Infused peanut butter is one of the easiest edibles you can make, and one of the most useful. Peanut butter’s earthy, nutty flavor hides the taste of cannabis well, and its protein and healthy fats make for a genuinely decent snack base. Even better, since THC binds to fat, all that fat in peanut butter makes it a natural for infusion. Here’s how to make it at home.
Step 1: Decarboxylate your cannabis
First you have to activate the THC, which means decarboxylation: heating the cannabis to the right temperature for the right time. Preheat your oven to 245°F (120°C). Grind your cannabis, spread it on a baking sheet, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes so it heats evenly.
Step 2: Melt the peanut butter
Put your peanut butter in a saucepan over low-medium heat and melt it until it’s smooth and creamy. Keep stirring so it doesn’t scorch on the bottom.
Step 3: Infuse
Once the peanut butter is melted, add your decarboxylated cannabis and stir to combine. Let it simmer on low for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally so the cannabis spreads evenly throughout. Low and slow protects the THC and keeps the peanut butter from burning.
Step 4: Strain
When the infusion is done, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to catch the plant matter. If you’re using chunky peanut butter, you can skip this step, since you’re keeping the bits anyway.
Step 5: Store
Let the infused peanut butter cool, then transfer it to a clean jar or container with a tight lid. Keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
Using it
Spread it on toast, pancakes, crackers, or whatever you like. The strength depends on the potency of your cannabis and how much you used, so start with a small amount and work up to find your dose. Edibles affect everyone differently and tend to sneak up on you, so err on the side of too little the first time.
That’s the whole thing. A few basic ingredients, a couple hours of patience, and you’ve got a jar of infused peanut butter ready whenever you want it.