How to Make Cannabis-Infused Milk and Honey: For Cozy Infused Recipes
How to Make Cannabis-Infused Milk and Honey
Cannabis-infused milk and honey are two of those ingredients that can make a lot more sense once you stop thinking of them as standalone “edibles” and start thinking about what you can actually do with them. A little infused milk can go into coffee, hot chocolate, tea, oatmeal or a smoothie, while infused honey can work in tea, toast, yogurt, baking or just about anything else you would normally sweeten.
I originally made this post around fall recipes, but the more useful version is really about having two versatile cannabis-infused ingredients you can use in different ways throughout the year. The important part is keeping the process simple, storing everything properly, and being careful with portions because homemade cannabis infusions can be much harder to dose consistently than packaged edibles.
If you are new to edible cannabis, keep in mind that the effects can take a while to show up. The CDC notes that edibles can take roughly 30 minutes to 2 hours to produce intoxicating effects, and Health Canada advises starting with a low amount of THC and waiting before taking more.
Cannabis-Infused Milk
Infused milk is probably the more flexible of the two for me because it can disappear into things I already drink or eat. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, oatmeal and smoothies are the obvious options, but you can also use it in recipes that normally call for milk.
What You’ll Need
- Decarboxylated cannabis
- Milk with some fat content
- A saucepan
- Fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Airtight container
- Optional vanilla, cinnamon or sweetener
The original recipe uses whole milk, but other higher-fat milk options may work depending on what you normally use. The main thing is that cannabinoids are fat-soluble, which is why fat-containing ingredients are commonly used in cannabis cooking.
Making the Infusion
Warm the milk gently rather than letting it boil, then combine it with your prepared cannabis and allow the mixture to infuse over low heat. Once finished, strain out the plant material and transfer the milk to a clean airtight container.
I would avoid treating homemade infused milk like something you can eyeball indefinitely. The potency can vary based on the cannabis, how it was prepared, and how evenly the cannabinoids distribute through the finished mixture.
For storage, treat it like milk. Keep it refrigerated and use normal food-safety judgment. USDA guidance says refrigerated milk is generally good for about seven days, so I would not stretch homemade infused milk beyond that just because cannabis is in it.
Cannabis-Infused Honey
Cannabis-Infused Honey
Cannabis-infused honey is useful for a different reason than infused milk. It is easy to add in small amounts to something you are already eating or drinking, which makes it feel a little more flexible. I especially like the idea of using it in tea, but it can also work on toast, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, or in recipes where you would normally use honey.
What You’ll Need
- Decarboxylated cannabis
- Honey
- Double boiler or heat-safe bowl over a saucepan
- Fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Glass jar
The goal is to warm the honey gently while it infuses rather than aggressively cooking it. Once the infusion is complete, strain the mixture and transfer it to a clean jar.
Homemade cannabis honey is also not something I would treat like a perfectly measured dispensary edible. Potency can vary depending on the flower, how it was prepared, and how evenly the infusion turns out, so I would be careful about assuming every spoonful contains the exact same amount of THC.
Ways I’d Actually Use Infused Milk and Honey
Once you have infused milk or honey ready, the most useful question is probably what you are actually going to do with it. For infused milk, I would use it in things like coffee, hot chocolate, matcha, smoothies, oatmeal, cereal, or creamy desserts. If you already have cannamilk made and want more ideas, I also have a full post on 5 Cozy Ways to Use Cannamilk that gives you a few easy options.
For infused honey, I would think tea, toast, yogurt, oatmeal, fruit, baked goods, or a drizzle over something sweet. It is one of those ingredients that can fit into whatever you were already planning to eat instead of forcing you to make an entire edible recipe around it. If you are more interested in infused drinks, you can also check out my Fall Cannabis-Infused Drinks post for more ideas.
A Note About Potency
Homemade cannabis infusions can vary a lot in strength, and edible effects are delayed. It can take a while before you fully feel the effects, so taking more too quickly is one of the easiest ways to end up having much more than you intended.
If you are trying a homemade infusion for the first time, start with a small amount and give it plenty of time before deciding whether you want more. I would also clearly label anything infused and store it away from children, pets, or anyone who could mistake it for regular milk, honey, or food.
Are Cannabis-Infused Milk and Honey Worth Making?
For me, the appeal is versatility. You are not committing to a whole tray of brownies or a batch of gummies. You are making an ingredient that can go into different drinks, snacks, or recipes depending on what you feel like having. Infused milk makes the most sense if you already drink things like coffee, tea, smoothies, or hot chocolate. Infused honey works well if you want something you can add in smaller amounts to drinks or food without changing the whole recipe. And once you already have one of them made, the next step is really just figuring out how you want to use it.
If you want more ideas, try these next:
If you would rather use a machine instead of making infusions on the stove, my Magical Butter Machine review walks through that option too.
