How to Make Delta 8 Edibles
Ingesting delta 8 orally is a great way to feel this cannabinoid’s effects for an extended period, but premade delta 8 edibles often fail to live up to the expectations of those who use them. If you’re wondering how to make your own delta 8 edibles from home, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the steps you’ll need to take from start to finish, and we’ll provide you with three different delicious delta 8 edible recipes to choose from.
Can you make edibles with delta 8?
Yes, you can make edibles using delta 8—just like you can with CBD, CBG, or delta 9 THC. You can use either flower or concentrate to make delta 8 edibles, and there are quite a few different kinds of delta 8 treats you can make. To get the most out of your delta 8 edibles, though, you need to choose an appropriate dose and take care of a few preliminary steps before you begin.
What are the benefits of making your own delta 8 edibles?
When you make your own delta 8 edibles instead of sticking with premade options, you gain considerably more control over the dosage you use and the ingredients you consume. Whether you want your delta 8 edibles to be mild enough to avoid overwhelming your non-stoner friends or you’d rather enjoy some super-strong D8 edibles that will leave you completely blitzed, making your own delta 8 edibles at home gives you the power to pursue either option.
Plus, we’ve all gotten a bit more picky about the substances we let in our bodies over recent years. If you’d prefer to avoid processed ingredients, artificial sweeteners, and other health food no-gos, making your own delta 8 edibles is the best option.
How do you infuse delta 8 edibles?
There are two major options at your disposal when you want to infuse edibles with delta 8: Using delta 8 flower or using delta 8 concentrate. Each option has its pros and cons, and we’ll explore both approaches in detail as we continue with this guide.
Making delta 8 edibles: Before you start
Before you jump into the process of making delta 8 edibles in your own kitchen, there are a couple of bases you need to make sure you’ve covered:
— Do I need to decarb delta 8 flower?
Yes, it is advisable to “decarb” or decarboxylate delta 8 flower before you add it to food or drinks. Decarboxylation is the process of heating cannabinoid-rich hemp flower until the cannabinoids it contains convert into their stable, bioactive forms.
Each cannabinoid has its own decarboxylation temperature, and with delta 8, the level of heat you want to hit is approximately 220°F. The best way to decarboxylate delta 8 buds is to grind them, place them on a cookie sheet, and put them in an oven you’ve preheated to 220°F for around 30 minutes.
— What do I need to make delta 8 edibles at home?
Depending on whether you’re using delta 8 flower or delta 8 concentrate to make edibles, you might need a variety of different materials to get the job done. If you don’t have all the tools needed to make edibles with D8 flower, keep in mind that using delta 8 concentrate instead requires significantly fewer materials. Some examples of common tools would-be cannabis flower chefs forget to prepare before they get started include:
- A double-boiler or a crockpot
- A cheesecloth
- A probe thermometer
Whether you’re using delta 8 flower or concentrate, don’t forget that it’s important to keep your kitchen well-ventilated throughout the edible-baking process.
How to make delta 8 edibles with flower
Making delta 8 edibles using D8-infused hemp flower is significantly more difficult than using delta 8 concentrate, but the results can be rewarding if you follow the right steps. Let’s start by covering the materials you’ll need, and then we’ll move on to the steps you should follow:
Materials
- 3-10 grams of delta 8 flower
- Grinder
- Cookie sheet
- 1 cup of a suitable cooking oil (i.e. olive oil, butter, or coconut oil)
- Double-boiler or crockpot
- Mesh strainer
- Cheesecloth
- Mixing bowl
- Large mason jar
- Probe thermometer
Instructions
- Grind your buds, place them on a cookie sheet, and decarboxylate them in the oven at 220°F for 30 minutes
- Bring your double-boiler or crockpot to low heat
- Add the cooking oil to your double-boiler or crockpot
- Add the ground and decarboxylated delta 8 bud
- Stir frequently
- While stirring, use a probe thermometer to make sure the temperature does not exceed 200°F
- Simmer the mixture for 30-60 minutes
- Line your mesh strainer with a cheesecloth
- Place the strainer and cheesecloth over your mixing bowl
- Pour the mixture through the strainer and cheesecloth
- Transfer the strained delta 8 extract into a mason jar
How to make delta 8 edibles with concentrate
Making delta 8 edibles with concentrate is certainly the easier option. The only materials you need are 1-3 grams of delta 8 extract, and there are no special steps you need to take before you add your D8 concentrate to your edibles. Most types of D8 concentrate already feature delta 8 in its active form, so decarboxylation is usually unnecessary.
3 simple delta 8 edible recipes
Ready to make some delta 8 edibles in your own kitchen? We have three delicious recipes to choose from:
— Delta 8 cookies recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup delta 8 flower extract OR 1-3 grams of delta 8 concentrate
- (if concentrate is used, add 1 cup of butter or an alternative cooking oil)
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- (add 1 cup chopped walnuts if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Combine the D8 flower extract (or cooking oil + D8 concencentrate) with the sugar
- Beat the eggs into the mixture
- Add the vanilla
- Dissolve the baking soda in hot water
- Add the dissolved baking soda and salt
- Add the flour and chocolate chips (+ optional nuts)
- Place large spoonfuls of finished dough on cookie sheets
- Bake for 10-12 minutes
- Allow to cool before serving
— Delta 8 brownies recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup delta 8 flower extract OR 1-3 grams of delta 8 concentrate
- (if concentrate is used, add 1 cup of butter or an alternative cooking oil)
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Combine the D8 flower extract (or cooking oil + D8 concencentrate) with the sugar
- Beat the eggs into the mixture
- Add the vanilla
- Add the cocoa powder and the flour
- Add the salt and baking powder
- Fill a pan with the batter
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes
- Allow to cool before serving
— Delta 8 gummies recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup delta 8 flower extract OR 1-3 grams of delta 8 concentrate
- Gummy mold
- 4 ounces gelatin
- Fruit juice for color and flavoring
- ⅓ cup water
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine the delta 8 extract, water, and gelatin
- Stir in the fruit juice
- Bring the mixture to low heat
- Stir continuously until the gelatin has fully dissolved
- Do not allow the mixture to exceed 150°F
- Transfer the mixture into a measuring cup or a similar container with a spout
- Pour the mixture into the gummy mold
- Place the gummy mold in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours to allow the gummies to solidify
Making delta 8 edibles FAQ
Anything else you’d like to know about making delta 8 edibles? Check the FAQs below for answers:
1. Are delta 8 edibles strong?
Yes, delta 8 edibles can be quite strong—especially if you make them yourself. Delta 8 edibles should ideally contain 20-50mg D8 per dose. If you make your own delta 8 edibles at home, you can increase the dose as much as you wish.
2. Is there anything stronger than delta 8?
Yes, most users report that the effects of delta 9 THC are considerably stronger than the effects of THC’s delta 8 form. If you want to experience THC at its fullest potential, try delta 9, but recognize that many people choose delta 8 instead specifically because of its slightly milder effects.
3. Are delta 8 carts decarboxylated?
In most cases, delta 8 carts contain the decarboxylated form of this cannabinoid. As a result, it is not necessary to heat the concentrate in delta 8 carts before you use it. This is generally a moot point, however, since the process of vaporization naturally converts delta 8 into its stabilized form anyway.
4. Can you bake with delta 8 distillate?
Yes, it’s possible to use delta 8 distillate if you want to make edibles. Many at-home cannabis chefs prefer distillate since it’s easier to work with, but there’s definitely something to be said for making your own D8 extract using delta 8 flower.
5. Can I use delta 8 distillate to make gummies?
Yes, you can make delta 8 gummies using distillate, and in fact, this option might work better since gummies aren’t supposed to be particularly oily. If you decide to use distillate instead of DIY D8 extract, just remember to oil your gummy mold before use.