Vegan Cannabis Edibles Recipes

A vegan diet abstains from all animal products and by-products. Many people who choose to go vegan do so for ethical reasons, as it’s not only a food decision but also a lifestyle change that requires consistent effort.

My vegan friends told me that they had a few reasons for transitioning to this lifestyle, such as: wanting to improve their health by consuming more nutrient-rich foods, helping the environment through decreased reliance on processed goods, aiding the economy by supporting local businesses and protecting animals from exploitation.

This article is for vegans who want to enjoy weed edibles without missing out. We’ll explore three easy-to-follow recipes that are beginner- and pro-friendly.

First Things First: Cooking With Cannabis

The recipes in this book require cannabutter (vegan butter), cannabis oil, or cannamilk (non-animal milk), all of which are available for purchase at your local dispensary. If you don’t live near a dispensary, though, or if you want to try making these ingredients yourself, the best option is to use cannabis oil!

Cooking Edibles With Cannabis Oil

Decarbing your weed may sound like a complicated process, but it’s actually quite simple. All you need is an oven, grinder and of course, your weed.

You need to heat cannabis to extract the THC, which occurs when you vape or smoke. This process is called decarboxylation. If you want to activate the THC in food, cook your weed in the oven using this quick guide:

1. Grind the cannabis flower bud with a hand grinder.
2. Cook it at the perfect temperature: first, preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (118 to 121 degrees Celsius).
3. Add your ground cannabis to an oven-safe tray that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, or you can line the tray with parchment paper.
4. Place the tray in the oven and let it bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Note: If you want to avoid vaporizing your cannabis’ cannabinoids and ruining your edibles, don’t heat it above 250F (121C).

The next step is to mix your weed with a fat source. You could use coconut oil or vegetable oil, depending on your preference.

1. In a pot, mix together your decarb weed and oil of your choice, then melt.
2. Keeping the burner on a low setting will prevent overcooking, then simply put a lid over the pot or pan.
3. Stir the pot every now and then, making sure to keep the heat on low so that the liquid doesn’t overheat or evaporate. Allow it to simmer for a minimum of 3 hours.
4. To make the cannabutter, you’ll need a bowl, some cheesecloth (a wire sieve or coffee filters will also work), and a rubber band. Once you have those items, pour the melted butter into the bowl carefully.
5. Once the cannabutter has cooled to room temperature, place it in another bowl and let it chill fully in the fridge until it is cold.

Congratulations, your cannabis oil is now ready to be used in cooking!

Disclaimer: The experience of consuming edibles is different from smoking or vaping in several ways. Most notably, the effects of cannabis-infused food can last much longer—anywhere from 4 to 6 hours, and in some cases even 8. Remember that when you eat infused cannabis, your body needs time to process it before the psychoactive effects kick in. It typically takes about 2 hours for most people to feel anything at all. So take it slow!

Now that we got veganism out of the way, let’s check out 3 recipes for homemade snacks!

 

 Vegan Pot Brownies

Who doesn’t love brownies? This easy recipe is perfect for vegans, and uses aquafaba to replace eggs.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup of cannabis oil
• 1 ¾ cups of almond flour
• ¼ of vegan butter
• 1 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt
• ⅔ aquafaba
• 1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 2 cups of raw sugar
• ½ tablespoon of baking soda
• ½ cup of chocolate chips

Step-by-step guide:

1. Before you start cooking, set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
2. Coat a baking pan in kitchen spray or vegan butter to prevent sticking.
3. In a bowl, mix the cannabis-infused oil with the raw sugar until they are fully combined.
4. Add cocoa powder, a pinch of salt, and the vanilla extract to the mixture until they are all well combined. You can add as much or as little of each ingredient as you like.
5. Now it’s time to add the aquafaba! Keep stirring until the entire mixture looks nice and smooth.
6. Next, combine the almond flour until it’s mixed in well and evenly combined.
7. Prepare your brownie batter as directed. Next, spread the batter in an even layer on the bottom of your prepared pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top of the batter, then bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
8. Insert a toothpick into the brownies until it comes out almost clean.
9. Let it cool for 15 minutes.
10. Slice them up into squares and enjoy!

Vegan Weed Gummies

Did you know that making gummies at home is not only simple, but also allows you to select your favorite flavor by using your preferred fruit juice? For example, here’s a recipe from Wow, It’s Veggie that contains our special ingredient.

Ingredients:

• ½ of cannabis oil
• 1 cup of fruit juice (your choice!)
• 2 tablespoons of agar powder
• 2-3 tablespoons of sweetener (agave, sugar or maple syrup)
• Silicone or gummy mold
• A dropper or funnel

Step-by-step guide:

1. To make this cannabis drink, mix the fruit juice, oil and sweetener over a low flame. Keep mixing until the texture is completely smooth.
2. Add the agar powder.
3. Keep stirring for 15 minutes.
4. Use a dropper or funnel to carefully fill the gummy molds, so you don’t end up with a sticky mess everywhere.
5. Put your filled trays in the freezer and let them sit for 30 minutes.
6. Enjoy!

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

Last but not least, here’s a delicious peanut butter cookie recipe by Cannacook.

Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup of cannabis oil
• ⅓ cup of almond milk
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
• 1 cup of creamy organic peanut butter
• ⅔ cup of organic cane sugar
• 1 ½ cup of flour
• ½ teaspoon of baking soda
• ½ teaspoon of baking powder
• ½ teaspoon of salt

Step-by-step guide:

1. Combine almond milk, cannabis oil, and vanilla extract in a small saucepan over low to medium heat. Stir from 1 to 2 minutes until every ingredient is melted and mixed to gether well.
2. In a large bowl, stir the ingredients together until they are mixed well. Add sugar and peanut butter to taste.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the baking soda, baking powder, salt and flour. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 25 to 30 minutes.
4. Preheat your oven to 350 F (176 C).
5. Prepare a tray with parchment paper. Scoop up the dough, roll it into balls, and place them on the tray. Make sure to leave some space between each ball because they will spread out eventually. To make a crisscross pattern on top of each cookie, press down on the dough with a fork
6. Cook for 15 minutes tops, checking them frequently, and then let them cool for 5 minutes.
7. Enjoy!

Is Cannabis Vegan?

In my never-ending journey for vegan recipes, an important question stopped me in my tracks the moment I (thought I) was done writing the article: is cannabis vegan?

There is no easy answer to this question. Cannabis plants need fertilizer to grow, and I have discovered that many fertilizers contain animal products.

Non-vegan weed is similar to clothes made of leather, fur, wool, silk and other materials that have animal parts in them. It could also be compared with makeup and brands that test their cosmetics on animals. In both cases, the animals involved suffer for humans’ fashion or vanity. Considering whether cannabis is vegan might be taking it too far for some, but it ultimately comes down to the convictions each person holds. For example, some vegans still eat honey despite its animal origin. In any case, making a choice that suits you best is always the right thing to do; don’t let anyone else make that call for you.

It can be difficult for consumers to know what fertilizer was used on their favorite weed strain, but it’s possible to switch to vegan cannabis. If you ask your dealer or dispensary, they will likely recommend strains that fit with your lifestyle. If you want to learn more about this topic, here is an introduction to vegan weed.