How to make weed gummies: A step-by-step guide

Homemade weed gummies are becoming increasingly popular due to their lower cost, greater customization, and higher quality for a handmade edible. If you grow weed at home, making gummies can be an affordable way to preserve your harvest while exercising control over your edibles' strength, dosage, and flavor. 

Whether you're looking to save money, make the most of your harvest, or have fun in the kitchen, making weed gummies is a relatively simple approach to homemade cannabis edibles. 

What you'll need to make weed gummies

Weed gummies require a few essential ingredients and tools. Here's a basic list of what you'll need:

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• ½ cup purified water
• 1 tbsp unflavored gelatin
• 1 packet of flavored JELL-O of choice
• 2 tbsp superfine sugar
• ½ tsp citric acid
• 1 tbsp cannabis tincture*

Tools

• Gummy molds
• Saucepan
• Whisk - rubber recommended
• Pipette

*Note: You can purchase a THC tincture at your local dispensary or make your own at home by infusing cannabis buds in a food-grade solvent like high-proof alcohol, glycerin, or coconut oil. Choose the strength of your tincture accordingly. If you're making your own THC tincture for this recipe, be sure to read up on decarboxylation to ensure you're getting the desired potency in your infusion. 

Weed gummies recipe: step-by-step instructions

Follow these basic steps to make delicious infused gummies. 

Step 1: Prepare gummy molds

Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

You can easily find silicone gummy molds in various shapes and sizes online or in your local craft stores. Before starting on the gummy mixture, wash the molds and spray them with a light layer of cooking spray. 

Step 2: Heat water

In a saucepan on low to medium-low heat, add the water. Keep it barely simmering the whole time you prepare this recipe to prevent the alcohol in the tincture from evaporating if you're using an alcohol-based tincture.

Step 3: Add gelatin

Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Slowly sprinkle the unflavored gelatin powder and JELL-O mix over the liquid while continuously whisking the mixture to prevent lumps from forming.

Step 4: Add sugar and citric acid

While continuously whisking, add the extra sugar and citric acid. Before moving on to the next step, ensure they are fully dissolved and evenly distributed in the mixture.

Step 5: Whisk in cannabis tincture

Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Finally, add the cannabis tincture to the mix. Remove the saucepan from the heat once the gelatin has fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth. 

Step 6: Fill gummy molds

Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Use the pipette to fill each mold with the gummy mixture carefully. After filling the molds, gently tap them on the counter to remove air bubbles. 

Step 7: Freeze or refrigerate

Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Place the filled molds in the refrigerator or freezer to let them set until firm, which typically takes at least 2 - 3 hours in the fridge or 30 minutes in the freezer. 

While this recipe produces THC gummies, you can switch out the THC tincture for a CBD one.

Customizing weed gummies

Once you have the basics down, you can experiment with your cannabis gummies in several ways. 

• Use juice instead of water. Use fruit juice as your liquid base to add sweetness and flavor to your weed gummies. Popular choices include apple, cranberry, and grape juice. 
• Skip the added sugar. For less sweet and slightly healthier gummies, skip the added sugar. 
• Try different sweeteners. Try using honey, maple syrup, or agave instead of superfine sugar for added sweetness and nuanced flavors. 
• Add extracts. For extra flavor, experiment with food-grade essential oils and extracts. One or two drops of ginger, grapefruit, lavender, or rose oil can add a subtle, nuanced flavor to your gummies. 
• Add fruit purees. In addition to fruit juice, a few tablespoons of fruit puree can add vibrant flavors to your weed gummies. Experiment with pureed peach, pineapple, and mango for a tasty gummy flavor. 
• Make sour gummies. Simply roll your finished gummies in a mixture of granulated sugar and citric acid for sour gummies. 
• Have fun with molds. Make gummy worms and tiny gummy skulls for Halloween, gummy gingerbread men for the holidays, and gummy hearts for Valentine's Day. Just keep track of how much cannabis tincture you use in each batch to ensure you're getting the right dosage with every gummy. 

Storage tips for weed gummies

Storing homemade weed gummies properly is essential to maintain their potency, flavor, and texture. When stored correctly, they typically last for a few weeks in the refrigerator and several months in the freezer. 

Here's how you can store them effectively:

• Clearly label your containers. Label your containers with a simple piece of painter's tape and a Sharpie pen. Write down the date of production, ingredients, and THC dosage in each gummy to avoid dosing confusion. As an added measure, store your weed gummies separately from regular snacks to prevent any mix-ups — especially when hosting guests or sharing a space with others.
• Use airtight containers. This keeps them fresh and prevents drying. Glass jars or plastic containers with tight-sealing lids work well.
• Store gummies in the refrigerator. Light and heat can degrade the cannabinoids and terpenes in your gummies, reducing their potency and altering their flavor. The cool temperature and darkness of your fridge prevent mold and bacteria growth, which is crucial since homemade edibles don't contain commercial-grade preservatives.
• Add food-grade silica gel packets to the container. These help absorb any excess moisture that could make the gummies stick together or spoil.
• Use wax paper. If your gummies are extra sticky, place wax paper between layers when stacking them in the container to prevent them from sticking together.
• Use a freezer for long-term storage. If you've made a large batch and want to store them for an extended period, freezing is a good option. Place the gummies in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze them until solid, and then transfer them into airtight containers or freezer bags. With this method, they can keep for several months.
• Keep them away from children and pets. If you have kids or pets in your household, it's crucial to use child-proof containers and store the gummies in a location out of their reach.
• Discard if anything smells off. Smell your gummies before consuming them. If anything smells awry, discard them to avoid getting food poisoning. 

Bottom line

Making weed gummies at home can be a fun, easy way to incorporate cannabis into your daily routine. Remember to avoid overheating your mixture to keep the cannabinoids intact and store them properly if you don't plan on eating them right away. 

FAQ

Can you make weed gummies with store-bought gummies?

Yes, you can make cannabis-infused gummies using the ones you bought at the store; it just depends on what type of gummies you purchase and the type of cannabis oil or tincture you intend to use. 

When you're looking for store-bought gummies to infuse, try to select ones that have a neutral flavor or fruit-flavored ones that pair well with the cannabis you're using. The process to make the gummies is relatively the same as the one above. You will just have to melt down the gummies to mix them with the THC or CBD tincture or oil of your choice.