We think cannabis cookies could be the ideal edible.
Arguably a chocolate chip cookie is a perfect vehicle for infusion with cannabis. First and foremost, it’s delicious. Second, it’s discreet and neatly packaged. Third, it’s an ideal serving size. But what makes the perfect cannabis cookies for one person might not be the same characteristics for someone else. By the same token, cookie connoisseurs have long debated the qualities of the best chocolate chip cookie.
Nothing is as disappointing as spending an hour mixing up a batch of cookies, to find out they are the exact opposite of what you are looking for. Different ingredients and methods lend themselves to different cookie outcomes. Chocolate chip cannabis cookies can be chewy and soft. They can be almost cakey and thick. Or, some people enjoy a cookie with some more crunch.
So with that in mind, is there truly a perfect cannabis cookie? Some will demand a cookie that holds its shape during baking and leans more into a dense cake than a crumbly cookie. Others will want that ooey-gooey, chewy, cookie instead. Remember, baking is not an art; it’s a science. Knowing the rules helps to create the perfect cookie.
The Science of Chocolate Chip Cookies
There are a few factors that play into the consistency of the final cookie: flour, butter, and sugar.
Flour: The amount of flour and the type of flour that goes into a cookie changes its density and consistency. Fancier recipes sometimes get into different kinds of flour, but who has cake flour in their pantry? Stick with all-purpose flour, but know if you use a recipe with more flour, you’ll get a doughier final product.
Butter: It turns out butter plays one of the most important roles in the final cannabis cookie you’re whipping up. If you melt the butter, the cookies come out denser, and chewier. But if you cream the butter, they’ll turn out cakier, lighter, and firmer in texture. Also, keep in mind, recipes with more butter tend to spread out more in the oven.
Sugar: Again, you’ll find some recipes ask for specialty sugars. And again, who keeps these in their pantry? Beyond brown sugar and white sugar, you won’t need specialty items to create the perfect cannabis cookie. White sugar leads to thinner and crispier cookies, and brown sugar creates taller, moister cookies. A combination is usually the best bet.
Eggs: Some cannabis cookie recipes will call for straight eggs, but you can tweak the end product a bit by adding in yolks or whites as well. You will need at least one full egg to help the batter bind, but an additional yolk will make a fudgier cookie at the end of the day. Or, add in a whipped white for a fluffier result.
Cannabis: Swapping out regular butter for cannabutter doesn’t change anything about the final cookie. Basically, a cannabis cookie, using cannabutter, should work out in the same way as the original recipe.
The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cannabis Cookies
It’s impossible to please everyone with a perfect cookie recipe. But, most “Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes” from leading gourmet magazines like Bon Appétit and America’s Test Kitchen are of the moist and chewy variety.
Based on these esteemed recipe-testers and creators, the following cannabis cookie recipe leans into the “crispy-edged, chewy-centered” energy of Bon Appétit‘s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie. Only, the recipe is tweaked slightly to infuse it with cannabis.
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1¼ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- ¾ cup cannabutter
- 1 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 large egg yolks
- 2 tsp. Vanilla extract
- 6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 °F.
- Whisk together flour, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
- Using a microwave or saucepan, melt cannabis butter without letting it foam over low heat. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Add both sugars and egg to the melted butter mixture. Whisk until fully incorporated.
- Add in egg yolks, one at a time and vanilla. Whisk until combined.
- Fold the dry mixture into the wet mixture. Do so gently, and do not over mix. Fold until no more dry clumps remain.
- Gently fold in chocolate chips.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Use an ice cream scoop or spoon to place dough on to the trays, roughly three tablespoons in size.
- Bake for eight to ten minutes, rotating trays halfway through.
- Allow cookies to cool slightly before handling.
Testing the Perfect Cannabis Cookies
Once they have cooled down just enough to handle (and probably too soon, because they look so delicious), it’s time to test your creation. Remember, edibles can be much more potent than you expect. Plus, THC in an edible transforms into a much more powerfully intoxicating compound.
Further, knowing how to dose edibles the right way translates into a safe, effective, and pleasant therapeutic experience. Always start with a single cookie (or even part of a cookie) if you are unsure of potency. Only go back for seconds after two hours, as it can take that long for your body to digest fully.
If the potency works out, take the rest of the cookie into consideration. Are the texture and taste to your liking? Don’t be afraid to retest the cannabis cookie recipe making slight tweaks to the egg, sugar, flour, and butter amounts to find your ideal cookie formula.
