With Valentine’s coming up, we’re always looking for new and creative ways to impress our loved ones. Whether you have a special someone you want to celebrate or would rather use the holiday to spread gratitude to your loved ones, it’s always a good time to pull out the chocolate. And hey, there’s nothing wrong with making a batch for yourself this holiday, too. If you want to go the extra mile this Valentine’s Day, try this recipe for cannabis infused chocolates.
I’ve made homemade cannabis chocolates before with cannabutter. While they turned out delicious, the extra step of making cannabutter turned the process into much more of an ordeal than I had wanted. Because of the hassle, I’ve decided on an easier way to make homemade cannabis infused chocolates for Valentine’s Day: tinctures.
Tinctures are already infused with a precise dose of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or other cannabinoids. By using tinctures, you give yourself more freedom to experiment with the recipe and create the exact kind of treat your loved one will enjoy. For example, if your special someone likes a little bit of THC but gets paranoid easily, you can find a 2:1 cannabidiol (CBD) and THC ratio tincture and make the infused chocolates with that. With every bite, they can enjoy a little bit of THC with the protective effects of CBD.
On the other hand, if you have a loved one who never gets high enough from edibles, you can wow them with a super potent chocolate delight. Just add a high-potency tincture.
Tinctures are also great for this recipe because you can get a pretty accurate dosage per chocolate. By adding precise drops to each chocolate, you can know just how much THC or other cannabinoids are in each bite. With cannabutter, this is much more difficult and time-consuming to work out.
With all that said, let’s dive in and make cannabis infused chocolates for Valentine’s Day.
This recipe is adapted from the Clean Eating Kitchen’s Homemade Dark Chocolate Hearts recipe. Here’s what you need to make the cannabis-infused version, which makes about 20 small hearts:
*You can use just about any tincture, but be sure that the tincture is unflavored or a flavor that will match well with the chocolates. Many tinctures are made with additional flavorings to cover the earthy taste of weed, and many of the flavors are bad matches for chocolate.
Once you’ve gathered all your supplies and ingredients, it’s time to get rolling. These chocolate hearts are quick and easy to make. If you are running late on a heartfelt gesture for that special someone, whipping up a batch of these infused hearts could easily save the day.
Here’s how to make them:
*You can mix the entire tincture amount into your chocolate mixture to start, but I prefer to dose the chocolates individually. Since THC degrades at high temperatures, putting the chocolate in individual molds first allows a little extra time for the mixture to cool off.
The above recipe is super simple, allowing plenty of room for creativity. If you feel like taking your chocolates to the next level, go ahead and get creative.
You could chop up and blend in some nuts for a chunky treat. Or you could top it off with sprinkles to add some color and Valentine’s charm. Coconut, coffee, dried fruit–all of these are great options to add to your infused chocolates, depending on the recipients’ preferences.
Because tinctures are so easy and versatile, you can take your infused chocolates in many directions. You can even use a few different types of tinctures for low, medium, and high potency options. Just be sure to label them properly.
To highlight just how much you care, you could even go for effect-specific tinctures that match your loved one’s needs. If you are making chocolates for someone with insomnia, you might opt for a sleep-formulated tincture. If your loved one struggles with daytime energy, you could use an energizing formulation that they can snack on when the urge for an afternoon nap hits.
The tincture bottle should give you a good idea of what to expect with your chocolates. Most tinctures take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to kick in when eaten like an edible. Be sure to start low and go slow when you first give them a try.
Be sure to store these in a relatively cool place if you have leftovers. If you live somewhere warm, you may want to store them in the fridge and take them out a few minutes before eating. Otherwise, they could easily melt and create a cannabis-infused mess.
Sign up for our newsletter
Get your medical marijuana card today
Sign up in under 5 minutes
Start By Selecting Your State