This small batch cannabutter slow cooker method is perfect when you only have a small amount of cannabis to work with. Using ghee (clarified butter) instead of regular butter and a crock pot water bath to keep temperatures gentle and even, this recipe turns 3.5g of decarbed flower into one full stick equivalent of potent cannabutter — no double boiler, no stove-watching required.
Why Use a Slow Cooker for Small Batch Cannabutter?
The small batch cannabutter slow cooker method has a big advantage over stovetop: the water bath in the crock pot provides gentle, even heat that’s hard to overshoot. Burning cannabutter (even slightly) destroys THC. The slow cooker keeps the temperature stable well below the THC degradation point of around 245°F / 120°C. You also don’t have to babysit it — just shake the jar once an hour and let it do its thing.
Ghee Cannabutter Recipe: Why Ghee Instead of Regular Butter
This is a ghee cannabutter recipe — and ghee is the ideal choice for infused butter. Regular butter contains milk solids and water that can burn when exposed to heat, especially in edibles. Ghee is clarified butter with all the milk solids removed, giving it a higher smoke point and a cleaner, richer flavor. It also has a longer shelf life once infused. If you can’t find ghee, use unsalted butter with the same technique.
Ingredients
- ~113g ghee (one stick equivalent — weigh it for accuracy)
- 3.5g decarbed cannabis (1/8 oz; decarb first at 240°F/115°C for 40 minutes)
- Mason jar or heat-safe container with a lid
- Slow cooker / crock pot
- Water — to fill the crock pot 2 inches deep (water bath)
- Sieve + spatula — for straining
- Cheesecloth (optional) — for a second strain for extra clarity
- Butter mold or container — for setting
- Oven mitt — for handling the hot jar safely
Slow Cooker Water Bath Cannabutter: Step by Step
This slow cooker water bath cannabutter process takes about 4 hours hands-off:
- Weigh the ghee: Measure approximately 113g (one stick equivalent) of ghee. If it’s too firm, microwave for 30 seconds to soften — you don’t need it fully liquid, just soft enough to work with.
- Add cannabis to jar: Place your decarbed cannabis in the mason jar, then spoon or pour the softened ghee on top. Seal the lid.
- Set up the water bath: Add about 2 inches of water to the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the sealed jar in the water. The water doesn’t need to cover the jar — just enough to create a stable heat bath.
- Cook on HIGH for 2 hours: Put the slow cooker lid on and set to HIGH. After about 2 hours, switch to LOW for the remaining 2 hours. This reduces the risk of overheating.
- Shake every hour: Using an oven mitt, carefully remove the jar every hour and shake it to agitate the cannabis and ghee. This helps even infusion. Return it to the water bath each time.
- Strain after 4 hours: Remove the jar (it will be warm/hot — use the oven mitt). Open and pour through a fine sieve into a second container, pressing the plant matter with a spatula to extract all the butter. For a clearer result, do a second strain through cheesecloth.
- Mold and set: Pour the strained cannabutter into a butter mold or small container. Refrigerate for 30+ minutes until fully set. Pop out and store in an airtight container.
Small Batch Cannabutter With Eighth: Dosage Notes
When making small batch cannabutter with eighth (3.5g), the potency depends heavily on the THC% of your cannabis. As a rough guide: if your flower is 20% THC, that’s 700mg of THC in 3.5g. After infusion losses (~30%), you’d have roughly 490mg across ~113g of butter. That’s about 4.3mg per gram of butter, or around 8–10mg per tablespoon — a moderate single dose. Always test a small amount first before using in recipes.
Cannabutter Crock Pot Method Tips
A few tips for the best results with the cannabutter crock pot method:
- Don’t skip decarbing — raw cannabis won’t get you high. Decarboxylate at 240°F/115°C for 40 minutes before adding to butter.
- Temperature matters — if your slow cooker runs hot, switch to LOW earlier (after 1–1.5 hours on HIGH). You can also start on LOW for the entire 4 hours.
- Color isn’t everything — Fordee’s butter came out lighter than expected due to the strain used. Light-colored cannabutter can still be very potent.
- Don’t skip straining — plant matter left in the butter makes it taste grassy and can cause digestive issues.
- Save the scraps — the plant material left in the strainer still has some residual butter. Don’t toss it — scrape it out and add it back to the batch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular butter instead of ghee?
Yes. Regular unsalted butter works fine in this small batch cannabutter slow cooker recipe. The main difference is ghee has a higher smoke point and longer shelf life. If using regular butter, it’s even more important to keep the temperature low to avoid burning the milk solids.
How long does slow cooker cannabutter last?
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, cannabutter lasts 2–4 weeks. In the freezer, it keeps for up to 6 months. Using ghee extends shelf life further since there are no milk solids to go rancid.
Do I need to add water to the butter itself?
No — the water is only in the crock pot (not in the jar with the butter). The water bath creates even, gentle heat around the sealed jar. The butter and cannabis stay together in the jar without any water mixing in.
What can I make with this cannabutter?
Anything that calls for butter! Fordee uses this small batch cannabutter in brownies next (check out the brownie video). Other great uses: cannabis cookies, infused toast, sautéed vegetables, or stirred into mashed potatoes. The possibilities are endless once you have a reliable base.
References
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