Easy Cannabis Coconut Oil Recipe

Cannabis coconut oil is one of the most adaptable and rewarding infusions you can add to your homemade wellness toolkit. Whether you want to create delicious edibles or soothing topicals, this easy recipe gives you full control over strength, ingredients, and quality. Not only is it completely plant-based and allergy-friendly, but it also offers a reliable, cost-effective way to experience the benefits of cannabis in your everyday life.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

If I had to choose just one staple to keep in my cannabis kitchen, it would be a jar of homemade cannabis coconut oil.

When I first started making my own infusions, I quickly realized how incredibly versatile it is. I use it for everything, from baking a batch of gooey brownies to making a soothing salve for my sore muscles. It’s the ultimate two-for-one, nourishing my body from the inside and out.

What I love most is that it’s completely plant-based, dairy-free, and works for almost every dietary need, which is a huge priority for so many members of my Well With Cannabis Community.

Coconut oil’s high saturated fat content makes it a perfect vehicle for pulling all those wonderful cannabinoids from the flower, creating a potent and effective infusion every single time.

Today, I’m excited to share my personal, step-by-step process for making cannabis coconut oil. Whether you’re a total beginner or just looking to refine your technique, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know.

What You’ll Need

Let’s gather our simple ingredients. The quality of your flower and oil will directly impact your final product, so choose wisely!

• Coconut Oil – You’ll need to decide between refined, unrefined, or MCT oil. I’ll break down the differences below to help you choose.
• Cannabis flower – You can use THC-dominant flower for psychoactive effects, or CBD flower, or CBG flower for non-intoxicating benefits. The amount to use depends on your desired potency. You can use any amount of flower, ranging from 3.5 grams up to 1 ounce.
• Lecithin – This is my secret weapon for edibles. Lecithin is a natural emulsifier that helps your body absorb the cannabinoids more effectively, potentially making your oil feel more potent. It’s not a deal-breaker, but I always add a teaspoon of liquid sunflower lecithin to my infusions. Learn more about adding lecithin to edibles here. You can purchase liquid or powdered lecithin online.

Note: Determine how much to use for each ingredient below with this flower-to-oil ratio guide.

The Step-by-Step Process

My favorite method for infusing is using a Crock-Pot to create a stable water bath. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it approach that gives me consistent results every time. Alternatively, here are instructions for using an Instant Pot or the stovetop.

1. Prepare the Water Bath: Lay a tea towel on the bottom of your Crock-Pot (this prevents the jars from rattling) and fill it with warm water. Set it to high until the water reaches 185°F, then turn it to low to maintain that temperature.
2. Decarb Your Flower: This is the most important step! To activate the THC or CBD, you need to decarboxylate your cannabis. I put my flower in an oven-safe baking dish and bake it at 240°F for about 40 minutes. Your kitchen will smell amazing, but if you need a more discreet method, you can decarb in a mason jar or an Instant Pot. Do not grind the flower; just break it up into smaller, popcorn-sized pieces.
3. Combine Ingredients: Add your decarbed flower and coconut oil to a mason jar. If you’re using lecithin, add it now. Seal the jar “fingertip tight”, you want it closed but not so tight that pressure can’t escape.
4. Infuse: Carefully place the jar in the water bath and place the lid on the crockpot. Leave it alone to infuse for 4 hours. After 4 hours, remove the jars from the water to cool. This low and slow heating gently extracts the cannabinoids without burning them.

5. Prepare to Strain: Whether it be a paper filter and funnel, cheesecloth, French press, or a simple coffee filter, you will want to set up a straining station to separate the plant matter from the oil.
6. Strain the Oil: After infusing, let the jar cool until it’s safe to handle. Then, you’ll need to strain out the plant material. Squeeze gently to get all the oil out. Don’t throw away the leftover cannabis pulp! It can be used in other recipes.
7. Store the Oil: Return the prepared oil to whatever jar you would like to store it in; a mason jar works well. Store the prepared cannabis coconut oil in a cool, dry place.
8. Long Term Storage Instructions: Store your prepared oil in a cool, dry place. It will last longer if stored in the refrigerator and even longer if stored in the freezer. Keep the jar out of direct sunlight, and keep it in a cool, dark cupboard or even the refrigerator.

⚠️ If you store coconut oil in the refrigerator, know that it will solidify into a solid mass. This is normal, however, in order to get it back to a workable state, you will need to let it sit out to soften. Never use the microwave to warm cannabis infusions. Learn more about how to store cannabis edibles here.

Why Coconut Oil Is Great For Infusions

Coconut oil is a nutritional powerhouse, but its real magic for cannabis infusion lies in its high concentration of saturated fats.

Cannabinoids are fat-soluble, which means they need to bind to fat molecules to become available for your body to use. The fatty acids in coconut oil are exceptionally good at this, leading to a very efficient extraction and a potent final product.

Its versatility is what made it a staple recipe for me. It seamlessly replaces butter in any recipe and serves as the perfect base for homemade topicals.

Choose A Type of Coconut Oil

The coconut oil aisle can be confusing. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide:

• MCT Oil: This is a liquid extract from coconut oil. It stays liquid at room temperature, making it perfect for tinctures or for adding to your morning coffee. Just be aware that for some people, large amounts of MCT oil can cause digestive upset.
• Unrefined (or Virgin) Coconut Oil: This is my personal favorite. It’s cold-pressed and has a distinct, tropical coconut flavor and aroma. I love using this for edibles where the coconut taste is a welcome addition, like in a batch of no-bake cookies.
• Refined Coconut Oil: This oil has been processed (usually with steam) to remove the coconut flavor and smell, making it completely neutral. If you are making a savory dish or don’t want any coconut taste, this is your best bet. It infuses just as effectively as unrefined oil.

Don’t Forget To Decarb

I can’t stress this enough: decarboxylation is the non-negotiable first step for making potent edibles.

Raw cannabis contains THCA and CBDA, the acidic forms of the cannabinoids. Your body can’t process them effectively to produce the desired effects. Heating the cannabis converts THCA into THC and CBDA into CBD, “activating” them for your body.

If you forget this step, your oil will be far less potent.

While you will get some decarb action from the infusion process itself, it won’t be nearly as complete. To get the most out of your flower, always decarb first.

If You Forget to Decarb

While I recommend going through the full decarb process for maximum benefits, truthfully, if you accidentally skip the decarboxylation process, we can fix it.

You will simply increase your infusion time which will help you achieve decarboxylation over time. If you don’t decarb first, I recommend infusing the coconut oil for longer than the typical 4 hours, going for at least 8-12 hours.

This longer cooking time helps to decarboxylate the flower for you. If you accidentally forget to decarb, you can relax, all is not lost.

Additional Factors to Consider

Perfecting your infusion is both an art and a science. Here are a few things that can influence your final product:

• Temperature Controls: The key to a good infusion is maintaining a consistent temperature. If the oil gets too hot (above 300°F), you risk burning off the delicate cannabinoids and terpenes. Using a water bath method is the best way to ensure gentle, even heating.
• The Strain of Cannabis Used: The strain you choose will dictate the effects of your oil. A sativa-dominant strain might produce a more energetic, uplifting oil, while an indica-dominant one will likely result in a more relaxing, body-focused effect.
• The Freshness of Product: Using fresh, properly cured flower will yield a more potent and flavorful oil than using old, dried-out trim. However, infusing trim is a fantastic way to be resourceful and reduce waste!