How to Make Weed Cookies: A Delicious Guide to Making Buzz-Worthy Treats

You know weed brownies…but have you tried weed cookies? Cannabis-infused edibles have been around for a lon g time, but they’ve surged in popularity over the past few years, offering a smoke-free (and more dose-controllable) alternative to enjoy the wonders of marijuana. And while we’re fans of almost any edibles, weed cookies have become a cult favorite with the crew here at XShack. This helpful guide will walk you through the process of making these uber-delicious, blissfully-potent cannabis cookies, so you can enjoy a sweet, safe, and flavorful experience.​

So what are edibles? Cannabis edibles are food products infused with cannabinoids, primarily THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). When consumed, these edibles undergo digestion, and the cannabinoids are metabolized in the liver, leading to a delayed but prolonged effect compared to smoking or vaping. It's essential to dose edibles carefully, as their effects can be potent and linger much longer than traditional smoking or vaping. Simply put, wait an hour or so before reaching for that second cookie.   

Before incorporating cannabis into your cookie recipe, it's crucial to activate its psychoactive compounds through a process called decarboxylation. 

You see, decarboxylation converts THCA into THC. This activates the psychoactive properties necessary for effective edibles. ​

Here’s how it works:

1. Preheat Your Oven: Set it to 220°F (105°C).

2. Grind the Cannabis: Use a grinder to achieve a coarse consistency.​

3. Bake the Cannabis: Spread the ground cannabis evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating.​

4. Remove from Oven: After 20 minutes, the cannabis should be golden brown. Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven.

5. Cool: Allow the flower to cool completely on the baking sheet. At this point, it will be quite fragile and crumbly, so handle it gently to avoid losing any material.

6. Store or Use: Once the decarboxylated cannabis is cool, you can pulse it in a food processor to add it directly to food or grind it into a fine powder for beverages. You can also use your decarboxylated herb to make cannabutter the traditional way for other homemade cannabis edibles (did someone say brownies?). Otherwise, store your decarbed weed in an airtight container away from direct sunlight and heat.

Cannabutter is a staple ingredient in many cannabis-infused recipes, serving as the medium to infuse THC into your edibles.​  

Ingredients

1. Melt Butter: In a saucepan, combine butter and water. Simmer on low heat until the butter melts.​

2. Add Cannabis: Stir in the decarboxylated cannabis. Maintain low heat (ideally between 160-200°F or 70-93°C) and let the mixture simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. Avoid boiling.​

3. Strain: Use a cheesecloth to strain the mixture into a container, removing the plant material.​

4. Cool: Allow the cannabutter to cool at room temperature before refrigerating. Once solidified, remove any excess water.​ 

Your cannabutter is now ready to be used in your cookie recipe. It’s also great on toast, pancakes, and pretty much anything else you can think of. But we recommend starting with these cookies…because they’re easy to make and crazy good ​

Now that you have your cannabutter, let's bake some classic cannabis-infused chocolate chip cookies.​

1. Preheat Oven: Set to 375°F (190°C).​

2. Cream Sugars and Butter: In a large bowl, beat together the softened cannabutter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.​

3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.​

4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.​

5. Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually blend the dry mixture into the wet mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips.​

6. Portion Dough: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.​

7. Bake: Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.​

8. Cool: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.​

You’re now ready to enjoy your homemade cannabis-infused chocolate chip cookies. But please enjoy them responsibly (which means wait patiently for seconds and thirds). ​

If you're looking to diversify your cannabis cookie repertoire, consider these variations:​

Determining the potency of your edibles is crucial to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Factors affecting potency include the strain of cannabis used, its THC content, and the amount incorporated into the recipe.​

If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to hit us up or ask your local budtender for advice on which strain is best for your baking needs. Go slow, have fun, and enjoy the world of cannabis edibles.