern, simply put something heat and water safe over the top of the jar to weigh it down, a clean rock works well.

*If you are storing the oil in the fridge or freezer, never use the microwave to soften it, as the heat will destroy important cannabinoids.