Brownies are already a scrumptious and comforting treat. While there are numerous ways to add a bit of razzle dazzle to a standard brownie recipe, one of the best ways to truly amp up the calming essence of this signature dessert is with CBD!
Many consumers are already taking advantage of CBD, integrating the non-psychoactive cannabinoid into their daily wellness routines, but just like baking with THC and cannabis, adding CBD to a sweet treat like brownies is an easy and delicious way to get your daily dose and reap the many potential benefits.
If you’re already familiar with making brownies without cannabinoids, rest assured that baking CBD-infused brownies is fairly simple!
What are CBD Brownies?
You’re probably already familiar with brownies, a cakey chocolate square with a dense, fudgy texture. It’s a dessert staple requiring only a few simple ingredients, making them a quick and easy treat for anyone to whip up in a pinch.
CBD brownies are just the same dessert enhanced with CBD! If you’re not familiar, or need a refresher, CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in hemp and cannabis. That means CBD, and CBD brownies, will not get you high — though they do offer a number of potential benefits.
Research is still catching up and fully uncovering exactly how CBD interacts with our bodies, though anecdotal evidence and myriad studies alike have found that CBD may offer a number of potential benefits.
CBD Brownie Effects
While CBD brownies won’t get you high or alter your mental state, CBD contains compounds that help to support the body’s natural endocannabinoid system, which helps to regulate a number of functions in the human body.
Research around CBD is still growing, but the available studies so far and anecdotal evidence have found that CBD may help reduce stress, pain, and may contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Should I Use Butter or Oil for CBD Brownies?
Before you get baking, you want to be sure you have arguably the most important ingredient for your CBD brownies: CBD! While our recipe involves CBD oil, you can definitely use CBD-infused butter to make your brownies too. The main difference is that oil has more fudgy consistency, while butter will ensure your brownies have a more cake-like consistency.
Cannabutter and CBD butters can be made from scratch, from decarboxylating CBD flower and slowly heating it into a butter over the course of several hours. Similarly, CBD oil can be made from scratch using the same process, and it’s generally recommended to use coconut oil or another high fat oil to absorb all of those precious cannabinoids and compounds.
We won’t be diving into recipes for homemade CBD butter or oil here, but if you’re unfamiliar, you can always use store bought CBD oil instead! This is a safe bet for anyone new to baking with CBD, as you can measure out the dose to ensure your brownies aren’t too weak or strong.
How Much CBD Oil Should I Put in Brownies?
The optimal CBD dose varies by person, so it’s ultimately up to you to decide how much CBD oil to add to your brownies. A number of factors can influence how much CBD an individual might need, including lifestyle habits, body fat content, CBD and cannabinoid tolerance, and more.
It can be tricky to calculate the specific dose of homemade CBD oils, and many consumers opt to experiment with small amounts to figure out what their ideal dose is. When it comes to store bought CBD oils, most typically list a specific milligram dosage. For those who have used CBD before, 10-15 mg of CBD is often a nice, even-keeled dose, though newbies may opt for even less.
You should use your typical, standard CBD dose multiplied by the number of brownies you plan to make. So, if you generally use 10 mg of CBD and want to make a pan of 9 brownies, add 90 mg of CBD. If you’ve found that a tablespoon of homemade CBD oil or butter is a good dose, then you’d add 9 tablespoons to the mix.
When it comes to edibles, it’s best to err on the side of caution and go with a more conservative dose over creating overly potent brownies.
Recipe for CBD Brownies
Alright, now that we’ve got all the details out of the way, it's time to get baking!
Supplies
- 8x8 inch baking pan
- Measuring cups
- Cooking spray or oil
- 2 mixing bowls
- 1 whisk or large wooden spoon
- Spatula
- Toothpicks
- Knife
Ingredients
- ½ cup of all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs (vegan option: 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed + 5 tablespoons of warm water)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup vegetable oil*
- 1 tablespoon of CBD oil*
*You can play with the amounts here to fit your proper dose, as you may end up using more CBD oil than 1 tablespoon. Be sure to stick to the total amount of oil if you end up making adjustments.
Optional Ingredients
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips OR
- 1 cup of chopped walnuts OR
- 1 cup peanut, almond, or cashew butter
(If you want to spruce up your brownies a bit, feel free to add one or all of these ingredients, just keep the total amount to around a cup to avoid overcrowding the recipe.)
Instructions
- Begin preheating the oven at 350°F, and use your cooking spray or oil to grease your baking pan.
- Using one bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder thoroughly.
- In a separate bowl, mix your sugar, vegetable oil, eggs or egg substitute, vanilla extract, and CBD oil, along with any optional ingredients. Tip: If you decide to add nuts or chocolate chips, be sure to save some to sprinkle on top!
- Add the two mixtures together, stirring them together thoroughly.
- Once the mixture has been thoroughly combined, use your spatula to evenly distribute the batter into your greased pan. You can add any remaining nuts or chocolate chips on top of the mixture before popping the pan into the oven.
- Bake your batter for 20-25 minutes. When you remove your brownies from the oven, be sure to test the texture with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean, your brownies are ready to go. If not, pop the pan back in the oven for another five minutes before checking again.
- Let the brownies cool for at least 10 minutes before using the knife to cut them. Be sure to refer to the number of doses when deciding how many total pieces you’d like.
And that’s it! You’re now free to enjoy your fresh batch of CBD brownies! Be sure to wait at least a few hours after chowing down for the CBD to take effect. Also, your brownies will go bad before the CBD does — storing them in the fridge will ensure they stay fresh for the longest.
Final Thoughts
That wasn’t so bad, was it? Fortunately, making CBD-infused treats is generally as simple as adding some CBD, or swapping out a typical ingredient for one infused with CBD. Many consumers who already use CBD find that taking it to the kitchen can be a fun and easy way to spice up their wellness regimens. The first step is simply trying it out!
Disclaimer: None of what is published on evn-cbd.com is intended to be professional medical advice. Consult your health practitioner regarding any medical treatment or diagnosis.
References
Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants, 9(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021
Crippa, J. A., Guimarães, F. S., Campos, A. C., & Zuardi, A. W. (2018). Translational Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward a New Age. Frontiers in Immunology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.02009
Schilling, J. M., Hughes, C. G., Wallace, M. S., Sexton, M., Backonja, M., & Moeller-Bertram, T. (2021). Cannabidiol as a Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Survey of Patients’ Perspectives and Attitudes. Journal of Pain Research, Volume 14, 1241–1250. https://doi.org/10.2147/jpr.s278718