I can't think of a better gift to give your loved ones this Valentine's Day than a batch of Homemade CBD Gummies. It's been a trying 12 months for everyone, and a jar full of literal chill pills in the shape of cheerful gummy bears seems like the perfect solution. (Oh, and if you live in one of those 15 smart states where the extra-good stuff is legal? You can totally make homemade THC gummies using the same method.)
Y'all, if Martha Stewart can get in on the CBD craze, I'm gonna go ahead and say the rest of us can, too. But as with many things you can buy nowadays, you're gonna save a whole lot of money if you make them yourself. While one of her 10mg CBD gummies will run you over $1 each, you can make your own, customizable version at home for less than half as much.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Is Awesome
If you happen to have some flower on hand and don't want to smoke it for health reasons, I'm right there with you. With all this COVID nonsense happening and a decades long struggle with asthma, I'm not trying to irritate my lungs in the slightest.
Don't you fret, though! Turning CBD (or THC) flower into oil or butter is WAY EASIER than you'd think. While making the oil is a two step process, and it'll take about 90 minutes start to finish, 85 of those minutes are completely hands off. Oh, and since we do it in the Instant Pot? It won't make your whole house smell like Bonnaroo.
When it comes to actually making the gummies once you have your oil, it takes just about 20 minutes of active time. It's even easier than making a batch of cookies! And once you're done, you and your loved ones will reap actual health benefits from your efforts!
I also happen to love the customization possible when you opt to make homemade gummies. Not only can you choose your flavor, you can also directly decide how potent you want your edibles to be and decide which strain you prefer.
All in all, the entire recipe requires just five (5!!!) ingredients, including the flower to make your oil. And one of the ingredients is WATER. If that's not enough to convince you that this recipe for homemade CBD gummies is awesome, I'm afraid nothing will.
What's the Deal With CBD?
Here in Nashville, the incidence of CBD shops has seriously blown up in the last few years. Heck, Joe even bought some CBD gummies at a gas station in rural Tennessee several years ago. Clearly folks are starting to buy into the health and wellness benefits of cannabinoids.
As a born and raised Californian, the wealth of benefits associated with these products comes as no shock to me. I happen to fall in that category of people who are wondering "WHY IS NOBODY IN POLITICS TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL CANNABIS LEGALIZATION TO HELP GET OUR COUNTRY OUT OF OUR SEVERAL TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT?!?"
I also happen to hate the fact that tobacco - a leading killer in the US and around the world - is perfectly legal, but THC - which many scientific studies indicate could help to safely replace dangerous opioids like OxyContin - is considered a schedule I drug, meaning it is the same level of "bad" as heroin in the eyes of the government. WTF?!? That's DUMB. But I digress.
While THC products are currently only legal for recreational use in 15 states and Washington D.C., as of 2018, CBD products have been made legal in at least some form nationwide. Like I said, even Martha is in on the game! So, time to go get your hands on some CBD flower so I can show you how to turn it into yummy, chill-inducing gummies.
How to Make CBD Oil (or Cannabutter)
While you can certainly buy pre-made CBD oil or cannabutter at dispensaries, it's super easy to do at home with the Instant Pot. And again, it's usually cheaper than buying the store bought stuff with the added benefit that you can control the strength of your oil to your liking.
This recipe for CBD oil can be scaled for whatever size batch you're working with. Below, I'm working with ¼ ounce of flower (~7 grams) and ½ cup of coconut oil.
Making the CBD oil is a two step process. The first step, decarboxylation, makes the cannabidols (CBD or THC) bioavailable. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. The second step in infusing the oil, which is sort of like making a tea. Read on to learn how!
Step 1 - Decarb Flower
Take your flower and grind it into a fluffy state, but not so small that it's powder. I use my spice grinder to shorten this process, but one of those hand held grinders will absolutely work.
Place the grinds into a small, clean mason jar and firmly attach the lid.
Place trivet in the bottom of your Instant Pot, and place the mason jar on top. Pour in enough water to cover roughly half of the jar.
Secure the lid, set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 40 minutes. Do a quick release, being sure to avoid the scorching hot steam as it escapes.
Step 2 - Infuse Oil with Decarbed Flower
Now that your flower is decarboxylated, it's ready to make oil. Measure out oil (or butter) of choice into a small mason jar.
Carefully remove the jar you used for decarbing the flower from the Instant Pot. Using either a mesh tea steeper or a piece of cheesecloth, secure the flower and add it to the container with the oil. NOTE: Decarbed flower is going to look a few shades darker than prior to this process. Don't fret, that's normal.
Secure the lid on the jar with your oil and flower. Place it back into the Instant Pot, again looking for the water to cover about half of the jar.
Secure the lid of the Instant Pot and set to pressure cook on high for 20 minutes. Allow to naturally release for 40 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
Carefully remove the jar from the Instant Pot and allow to cool enough to handle. Remove the lid, then remove your flower. Squeeze any oil that has seeped into the cloth or flower back into the jar, then discard the flower. If necessary, add more oil to the jar to get the amount you need for your recipe. In the case of making these homemade CBD gummies, I need ½ cup oil total.
TIP: Cheesecloth is compostable, so once you squeeze all the good stuff out, you can chuck the whole package into your compost.
Either proceed to making the CBD gummies straightaway, or pop the lid back on your jar and place it in the fridge to use another day. From what I can tell, CBD oil will keep for several months in the fridge with no detectable degradation of potency or quality.
Turning Homemade CBD Oil or Cannabutter into Gummies
Once you have your oil or cannabutter ready, making the gummies is a snap. You just need a small box of whatever flavor Jell-o (any generic store brand works too!), a few extra tablespoons of gelatin, some water and your oil. Note: Since I used coconut oil and refrigerated the cannabutter prior to using, it was solid when I went to make my gummies.
Set your moulds and droppers/mini turkey basters up somewhere close to your stove or heating element. The mix will need to stay on the heat while you fill the moulds.
In a small saucepan, melt your CBD oil (if necessary). Now combine your oil/cannabutter, water, flavored gelatin pack and plain, unflavored gelatin, whisking to combine.
Set the saucepan over low-medium heat (about a 3.5/10) and continue whisking until all solids are dissolved. Reduce the heat to low.
Working somewhat quickly, use the mini baster that came with the set to fill your moulds. Give your mix a stir every so often as you work, ensuring that the mixture doesn't split.
When one whole mould is filled, lightly tap it on the counter to release any pent up air bubbles. Continue until all of the gelatin mix is portioned out. NOTE: Don't worry if you drip some excess mixture on the seams outside of the moulds. They'll peel off just fine and give you little nibbles for yourself so you can gift the real cuties.
Allow the gummies to rest, undisturbed, for about 90 minutes to 2 hours, or until set. Flip the moulds over and press the bear shapes to remove each piece. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
When you purchase CBD (or THC) flower from a dispensary, there will be several strains available to you, each with varying levels of potency. Look for the percentage associated with the strain you choose. My recipe calls for ¼ oz (or ~7g) of flower for the batch.
The numbers you will need to calculate the dosage of your gummies are: percentage of CBD (THC) in your strain, amount (in ounces or grams) of flower used in your batch, and the number of pieces you end up with.*
While you can certainly go about reverse engineering the dosage yourself from here, there are several calculators out there to help you do the job. I happen to like this one.
*Depending on the type of mould you choose, your homemade gummies (or other edibles) are going to range in size. I used these moulds, which yielded me a batch of approximately 300 gummy bears. Note:you will need 6 trays to make a full batch, and these moulds are sold in cases of 4.
That, my friends, is entirely up to you. I recommend consulting with a doc before jumping on any kind of serious CBD regimen, but I'd venture to say anywhere from 5-15mg at a time should do the trick without adverse consequences.
As a general rule, think of edibles like salt - you can always add more, but you can't take it away. My recommendation would be to start slow and see how you feel. If you want more information on CBD dosage, check out this helpful article from Healthline.
While I'm more likely to pop CBD gummies than Joe on a regular basis, I can usually stretch a batch (~300 5mg pieces) for about 6-8 months. I have not noticed any degradation of potency over time, but I keep mine in an airtight jar in the freezer to stay on the safe side.
Heck yeah you can! The sour part of sour gummies comes from citric acid (also known as ascorbic acid). If you already do home canning, you likely already have some in your pantry.
I have found that the best results for making sour CBD gummies requires that you pulse the citric acid powder in a spice grinder or food processor until quite fine. Once the gummies have just set up, pop them out of their molds and toss them with citric acid to dust them.
The longer the gummies set, the more dry their exterior becomes, making it harder to get the citric acid to adhere. Also note that the citric acid can interfere with the gelatin, so you might want to keep your sour CBD gummies in the fridge ~or~ add another ½ tablespoon of gelatin to the mix to prevent them from melting into one big blob.
It kind of depends on the application you're planning on using it for. Generally speaking, I reach for unrefined organic coconut oil because it's pretty dang versatile in terms of making sweets (my preferred application). I can use it for anything from gummies to brownies, rice krispy treats to cookies, and can easily make the batch vegan.
That said, if you want something to use in a more savory setting - say, salad dressing - I might opt for olive oil or grapeseed oil instead. If you want to make baked goods the more old fashioned way, butter or vegan butter can work, too.
Need more DIY gifting inspiration? Check out these other recipes that are perfect for sharing and shipping:
- Brown Butter Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies
- Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
- Homemade Marshmallows
- Pumpkin Peanut Dog Treats
If you tried this recipe for Homemade CBD Gummies, holler at me in the comments below. I'd love to hear how they turned out for you!
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Homemade CBD (or THC) Gummies
Equipment
Ingredients
CBD Oil/Cannabutter
- ¼ oz CBD Flower ground
- ½ C Unrefined Organic Coconut Oil or sub preferred oil
CBD Gummies
- ½ C CBD Oil
- ½ C Filtered Water
- 85 g Flavored Gelatin small box of any flavor of Jell-o or store brand gelatin.
- 3 ¼ tablespoon Unflavored Gelatin
- 1 teaspoon Sunflower Lecithin optional, will help prevent separation
Instructions
- Take your flower and grind it into a fluffy state, but not so small that it's powder. I use my spice grinder to shorten this process, but one of those hand held grinders will absolutely work. Place the grinds into a small, clean mason jar and firmly attach the lid.Place trivet in the bottom of your Instant Pot, and place the mason jar on top. Pour in enough water to cover roughly half of the jar.Secure the lid, set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 40 minutes. Do a quick release, being sure to avoid the scorching hot steam as it escapes.
- Measure out oil (or butter) of choice into a small mason jar.Carefully remove the jar you used for decarbing the flower from the Instant Pot. Using either a mesh tea steeper or a piece of cheesecloth, secure the flower and add it to the container with the oil. Secure the lid on the jar with your oil and flower. Place it back into the Instant Pot, again looking for the water to cover about half of the jar.Secure the lid of the Instant Pot and set to pressure cook on high for 20 minutes. Allow to naturally release for 40 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.Carefully remove the jar from the Instant Pot and allow to cool enough to handle. Remove the lid, then remove your flower. Squeeze any oil that has seeped into the cloth or flower back into the jar, then discard the flower. If necessary, add more oil to the jar to get the amount you need for your recipe. In the case of making these homemade CBD gummies, I need ½ cup oil total.TIP: Cheesecloth is compostable, so once you squeeze all the good stuff out, you can chuck the whole package into your compost.Either proceed to making the CBD gummies straightaway, or pop the lid back on your jar and place it in the fridge to use another day. From what I can tell, CBD oil will keep for several months in the fridge with no detectable degradation of potency or quality.
- Set your moulds and droppers/mini turkey basters up somewhere close to your stove or heating element. The mix will need to stay on the heat while you fill the moulds.In a small saucepan, melt your CBD oil (if necessary). Now combine your oil/cannabutter, water, flavored gelatin pack and plain, unflavored gelatin, whisking to combine. Set the saucepan over low-medium heat (about a 3.5/10) and continue whisking until all solids are dissolved. Reduce the heat to low.Working somewhat quickly, use the mini baster that came with the set to fill your moulds. Give your mix a stir every so often as you work, ensuring that the mixture doesn't split. When one whole mould is filled, lightly tap it on the counter to release any pent up air bubbles. Continue until all of the gelatin mix is portioned out. Allow the gummies to rest, undisturbed, for about 90 minutes to 2 hours, or until set. Flip the moulds over and press the bear shapes to remove each piece. Enjoy!
Notes
- Decarbed flower is going to look a few shades darker than prior to this process. Don't fret, that's normal.
- Since I used coconut oil and refrigerated the cannabutter prior to using, it was solid when I went to make my gummies.
- Don't worry if you drip some excess mixture on the seams outside of the moulds. They'll peel off just fine and give you little nibbles for yourself so you can gift the real cuties.
Marie says
I made these gummies several times and they turn out great. This last time I did everything the same but when I went to check them in the molds the jello and the butter didn’t mix. I have jello gummies and then I have butter gummies. What went wrong
Ash, The Grocery Addict says
The only time that has happened to me, I think it came down to rushing… when they didn’t set properly, I poured them back into the saucepan and cooked until the mixture was uniform and they turned out great!
If the mix still isn’t emulsifying, try adding another teaspoon of gelatin and keep stirring over low heat.
I also find that oils that are solid at room temp (eg coconut oil) seem to emulsify faster than oils that remain liquid (eg olive oil). Let me know if any of that works!!
Tussler says
Question: "WHY IS NOBODY IN POLITICS TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL CANNABIS LEGALIZATION TO HELP GET OUR COUNTRY OUT OF OUR SEVERAL TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT?!?"
Answer: Big Pharma - Money rules the world and there is too much money at stake for people to stop taking their prescription pills and start taking natural alternatives.
Ash, The Grocery Addict says
^^^ 1000%
JIMMY says
I have made these HHC gummies several times and they are great. This last time I did everything the same but when I went to check them in the moulds the gelatin and butter did not mix. I have jelly beans and then I have butter beans. what went wrong.
Ash, The Grocery Addict says
So, I've since discovered that some brands of gelatin seem to hold better than others. Good news is, the ones that went awry are still salvageable. If you are using a brand that has some separation, I suggest purchasing some lecithin. Melt the gummies back down to liquid over low-medium heat. Once melted, add between 0.5-1 teaspoons and whisk it well to combine. Pour back into your molds and they should be right as rain.
Kendra says
For more precise dosing in each gummy, can we add the oil to each individual bear (or whatever mold shape) and then mix it?
Ash, The Grocery Addict says
Hey Kendra,
I think it might be a little difficult to mix in, especially with uneven mold surfaces (like the bears). That said, if you know how much is going in overall and divide by the number of pieces, you should have an accurate dose. Just make sure you're using the same mold size for everything.
Tom says
One post I read said that if something didn’t turn out you could melt the gummies and try again. My issue was my mixture solidified before I could get in the molds and then I noticed the I still had oil in the pan. Is my heat too hot? Or am I doing something else wrong. What I am sure of is no way could I reheat and melt my mixture. It was setting up more and more the longer it stayed on the heat
Ash, The Grocery Addict says
Hey Tom, I've only had that happen to me once, and I do think the problem is heating it at too high of a temperature and/or heating it for too long. If this happens again, you can melt it down and add more water (start with just a tablespoon) to help thin it out. Also, if the oil is separating from the mix, I think that's an indication that you should use the optional lecithin. For whatever reason, some brands of gelatin (usually the store brands) don't seem to absorb it quite as well and need the emulsification boost.