CBD oil is a popular addition to cooking and baking. However, if you do not know where to start, check out our handy guide to see some of the best CBD recipes and how cooking with CBD oils could benefit your lifestyle.

What is CBD or hemp oil?

CBD or cannabidiol is a compound found in cannabis plants that is said to help with stress, pain relief, anxiety, insomnia, and many other areas. CBD is one of the main cannabinoids alongside its sister compound THC (the one that gets you high). There is often a misconception surrounding CBD, but the difference between CBD and THC is it has no psychoactive properties and is legal, unlike THC.

Potential benefits of incorporating CBD into your cooking

CBD oils can be ingested or applied topically to feel the benefits. While you may not feel an instant effectiveness of CBD, over time, many people suggest that they feel benefits such as:

• Combatting anxiety
• Reduces inflammation
• Aids sleep
• Alleviates stress
• Promotes brain health
• Reduces pain
• Plus many others

Ingestion is said to be one of the fastest methods of feeling the benefits of CBD due to being absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and metabolising more effectively.

Tips for cooking with CBD oil

One of the main questions asked about CBD is ‘can I cook with CBD oil?’ In short, yes, you can! However, there are some tips to consider when experimenting with CBD recipes, including:

Always use a good quality brand – much like all your other cooking ingredients, quality speaks volumes. Be sure to look for a third-party lab-tested CBD oil to use in your cooking.

Start with a low amount of CBD – getting the right balance in your cooking can be challenging but to test the sweet spot, start small. Choose a low CBD strength at first to ease into it.

Start with easy recipes – if you do not know where to start, choose easy recipes such as adding CBD oils to your salad dressings, smoothies, and butter for baking.

Do not heat CBD oil on its own – CBD oil should always be added to other ingredients before applying direct heat. Heating directly can decrease the effectiveness of the oil.

CBD works well with recipes that have fat in them – CBD oil works best with recipes that have butter or oil in them, so it all mixes in well.

6 Savoury & Sweet CBD Recipes

So now you have some starting tips above, it is time for amazing recipes that are super easy to make.

Check out our favourites below:

1. CBD smoothies

This recipe is one of the easiest ways to incorporate CBD into your lifestyle. Smoothies do not have to be boring either, and you can add all your favourite ingredients for a sweet or savoury flavour. As CBD infuses best with fats, try a milk or yoghurt based drink to add CBD products with ease. There are also water-soluble CBD oils available if you fancy this option.

2. CBD salads

Another easy recipe that is perfect for anyone new to cooking with hemp flower and oils is adding it to your favourite salads. Salad dressings are typically oil or cream-based, so this is the perfect mix for your CBD oil. When you add the product to your dressing, be sure to use a smaller amount than usual to find the right balance. It is the perfect addition to olive oil dressings and balsamic products. Plus, you can add it to your favourite dips and sauces.

3. CBD cakes and sweet treats

Baking is the ideal way to combine CBD into your food. There are tons of cakes and sweet treat recipes out there that easily incorporate CBD butter for cooking, and you can make everything else as normal with a traditional recipe. Top cakes and sweets include brownies, cakes, and flapjacks.

4. CBD stews and casseroles

CBD oil’s effectiveness can be impacted by high heat, so a simple way to get around this is by using it in stews and casseroles. There are many traditional recipes to try where you add the CBD oil directly to the slow cooker with all the other ingredients. This means the heat does not counteract the benefits of CBD, and you can enjoy a delicious meal with an added wellness bonus.

5. CBD edibles

For snacks on the go, CBD edibles are a great way to incorporate the compound into your diet. Popular products include CBD vegan gummies and CBD infused drinks, and they taste great too. These snacks and treats will tell you how much CBD is in the product and the strength of the active compound. Typically sweets have lower amounts of CBD in them compared to other ways of taking CBD.

6. Vegan cannabis recipes

Alongside the selection of traditional recipes, including CBD, there are tons of vegan options too. CBD is the ideal complement to these types of dishes as it is a naturally derived product, and there are many organic options available.

Is CBD cooking and baking for me?

The use of CBD is down to personal preference, and cooking with this compound is a great way to introduce it to your lifestyle. Starting slow is advisable for everyone, and this helps to get the right balance for you. If you are unsure whether it is right for you, seeking advice from a medical professional is beneficial. CBD cooking is easy once you get the hang of it, and it can be an excellent way to improve your wellbeing in the long term.

Cooking with CBD is suggested to be one of the best ways to incorporate CBD oils. It helps the compound taste delicious compared to the oil’s direct ingestion, which can be earthy and bitter. To get the most out of your CBD cooking, be sure to keep temperatures low, so the effectiveness is not reduced, and start with smaller amounts.