Introduction
If you’ve ever wondered how to make pot brownies, you’re in the right place. Pot brownies are a classic edible form of cannabis that combines the familiarity of a beloved dessert with the therapeutic (or recreational) effects of THC. Learning how to make pot brownies at home allows you to control the dose, flavor, and potency to suit your needs. In this guide, you’ll master everything from decarboxylating cannabis properly to baking perfect brownies—and understanding how to dose them safely.
1. Understanding the Basics
What are pot brownies?
Pot brownies are standard brownies infused with cannabis extract—typically in the form of cannabutter (cannabis‐infused butter) or cannabis oil. When baked, the heat activates THC, producing psychoactive effects when eaten.
Why make them at home?
- Control potency: You choose how strong they are.
- Customize flavor: Add nuts, chocolate chips, or spices.
- Cost‐effective: Homemade is often cheaper than dispensary edibles.
- DIY satisfaction: It’s fun and educational!
2. Safety & Legal Considerations
Before you begin:
- Know your local laws. Home edibles may be restricted where you live.
- Childproof and label. Store away from kids and pets in clearly marked containers.
- Start low and go slow. Edibles take 1–2 hours to kick in; effects last several hours.
3. Ingredients & Equipment to Make Pot Brownies
Ingredients
- Cannabis flower (7–14 g)—quality and strain affect flavor/potency
- Unsalted butter (1 cup; ~225 g)
- Brownie mix (1 box, about 500 g) or homemade brownie recipe ingredients
- Optional add‑ins: chocolate chips, nuts, sea salt, vanilla extract
Equipment
- Baking sheet or glass baking dish
- Saucepan or double boiler
- Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Oven, saucepan, mixing bowls, spatula
4. Making Cannabutter
Cannabutter is the most common base for pot brownies.
- Decarboxylate Cannabis
- Preheat your oven to 240 °F (115 °C).
- Break up 7–14 g cannabis into small pieces, spread on parchment‐lined baking sheet.
- Bake 30–40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes until lightly toasted.
- This converts THCA to psychoactive THC.
- Infuse Butter
- In a saucepan (or double boiler), melt 1 cup unsalted butter on low heat.
- Add decarbed cannabis to melted butter.
- Simmer 2–3 hours on very low heat (ideally 160–180 °F/70–80 °C), stirring occasionally.
- Ensure it never reaches a boil.
- Strain
- Place cheesecloth over a bowl.
- Pour butter/cannabis mixture through cloth.
- Squeeze to extract as much butter as possible.
- Discard plant material.
- Chill strained cannabutter in refrigerator until firm.
5. Dosing Your Cannabutter
Estimating potency is essential:
- THC content: Suppose your cannabis is 15% THC.
- Total THC: 14 g × 1,000 mg/g × 0.15 = 2,100 mg THC.
- Butter yield: If you extract into 1 cup (~227 g), that’s 2,100 mg ÷ 227 g ≈ 9.25 mg THC per gram of butter.
- Per brownie: If your recipe uses 100 g butter for 16 brownies, that’s ~925 mg total THC ÷ 16 ≈ 58 mg per brownie.
Tip: For safe dosing, aim for 5–10 mg THC per dose. You can mix canna butter with regular butter to lower strength.
6. Baking the Brownies
You can use a boxed mix or a homemade recipe.
Using a Boxed Mix
- Preheat oven as directed on box (usually 325–350 °F/165–175 °C).
- Melt cannabutter (and any regular butter if diluting) and mix with eggs/water per box instructions.
- Fold in add‑ins like nuts or chips.
- Pour batter into greased pan.
- Bake for time specified (typically 20–30 min).
- Cool completely—pot brownies set better as they cool.
Homemade Brownie Recipe
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup cannabutter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Mix dry ingredients.
- Whisk wet ingredients, then combine.
- Bake at 350 °F (175 °C) for 20–25 min.
- Let cool before cutting.
7. Safe Consumption Tips
- Wait 1–2 hours before eating more.
- Store in an opaque, labeled container.
- Keep away from children and pets.
- Eat with food to moderate absorption.
8. Troubleshooting
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Brownies too dry | Overbaked or too much flour | Reduce bake time; check with skewer |
| Weak effects | Under‑decarboxylation or low THC | Increase decarb time; use stronger bud |
| Bitter taste | Overheated butter; plant residue | Simmer at lower temp; strain better |
9. Variations & Flavor Boosters
- Peppermint: Add ½ tsp mint extract.
- Espresso: Stir 1 Tbsp instant coffee into batter.
- Caramel swirl: Drop dollops of dulce de leche before baking.
- Spiced: Mix in ½ tsp cinnamon or chili powder.
10. Storing & Shelf Life
- Room temperature: 3–4 days in airtight container.
- Refrigerator: Up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer: Up to 3 months (wrap individually).
Conclusion
Making pot brownies at home is straightforward once you master decarboxylation and infusion. With careful dosing and attention to baking, you can create delicious, reliable edibles tailored to your preferences. Always start with a low dose, label your treats clearly, and enjoy responsibly!
Happy baking—and stay safe!
