How to Make Cannabis Banana Bread?

How to Make Cannabis-Infused Banana Bread?

Do you love banana bread, and do you love cannabis? You’ve come to the right place! Today, we’ll be diving into the recipe for making banana bread with cannabis. This treat combines the sweet flavor of banana bread with the potent effects of cannabis — the best of both worlds. 

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, this easy-to-follow guide will help you craft a delicious, potent banana bread that’s sure to impress your friends and elevate your snack time.

What Makes Cannabis Banana Bread So Awesome?

Cannabis banana bread is an incredible dessert that blends the effects of cannabis with the comforting taste of regular banana bread. And this recipe helps you make that in the best and easiest way — even if you’re a complete noob when it comes to baking. 

Whether you want your banana bread to be sweet or potent, you can make it happen. Moreover, this recipe is an incredible crowd-pleaser — your friends will love it. You can also turn your dark overripe bananas into sweet dishes instead of chucking them in the bin. 

Additionally, it’s also a fun way of consuming cannabis. It’s discreet and since banana bread — the regular one — is common, the spices often mask the taste of cannabis. You can literally carry this anywhere without raising eyebrows. 

How to Make Cannabis Banana Bread? 

With that out of the way, let’s look at how you can make cannabis banana bread at home. Here’s the recipe along with everything you need to make it. 

Gather the Correct Ingredients 

When making banana bread with cannabis, the ingredients you choose can either make or break your banana bread.

• High-Quality Weed (Obviously)

Start with high-quality cannabis. A good strain will provide the effects that you’d enjoy and add a rich flavor that pairs well with banana bread. Also, using poor-quality weed will negatively affect the taste of your bread, which you definitely want to avoid.

You also need to decarb your cannabis, which is slowly baking it to activate the THC. This process is essential for achieving the "high" associated with edibles. Skipping this step will result in a much less potent treat.

• Fresh, Ripe Bananas 

The bananas themselves are crucial as they bring a sweet and delicious taste that works perfectly with the earthy notes of cannabis. Look for bananas with dark skins and plenty of spots. You can also use overripe bananas. 

• Your Choice of Flour

The type of flour you choose can greatly influence the consistency and fluffiness of your bread. Mixing flours, such as wheat and oats, can add some variety in texture. For those with gluten sensitivity, you can choose options like coconut flour that are gluten-free.

• Other Ingredients and Equipment 

Other ingredients you’ll need for this recipe include the following: 

• Coconut oil
• 180 grams flour 
• 10 grams baking powder
• Salt 
• Unsalted butter
• 110 grams sugar
• A couple of eggs
• Three ripe bananas 
• A teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Half a teaspoon of cinnamon 

Preparing Cannabis Oil (Infusion)

The process begins with a crucial step in the recipe where you create infused cannabis oil. This is what will carry the cannabinoids. Remember, it may sound a bit complex at first, but it’s a lot easier than you’d think. Let’s begin. 

• Decarb the Cannabis

First things first, decarboxylating your cannabis is crucial. This process activates the THC, changing it from its raw form with THCA into THC, the compound responsible for the “high” you’re aiming for.

To decarb your cannabis, break up the buds into small pieces, spread them out evenly on a baking sheet, and bake them in a preheated oven at 240°F or 116°C for about 30 to 40 minutes. This step is essential for making your cannabis edible and ensuring you get that desired high.

• Making Cannabis Oil 

Next, you’ll need to infuse the carrier oil with cannabis. The fats in the carrier oil act as carriers for the cannabinoids, helping you squeeze out the THC from your cannabis.

For this, you must mix one cup of coconut oil with one cup of your decarbed weed in a pan. Heat the mixture on low for a couple of hours, and occasionally stir it. Once the infusion is complete, remove it from the heat.

• Strain the Cannabis Oil 

Soon, your cannabis-infused oil will be ready. Then, you need to strain out the leftover cannabis matter with a cheesecloth. 

Here, you should use gravity to your advantage. Just avoid squeezing the cheesecloth; it can let leftover matter through under pressure, which can tamper with the oil’s flavor. You can then store the infused oil in a cool dark place. 

Baking the Cannabis Banana Bread

Now that our cannabis-infused oil is ready, let's start with the baking process – combining the ingredients and baking the bread. Follow these steps.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F or 177 °C
2. Use some butter on the loaf pan to grease it and place a parchment paper over it
3. Take a medium-sized bowl, add the salt, baking powder, and flour, and whisk it all up
4. Then, in a bigger bowl, whisk cannabis oil, butter, and sugar until the mixture turns fluffy and light — shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes 
5. Then, start beating the eggs and then add in some mashed bananas and vanilla extract until everything is properly mixed 
6. Then, start gradually adding the dry mixture to the wet one
7. You can also add some chocolate chips or walnuts for extra flavor but don’t mix it too much
8. Add the banana bread batter to the pan and use a spatula to smoothen out the top 
9. Bake it for around 60 minutes 
10. You can also insert a toothpick in it and ensure it comes out dry and clean 
11. If the top starts browning too much, you can cover it with aluminum foil 
12. Let the bread sit for some time so it can cool down, and then gently bring it out of the pan
13. Let it cool down properly before you slice it

Congrats, your cannabis banana bread treat is ready! 

How to Store and Thaw Your Cannabis Banana Bread?

If you want to enjoy your banana bread in the next couple of days, it is recommended that you don’t refrigerate it — it can make the bread dry out. Instead, wrap the bread in plastic wrap and let it chill on your counter. 

But if you don’t plan on eating it soon, you should consider freezing it. You can either wrap and freeze the entire loaf or wrap individual slices. Double-wrap the pieces or the loaf in a resealable bag, squeezing out as much air as possible without squishing the bread.

When you have to thaw it, you can leave the individual slices on the counter for half an hour; they’ll become soft again. But if you need to do it quicker, you can microwave the slices for half a minute, too. 

If you’re defrosting a whole loaf, it will take around 4 hours at room temperature. For faster results, unwrap the loaf and place it in a 175°C oven, wrapped in foil, for about 50 minutes. Once it’s warm and soft to the touch, let it cool on the counter for ten minutes before slicing into it.

How Much Cannabis-Infused Banana Bread Can You Consume?

This isn't your regular bread, so you can't eat it randomly. Instead, you need to be precise about the dosage. You don't want a bad trip with edibles. Sure, they are hilarious, but only for others, at your expense. 

Here are some guidelines to help you portion your servings effectively: 

Aim for slices of banana bread containing 5-10 mg of THC each for a serving size — a dose suitable for most individuals. If you have too much THC in your bread, cut that slice into smaller slices to achieve the desired dosage. Or, reduce the amount of cannabis you’re using. 

Remember, cannabis affects everyone differently, so the dosage may differ too. There's no need to guesstimate things. Instead, start with the lowest dose possible and then increase it slowly. If you're working and need to enjoy cannabis to boost productivity, you can start with slices that offer 1-2.5 mg THC. Known as microdosing, it's perfect for those who can't afford to get super high. 

But, if you just want to relax, you can start with 2.5-5 mg per slice of bread if you're new to edibles. Experienced users can go for 10-20 mg of THC per serving. Always wait for at least 2 hours to have another slice even if you think it's not affecting you. It will, but it just needs some time. Still, make sure you're not doing it alone. There's no fun in that plus you need someone to watch you if things don't work out the way you planned. 

If you're sharing it with your friends, tell them about the THC content and recommended serving size. Last but not least, keep your bread away from children and pets.

Calculating the Dosage 

So, you want to consume your cannabis-infused banana bread responsibly, and you know that you will need to only eat a slice to have a great experience. But, how much cannabis is in that slice? What if that slice alone consists of 50mg THC? 

Don’t panic! There’s an easy way to calculate the dosage. Follow these steps to figure out the THC content per serving:

1. Find out the amount of THC in your cannabis

For this, you’ll need to know how much THC the buds have. You can get this info from the dispensary you purchased from or the seed bank if you’re growing cannabis. 

So, let’s assume that your strain has 15% THC. To convert it to milligrams, simply multiply the weight of your cannabis in grams by its THC percentage to determine the total THC. 

For example, if you're using 2 grams of cannabis with 15% THC:

Total THC = 2 grams * 0.15 (15%) = 0.3 grams

Converting to milligrams: 0.3 grams * 1000 = 300 mg of THC

2. Estimating the THC in Your Cannabutter

When preparing cannabutter most of the THC present in the buds will be transferred to it. Yes, some of it is lost, but for the sake of simplicity and to avoid overdosing, you can assume that all of it gets infused. 

Now, taking the example above, and assuming you have 300mg of THC, mixing it into your butter will get you approximately 300 mg of THC. 

3. Total THC in the recipe

Now you know how much THC is in your cannabutter. If your recipe requires 1 cup and you use it all, your banana bread has 300 mg. But, if you divide it in half assuming you have 2 cups of 300 mg, then your bread has 150mg. 

4. Total servings 

You know the amount of THC in one loaf of bread. But, you have to cut it into slices to determine the THC per slice. Let's say you cut it into 10 slices, which means you have 10 servings. Thus, if 10 servings have 300mg, the THC per serving calls for a simple math calculation: 300/10=30mg THC. 

Bonus Tips for Your Cannabis Banana Bread 

For the best flavor and experience, let’s look at some tips that will take your banana bread to the next level. 

• Use Overripe Bananas for a Sweet Flavor

For the best flavor, make sure your bananas are well-ripened. Overripe bananas bring out natural sweetness and a rich banana flavor, so you can cut down on added sugar and achieve that ideal moist texture.

• Combine It Well

Avoid overmixing the batter. Stir until everything is just combined to ensure a tender, fluffy banana bread. A few pieces of bananas are fine and will help achieve the right texture.

•  Be Creative

Feel free to mix things up! Add-ins like some chocolate chips, walnuts, or a sprinkle of cinnamon can elevate your banana bread’s flavor.

• Be Wary of the Dosage

If you’re new to cannabis-infused recipes, it’s best to start on a low dose of cannabutter and test the potency. You can always adjust the dosage in future batches as per your experience.

• Extra Butter Goes a Long Way 

For an indulgent treat, consider adding a pat of butter (or extra cannabutter) on top of a warm slice of banana bread for extra richness and flavor.

• Choose the Right Strain 

Match the strain of cannabis to the flavor profile you want. Sweet or fruity strains work best with banana bread, enhancing the natural banana flavor and creating a harmonious treat.

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

To ensure your cannabis-infused banana bread turns out well, watch out for mistakes. As this is your first time, you will likely make some mistakes, especially if you’re new to baking as well. 

Here are a few things to pay attention to:

1. Always preheat your oven properly. Many people skip this step, but if you want bread with the perfect texture, always preheat it.
2. Always sieve the flour when making breads, cakes, etc. In addition, ensure there are no lumps when mixing dry ingredients like flour, baking soda, and spices. They should be evenly distributed throughout the batter. Remember to scrape the sides of the mixing bowl to mix all the ingredients well.
3. Make sure the bread is cooked right by inserting a toothpick right in the center. If it comes out clean, it's ready. If not, you need to bake it for another 5-10 minutes and check again. However, don't bake it for too long as it can make the bread dry and crumbly. Start checking a few minutes before the recommended time.
4. Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before moving it to a wire rack to help it set properly and prevent it from breaking. Wait for the bread to cool completely before slicing. If not, it can crumble and fall apart.
5. Ensure your cannabis is properly decarboxylated before adding it to butter or oil for infusion. This activates THC and ensures potency. Also, mix the batter properly for uniform potency in each slice.
6. To ensure uniform heat distribution, bake one loaf at a time in the center of the oven. If you're baking multiple loaves, space them out and rotate halfway through baking for consistent cooking.

Summary: How to Make Cannabis Banana Bread?

And there you have it—your very own homemade cannabis banana bread! From selecting the best ingredients to baking up a batch of this tasty treat, you’re now ready to enjoy a deliciously mellow experience. 

Whether you’re savoring a slice with a cup of coffee or sharing it at a gathering, your banana bread is sure to be a hit. Remember, baking with cannabis is all about experimenting and finding what works best for you, so don’t hesitate to get creative with flavors and doses.