What is Space Cake?

16 July 2024
Learn what is space cake and how to make the best weed brownies at home.
16 July 2024
6 min read
What is Space Cake?

Contents:
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  • 1. What is space cake?
  • 1. a. The effects of edibles
  • 2. How to make a weed cake
  • 2. a. Why decarboxylate?
  • 2. b. How to decarboxylate? step-by-step
  • 2. c. How to make cannabis butter
  • 3. Space cake recipe
  • 4. Easy weed brownie recipe
  • 4. a. Instructions on how to make weed cake
  • 5. How to calculate potency
  • 5. a. I know my weed’s potency
  • 5. b. I don’t know my weed’s potency
  • 6. Space cake strains
  • 7. Where can i buy space cake?
  • 8. In conclusion

First appearing in the 1970s and 1980s, space cakes (also known as cannabis-infused brownies), were made popular through their portrayal in "stoner" movies. Initially perceived as a humorous confection created for comedy movies, weed edibles became the most popular cannabis “product” among non-stoners.

Despite their cinematic origins, weed cakes are indeed real. These edibles are typically brownies or cakes infused with cannabis, designed to deliver the same effects as smoked cannabis when consumed. Making your own infused cake at home is surprisingly straightforward. By combining a standard store-bought brownie mix with weed butter anyone can create their own batch of these potent treats at home!

What is Space Cake?

"Space cake" is slang for a cannabis edible, most often in the form of brownies or cake. Contrary to how movies often portray it, space cake is not a special item found in hidden pastry shops. Instead, it refers to regular brownies or cakes to which you add infused oil or butter.

The Effects of Edibles

The effects of edibles are similar to that of vaping or smoking cannabis flower, however, since the cannabinoids are processed differently (won’t go through the lungs), the effects tend to be much, much stronger, and last longer than traditional consumption methods.

 

The effects of cannabis-infused edibles are much stronger than smoked cannabis.

The effects of cannabis-infused edibles are much stronger than smoked cannabis.
 

Generally speaking, the effects of smoking a joint can last anywhere from 1 to 4 hours whereas the effects of edibles can last up to 8 hours or more.

How to Make a Weed Cake

Weed brownies or cake are fairly easy to make; all you need is a brownie or cake mix and cannabis. However, it's not as simple as just adding cannabis to the mix. Cannabis contains THCA, which needs to be decarboxylated (activated) to convert it into THC, the compound responsible for the effects felt when consuming cannabis. Without decarboxylation, THCA won't turn into THC, and the infused cake or brownie will not have the desired effect.

Why Decarboxylate?

As mentioned, you need to activate THCA in order to achieve the desired effect. This process might seem more complex than it actually is. However, all you have to do is grind the weed, place it on aluminum foil, and let it decarboxylate in the oven — it's actually very simple.

How to Decarboxylate? Step-by-step

 

Step 1: Preheat oven to 120°C (250°F).

 

Step 2: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

 

Step 3: Spread the ground (not too fine) cannabis evenly on the baking sheet.

 

Step 4: Bake for 30-45 minutes (times may vary depending on quantity). Remember to mix the weed every 15 minutes to expose all sides of the weed.

How to Make Cannabis Butter

Once you’ve successfully decarboxylated your weed, it’s time to make the cannabis-infused butter (aka cannabutter). So let’s start by melting 1 cup of butter in a double boiler on low heat, we recommend adding 1 cup of water to prevent the butter from burning.

After the butter has melted, add the decarboxylated weed and let simmer for 2 to 3 hours between 70°C to 90°C (or 160ºF to 200ºF). Remember to stir occasionally as the mixture should not come to a boil.

 

Decarboxylation is required to activate the cannabinoids, without this step, the space cake will not work.

Decarboxylation is required to activate the cannabinoids, without this step, the space cake will not work.
  

After 2 to 3 hours, place a mesh strainer over a jar and pour the cannabutter mixture, making sure to discard all plant material. Then let solidify in the fridge. Once solid, you’ll find excess water at the bottom, remove the butter with a knife and drain out the water- your DIY cannabutter is ready!

Space Cake Recipe

Now with all the ingredients at hand, it’s time to make a delicious infused chocolate brownie that will take you to space and back without leaving your couch.

 

  • Total preparation time: 40 to 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • Cannabutter 175g (6 oz)
  • Cocoa powder 100g (3.5 oz)
  • Eggs 3
  • Sugar 125g (4.5 oz)
  • Vanilla extract 1tsp
  • A pinch of salt
  • Flour 85g (3 oz)

 

  1. Preheat the oven to 170°C (338°F) and line a square pan with parchment paper
  2. In a saucepan over low heat, combine the cannabutter and cocoa, stirring frequently until the butter is completely melted. Remove from heat and let it cool for about 2 minutes.
  3. While the cocoa mixture cools, whisk together the eggs, both sugars, vanilla extract, and salt in a mixing bowl for approximately 2 minutes, or until the mixture becomes pale and creamy.
  4. Pour the cocoa and butter mixture into the whisked egg mixture, stirring until well combined.
  5. Sift the flour over the combined mixture and use a rubber spatula to gently fold until thoroughly incorporated.
  6. Transfer the batter into the prepared brownie tin, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
  7. Bake in the preheated oven for 18–20 minutes, or until the top is just firm to the touch.
  8. Allow the brownies to cool completely in the tin before slicing into squares and serving.

Easy Weed Brownie Recipe

The process is no different from making regular chocolate brownies, although with one extra special ingredient, our homemade DIY cannabutter. You will need:

 

  • Oven
  • Pan
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Whisk
  • Brownie Mix
  • Cannabutter

 

Average amount per one brownie (5 cm or 2 in square)
Calories 112 Fat 6.98g Carbohydrates 12.05g Protein 1.49g

 

Instructions on how to make weed cake

Start by greasing the pan and set aside, then preheat the oven to 175°C (350ºF) before starting with the brownie mix. In a bowl, mix the brownie mix by following the instructions on the box, remember to utilize the cannabutter instead of regular butter.

Pour the brownie mix into the pan, bake for 35 minutes, and let cool for 10 to 20 minutes.  If you want to take it to the next level, make sure to use cannabutter to make any icing you desire and take the potency to the next level (beginners beware!).

How to Calculate Potency

Okay. so we’ve just finished baking a fresh batch of cannabis-infused brownies…how much should I eat? In order to know how much you should eat at a time, you need to know two things:

 

  • The potency of the weed used for the cannabutter
  • Your tolerance

Calculating the potency of the infused edibles can be challenging because you need to know the exact THC content of the weed. If purchasing from legal dispensaries, this information is typically found on the label. If using homegrown cannabis, you will need to test or estimate its potency through prior experience.

I know my weed’s potency

If you know the exact potency of the weed you'll be using in the cannabutter, you can calculate the precise milligrams of THC per portion of infused edible. For example, if your weed contains 20% THC and you use 10 grams of it, the total THC in the entire batch of brownies would be 2000mg. Dividing this by 10 servings gives you 200mg of THC per serving.

 

When consuming edibles, make sure to start slow as the effects may take up to 90min to kick in.

When consuming edibles, make sure to start slow as the effects may take up to 90min to kick in.
 

Considering that a 1-gram joint typically contains between 150mg to 250mg of THC, you can adjust the potency of the infused edible according to your preference.

I don’t know my weed’s potency

Now, if you're unsure of how potent your weed is, you can gauge its strength by rolling a 1-gram joint and observing its effects. If the high is sufficient, add 1 gram of weed per serving; if it's not potent enough, increase the amount, and if it's too strong, use half the amount instead.

Space Cake Strains

If you're wondering which strain to use for your infused cake, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. Instead of focusing solely on the strain name, consider the cannabinoid content. For a more medicinal effect, opt for CBD-rich strains, while THC-rich strains are better suited for recreational purposes. You can also experiment by mixing CBD and THC weed to find the ideal ratio that suits your preferences.

Where Can I buy Space Cake?

In short, legally purchasing weed-infused cake is only possible in locations where recreational or medical cannabis is legalized. Places like Amsterdam, California, and Thailand allow legal access to cannabis products including flowers, oils, edibles, and beverages through licensed dispensaries.

However, if you reside in an area where cannabis remains illegal, it's important not to take risks. You can still create your own edibles at home using leftover trimmings from cannabis plants or through a trusted source. Moreover, you can infuse not only butter but also milk or oil to infuse a variety of foods with cannabis.

In Conclusion

As long as you have access to cannabis, making weed brownies at home is fairly simple. In fact, creating any weed edible is straightforward as long as you have quality cannabis and a good recipe. For instance, you can make cannabis-infused milk to add to your tea or prepare infused oil for your salads. Edibles offer an alternative and potentially healthier method of consuming cannabis compared to smoking and even vaping, making them a beneficial option for both recreational users and medical consumers alike.