How to Make CBD Gummies at Home

Patients and consumers who are handy in the kitchen or who have a DIY mindset will find that making cannabis edibles, including CBD gummies, at home is easy. Making your own gummies has several advantages, including the opportunity to dose the edibles with the exact amount of CBD to suit your needs. Making gummies also allows you to enjoy your favorite flavors just the way you like them.

Learning how to make CBD gummies can be simple, even if you’ve never done it before. Everything needed, including CBD oil, is readily available, either from online retailers or a local grocery store. So, if you’re up for a fun project that will let you enjoy the benefits of cannabis in a tasty treat, give making your own CBD gummies at home a try!

Why Make CBD Gummies?

There are several reasons to make your own CBD gummies. If you discover they offer what you need, they might even become a regular part of your medical cannabis regimen.

• Control: One of the most popular reasons patients choose to make CBD gummies is that it allows for a high level of control.¹ You can know the exact ingredients that the gummies contain, as well as the process by which they are made. This isn’t knowledge you’re likely to have about other products, so it’s an important benefit to consider. If you want total control over the gummies you consume, making them at home might be the perfect option for you.

• Dosage: While commercial gummies come in various dosages, some patients may not find the exact dose that fits their needs. Controlling the amount of CBD in your gummies can fill that void. If you are making gummies, use a dosage calculator and label them appropriately. This is important to ensure you get a consistent dose of CBD with each gummy.

• Economy: Buying CBD gummies online or from dispensaries and other retailers can be expensive. When you make them at home, you can get gummies perfectly tailored to your taste and dosing requirements and save money simultaneously.

What You’ll Need To Make CBD Gummies

Many patients will find they already have many supplies and ingredients for homemade CBD gummies. Those not already on hand can be purchased at grocery stores or online retailers.

Tools and Supplies

• Silicone molds.
• Food processor (if you’re pureeing fruit yourself).
• Saucepan.
• Stovetop or hotplate.
• Cooking thermometer.
• Pipette.
• Refrigerator.
• A container to safely store your gummies.

Ingredients

• Pureed fruit or a flavoring of your choice.
• Fruit juice (can be replaced with water).
• Gelatin (can be replaced by agar-agar or pectin).
• Mold inhibitor (can potentially use lemon juice).
• CBD oil.
• Lecithin.

Recipe to Make CBD Gummies

1. Before you begin, prepare all your ingredients and tools. This includes preparing any fruit that you’ll use and cleaning your molds. At this point, you should also prep your storage container so that it’s ready for your finished CBD gummies.

2. Add water or juice to a saucepan with the heat turned off. It’s essential that the mixture does not have heat yet.

3. Carefully sprinkle your gelatin (or agar-agar, pectin, etc.) over the liquid mixture. Allow the mixture to sit for at least two minutes to bloom properly. You’ll know that this mixture is ready when it becomes thick.

4. Place the saucepan on your stove and turn it up to medium heat. This should be your mixture's first exposure to heat!

5. Stir the mixture and heat it to 165°F. Once it reaches this temperature, turn off the heat.

6. Carefully pour the pureed fruit or flavoring of choice into the saucepan with the gelatin mixture. Stir well until fully combined.

7. Add the lemon juice, lecithin, CBD oil, and any other flavorings. Stir until well combined.

8. Using the pipette,  fill the molds with the CBD gummy mixture. Then, carefully put the mold in the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes. 

9. If air drying your gummies, they can be left out for 12-24 hours. 

10. Put the gummies in a light-proof, airtight container. Store them in a cool, dry spot where children and pets can’t reach them. Storing them in the refrigerator or freezer will help them last longer.

Tips for Making CBD Gummies at Home

To help the process go as smoothly as possible, follow these tips.

• It’s important to consider the size of your molds and how they’ll impact the overall dosage of your gummies. It may be tempting to pick a fun, larger shape, but consider that when calculating how much CBD each gummy has.

• Make sure that you’re using the right amount of mold inhibitor. If using fruit juice instead of water, your gummies may mold faster.

• Prepare everything ahead of time. Ensuring all your ingredients are ready and measured before you begin can make this process smoother.

• Use quality CBD oil. Your CBD gummies will only be as good as the CBD oil you put in them. When buying CBD oil, make sure that you’re shopping at a reputable outlet and that the quantity of CBD is listed on the package to calculate the dosage more easily. If you have access to CBD cannabis flower, you can use an oil infuser to make your own CBD oil.

• Be sparing with flavorings. While adding a fun combination may be tempting, it can quickly become too overwhelming to consume. It’s always best to be conservative regarding gummies and adjust future batches if necessary.

How To Store Homemade CBD Gummies

Proper storage of homemade CBD gummies is key for safety and freshness. Always store gummies (and, really, any cannabis product) in an airtight container, out of the reach of pets and children.

Likewise, keep them in a cool, dry location. Excess heat, even from sunlight, can cause gummies to melt and become unusable. Refrigerating or even freezing can help them last even longer.

Enjoy Your Homemade CBD Gummies

Finally, once you’ve made a fresh batch of CBD gummies and they’re ready to eat, it’s time to enjoy them! If you used a dosage calculator while making the gummies, the proper dosage will be easy. You can expect the effects of gummies to last from about four to six hours, depending on dosage.

References

1. Spindle TR, Bonn-Miller MO, Vandrey R. Changing landscape of cannabis: novel products, formulations, and methods of administration. Curr Opin Psychol. 2019;30:98-102. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.04.002 ↩︎

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.