How to Make Cannabis Butter Cookies: Shortbread Style Recipe

Cannabis butter cookies offer a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth experience where rich butter flavor shines. This classic shortbread-style recipe maximizes cannabutter's potential in every tender bite.

Quick Answer

Cannabis butter cookies use cannabutter as the star ingredient. Cream 1/2 cup cannabutter with powdered sugar, add flour, shape, and bake at 325°F for 12-15 minutes. The high butter-to-flour ratio creates tender cookies that showcase the infusion. Makes 24 cookies.

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Why Butter Cookies Are Perfect for Cannabis

High Butter Content

Traditional shortbread uses a high ratio of butter to flour, meaning more cannabutter per cookie without changing the recipe structure.

Delicate Texture

The tender, crumbly texture melts on your tongue, improving cannabinoid absorption.

Mild Flavor

Butter cookies have subtle sweetness that pairs well with cannabis undertones rather than masking them.

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Classic Cannabis Shortbread Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (1 stick/113g) cannabutter, softened
• 1/4 cup (30g) powdered sugar
• 1 cup (130g) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Equipment

• Mixing bowl
• Electric mixer or wooden spoon
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cookie cutters or knife

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Step-by-Step Recipe

Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugar

Beat softened cannabutter with powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Why powdered sugar? Creates more delicate, tender texture than granulated sugar.

Step 2: Add Vanilla

Mix in vanilla extract until combined.

Step 3: Add Flour and Salt

Gradually add flour and salt, mixing until dough comes together. Do not overmix.

Dough should be smooth but slightly crumbly.

Step 4: Shape Dough

Slice method: Roll dough into log (1.5 inch diameter), wrap in plastic, refrigerate 1 hour, slice into 1/4 inch rounds.

Cut-out method: Roll to 1/4 inch thickness, use cookie cutters, refrigerate shapes 30 minutes.

Press method: Press dough into 8x8 pan, score into squares, bake, and break apart.

Step 5: Bake

Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 325°F for 12-15 minutes until edges are barely golden.

Do not overbake - shortbread should be pale, not brown.

Step 6: Cool

Cool on sheet for 10 minutes (cookies are fragile when warm), then transfer carefully.

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Variations

Lemon Butter Cookies

Add 1 tablespoon lemon zest and substitute lemon extract for vanilla. Dust with powdered sugar.

Almond Butter Cookies

Replace 1/4 cup flour with 1/4 cup almond flour. Add 1/4 teaspoon almond extract. Top with sliced almonds.

Lavender Butter Cookies

Add 1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender to flour. Strain out flowers or leave in for visual appeal.

Chocolate Dipped

Dip cooled cookies halfway in melted dark chocolate. Let set on parchment.

Jam Thumbprints

Make indent in each cookie before baking. Fill with jam after baking.

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Dosing

Calculating Potency

Example using cannabutter made with 10g at 20% THC:

• Cannabutter total: ~1,600 mg THC per cup
• Recipe uses 1/2 cup: ~800 mg THC
• Divided by 24 cookies: ~33 mg per cookie

Adjusting Potency

Milder (15-20mg per cookie):

• Use 1/4 cup cannabutter + 1/4 cup regular butter

Stronger (50mg+ per cookie):

• Use potent cannabutter
• Make 16 larger cookies instead of 24

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Professional Tips

Tip 1: Cold Butter for Clean Edges

If using cut-out shapes, refrigerate dough until firm. Warm dough spreads and loses detail.

Tip 2: Do Not Overbake

Shortbread should be pale with barely golden edges. Overbaking creates dry, crumbly texture.

Tip 3: Powdered Sugar Finishing

Dust warm cookies with powdered sugar for elegant presentation.

Tip 4: Add Cornstarch for Extra Tenderness

Replace 2 tablespoons flour with cornstarch for even more melt-in-mouth texture.

Tip 5: Salt Enhances Everything

A proper pinch of salt is essential. It enhances both butter and cannabis flavors.

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Storage

Room Temperature

Airtight container for 1-2 weeks. Shortbread has low moisture content, so it lasts well.

Refrigerator

Up to 3 weeks. May need to soften at room temperature before eating.

Freezer

Baked cookies: 2-3 months wrapped individually.

Raw dough logs: 3 months. Slice and bake from frozen.

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Troubleshooting

Cookies spread too much

• Dough was too warm
• Oven temperature too low
• Too much butter

Cookies are too hard

• Overbaked
• Not enough butter
• Overmixed dough

Cookies are crumbly/falling apart

• Not enough moisture
• Need more time in mixer when creaming
• Handle less - shortbread is naturally delicate

Strong cannabis taste

• Normal for butter-forward cookies
• Pair with tea or coffee
• Try lemon or chocolate variation

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Serving Suggestions

Perfect Pairings

• Earl Grey tea
• Coffee
• Port wine
• Hot chocolate
• Fresh berries

Presentation Ideas

• Stack tied with ribbon for gifts
• Arrange on tiered serving plate
• Serve alongside cheese board
• Pack in decorative tins

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Cannabis butter cookies celebrate the pure flavor of well-made cannabutter. Simple, elegant, and perfectly dosed.