Bake
by: Vanessa Lavorato
May12,2021
4.5
16 Ratings
- Prep time 3 hours
- Cook time 2 hours
- makes 16 brownies (8 to 10 milligrams THC per brownie)
Jump to Recipe
Author Notes
The iconic weed brownie reigns supreme over all edibles for two reasons: They whip up in a snap and chocolate makes everything taste good, even weed. While boxed mix works in a pinch, from-scratch brownies reach a new level of scrumptious with cannabutter in the batter. Plus, this recipe only needs one bowl for easy cleanup.
Cakey brownies have their fans, but these brownies bring on the fudge. The molasses gives a caramel note and adds moisture while dark chocolate (at least 60 percent cacao) balances the sweet with a hint of bitterness. Chewy and gooey rank high on the texture meter, and these brownies capture both in one bite.
To make cannabutter, just follow my all-in-one guide, where I walk you through each step. Want to plan ahead? In the fridge, tightly wrapped cannabutter lasts about one to two weeks. In the freezer, that stretches to up to six months.
This recipe yields 16 chocolatey brownies. 1 gram of weed infused into 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter doses the brownies at 8 to 10 milligrams THC (the chemical that gets you high) per brownie. For edibles newbies, use less cannabutter, supplementing with regular butter, to start at an even lower dose of 2 to 5 milligrams per brownie.
When edibles taste as good as brownies do, they can cause a munchies loop of getting hungry, then eating more brownies. Think ahead and make a second batch of regular brownies to avoid the temptation of eating one too many. You can follow this recipe, using the same quantity of standard unsalted butter instead of cannabutter. The combination of rich chocolate and crunchy nuts masks the flavor of weed, so be sure to label them carefully. No one likes to play edible roulette.
Helpful tools for this recipe:
- Casafina Blue Speckled Stoneware Baking Dish
- Mason Cash Cane Mixing Bowls
- GIR Silicone Spatulas, Set of 2
—Vanessa Lavorato
Test Kitchen Notes
If you're considering enjoying this recipe, please consult and follow the legal restrictions for controlled substances in your state. Because there are so many variables with homemade edibles, go slowly. You may want to start with half a serving and determine your tolerance and ideal dose from there. And always wait a couple hours to feel the effects. —The Editors
- Test Kitchen-Approved
What You'll Need
Ingredients
- Cannabutter
- 1/2 cup(113 grams) unsalted butter
- 1 gramquality cannabis flower
- Weed brownies
- 1/4 cup(21 grams) natural cocoa powder, plus more for the pan
- Cannabutter (above)
- 1/2 cup(100 grams) chopped dark chocolate
- 1 1/4 cups(250 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoonmolasses
- 1 teaspoonvanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoonkosher salt
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup(90 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup(57 grams) chopped toasted nuts (optional)
Directions
- Make the cannabutter, following the quantities listed above and my step-by-step guide linked in the Author Notes.
- Butter an 8x8-inch pan, then dust with cocoa. Heat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- In a bain marie (or in the microwave in 10-second intervals), melt the cannabutter and dark chocolate. Remove the bowl from the heat, then add the sugar, molasses, vanilla, and salt.
- Add one egg at a time, mixing well after each. Beat for about 5 minutes, until a 5-second ribbon forms on the top of the batter when you lift the whisk. Stir in the chopped nuts (if you’re using them). Sift or whisk the flour with the cocoa powder, then add to the chocolate mixture. Combine just until the flour disappears (don’t overmix).
- Pour the batter into the pan and place in the center of the oven. Bake for about 25 minutes, until a glossy top forms and starts to crack. Keep an eye on the edges, they will firm up first. To check, insert a toothpick near the corner—it should have a few moist crumbs.
- Let cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before cutting into 16 brownies. (If you’d like—and if your pan isn’t glass—you can plunge the pan into cold water immediately out of the oven. The temperature shock achieves a chewy crust while maintaining the gooey center, a tip I learned from Eric Kim.)
- Store the brownies in an airtight container for up to a week. For longer storage, cut and freeze the brownies, then warm up in the microwave or oven before serving.
Tags:
- Brownie
- American
- Molasses
- Nut
- Chocolate
- Egg
- Butter
- Vanilla
- Bake
- Snack
- Dessert
See what other Food52ers are saying.
-
Bevi
-
Vanessa Lavorato
-
Smaug
-
-
Reanna
Recipe by: Vanessa Lavorato
Popular on Food52
35 Reviews
Reanna November 11, 2023
Hello, does anyone know how long the butter takes to set in the fridge?
sophiekate September 25, 2023
I have read your post very carefully and I just want to say that the information you shared is great and I have learned a lot from it. I will make it tonight and enjoy it while playing girls games.
nauman-khalid July 25, 2023
For a delicious culinary experience, visit https://www.spoonnspice.com
Kelli April 28, 2023
Great recipe with some minor tweaks. Thank you!!
All of the self righteous out there…plant medicine WAS medicine until the money-backed Flexner Report of 1910 and the introduction of Big Pharma at that time. Now here many are in our country, sicker and unhealthier than ever. Wake up. Do some research. Educate yourself. Don’t be sheep. God created plants, not pills.
Brook.rose March 23, 2023
I got the same result as other reviews. Liquid after 25 min, nowhere near enough flour. What a waste of weed :(
Monkey D. October 30, 2022
Easy to follow recipe. I did sub dark brown sugar for molasses as I was out. It's worth letting the mixed batter sit for 15 minutes at room temp to let the batter hydrate. I used slightly room temp butter (and didn't pour off the water), and it was still a very dry dough after combining (without overmixing).
Also, it may be good to mix the wet ingredients at low, or for a bit less time as I ended up with a very airy mixture more like buttercream after 5 minutes. If you want crispier brownies, using a 9" x 9" pan helps. Just keep an eye as they'll bake a bit faster. Overall, solid recipe that I kept on-hand regardless. Happy baking.
Incredible E. June 14, 2022
This was my first time making anything from scratch or any type of edible. I followed your recipe exactly, which was not that complicatged for someone that is use to making box cakes. I have to say they were the best brownies I ever had and all my friends felt the same. The one thing I changed was, after straining the butter and weed through a thin metal strainer whatever remained I scraped off the strainer and through into a quick fudge recipe so nothing was waisted. The fudge was amazing and had about 4mg of THC in a one inch piece. They were also a big hit!
[emailprotected] January 30, 2022
Well after a diagnoses ofALs,I truly know the disaster I'm approaching, laaaaast things I want to live by is opiods or any other painnn meds, so 1. This receipe might ease some physical pain and allows the very exost
[emailprotected] January 30, 2022
Existence in the last days, thc willl allow me to eat n have a better quality of life
MsGlorimar February 8, 2022
Go ahead with this. My mom had ALS and, against all prognosis, lived with the condition and no medication for 20 years. She was from another generation and sadly considered consuming cannabis was "against her principles" (she was a strong-willed woman until the very end). But I know it would have helped her a lot to cope with ALS. Nevertheless, I also wanted to let you know that what I believe helped her survive for so long was her daily consumption of 100% grape juice (she used Welch's brand). I think it was because of the antioxidants it contains. I wish you the best.
Desiree29 October 28, 2021
This recipe did not work for me at all. It became super liquidy and bubbling. Needed more flour! Such a waste of the weed
Potchef420 December 10, 2022
There no way you did it wrong. I make this recipe 2-3 times per week and get nothing but great compliments
Brook.rose March 23, 2023
I got exactly the same result and followed exactly
Chris August 19, 2021
Anyone use Stevia instead of sugar?
Ann O. August 12, 2021
Ok. Math question. Straight division this is WAY off. 1g=1000mg. 1000mg divided by 16 brownies is 62.5mg per brownie. Are you confirming that the butter infusion process only absorbs less than 20% of the THC? Or 160mg? 160/16 gets you your 10 so why doesn’t the recipe call for that amount? Having never made my own edibles I have no desire to end up with 60+ mg of ANYTHING when I’m already aiming to cut your infused butter by 75% and make up the deficit with plain butter. Thanks in advance for your clarification. As for a second plain batch - too many brownies is always better than too few.
Vanessa L. August 12, 2021
Hi Ann, 1g does = 1000mg, but weed is never 100% THC even distillate is at most 90% THC which would be 900mg per gram. Unless lab testing is provided the potency of buds or flower is a guesstimate at best. I based the math on 20% THC or 200mg of THC per gram of flower with a 20% loss because the decarboxylation and infusion process always has loss. Hope this helps explain the math!
Miche August 1, 2021
Hi. I know that pot is still very controversial, I’m not a fan and don’t use it for anything, but I have a friend who is desperate for pain relief without all the nasty side effects of chemical prescription drugs. I’m hoping to make her a batch of these. No one is really helping her or seems to care. She is lonely and depressed. Thank you foe the recipe. I am a Christian woman by the way and don’t condone this just for fun. But even weed has it’s purpose. Thank you. God bless.
Vanessa L. August 2, 2021
Hi there! I hope this recipe helps your friend with her pain relief. She’s lucky to have a friend like you who cares ♥️
shesthecowboy July 28, 2021
we made this brownie recipe with and without the weed. best brownies we've ever had. 10/10. love you.
Vanessa L. August 2, 2021
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it with and without weed. xov
TwinkyTerrapin April 1, 2021
Kathy and Thomas, leaving their judgy little comments after a glass or three of Chablis.
Bevi March 31, 2021
Fabulous Brownies that taste delicious!
jadejangmyeon March 23, 2021
I can't believe how puritanical some of y'all are. Grow up.
Bevi March 29, 2021
Weed is legal in some states, NY being the most recent as of April 1, 2021.
Kathy M. March 23, 2021
Really! You have stooped to this on your wonderful site...very disappointed with you.
Vanessa L. March 23, 2021
Hi Kathy,
These brownies taste great with or without the special ingredient. Feel free to make them how you like and enjoy!
Nerdy April 7, 2021
If you don't approve don't make them, Karen...I mean Kathy.
Pokie3inSanD February 13, 2022
Kathy, up until recently, I would have agreed with your comment. However, my husband has recently been diagnosed with a degenerative nerve disease and I am desperate for a way to relieve his pain without opioids. I have been told of the benefits of cannabis and would rather make my own. If I need to make a recipe of this sort, I know Food 52 will have a quality recipe. Believe me, a year ago, I would never have thought I'd be searching for a recipe of this sort.
[emailprotected] November 21, 2022
Wow. Your ignorance is amazing. Research, do your homework. Marajuana is safer than ANY, pharmaceutical medicine, plus safer than ALL alcohols. I’m just assuming you like one of those two smh. An all natural, zero additives, mainly organic plant must be absolutely horrible. We should just make it illegal everywhere and throw anyone in jail who even thinks of using it to help their appetite from cancer, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and the list keeps going. But I’m sure your liver loves that Alcohol and medication the pharmacy dishes out. Ignorance, learn something new. Open your mind and expand new horizons.
Thomas O. March 21, 2021
Really???!!! Now Food52 has gone to pot brownies,,,disappointed.
Vanessa L. March 21, 2021
The brownies taste great with or without pot. Choose your own adventure.
Smaug March 22, 2021
Why not? It's a legitimate growth market, even marginally trendy. They publish co*cktail recipes and regularly advise eating crippling amounts of butter , salt and animal fat- what's the harm in some green brownies?
KLS August 20, 2021
ANY recipe can be made by adding or subtracting ingredients.
Pokie3inSanD February 13, 2022
Thomas. As I said to Kathy above, up until recently, I would have agreed with your comment. However, my husband has recently been diagnosed with a degenerative nerve disease and I am desperate for a way to relieve his pain without opioids. I have been told of the benefits of cannabis and would rather make my own. If I need to make a recipe of this sort, I know Food 52 will have a quality recipe. Believe me, a year ago, I would never have thought I'd be searching for a recipe of this sort.
[emailprotected] November 21, 2022
Your ignorance is amazing. Open your mind. Research. Don’t assume what you’ve been told. Very closed way of thinking about a PLANT, that’s helping millions if not 1/2 billion people on this planet right now.
