How Edibles Can Enhance Your Holiday Parties
With the holidays around the corner, you’re likely already getting geared up for all the activities that come with it. If you’re like most people, that means shopping, decorating and the all-important tradition that is the holiday party.
And with 2019 being the second Christmas since legalization and the first since legalization 2.0, you may have considered ditching the wine and whiskey in favour of some cannabis edibles.
So, whether you’ll be hosting a party with cannabis or just attending one, the following is a quick rundown for how to make the most of out of edibles this holiday season.
Consider The Environment
The type of party you’ll be having or attending will largely determine whether or not cannabis is appropriate for the occasion.
We’ll start off with the company party since that’s going to be the one requiring the most tact on your part. Let’s say you’re going to your office party – should you bring a plate of infused brownies, or not?
While the first step is obviously to ask, a lot of this will come down to the company and industry you’re in. Generally speaking, the more conservative the industry and environment, the less likely cannabis of any kind is to fly (even if alcohol is being served).
If it’s a personal party with friends, family or acquaintances, then the situation becomes much easier to gauge. If you’re an attendee and you want to bring edibles, it’s pretty simple – consult the host (if it’s someone you don’t know all that well). Remember that although it’s now legal in Canada, there is still (unfortunately) a stigma surrounding it, and it’s going to take time before showing up to a party with cannabis is considered as normal as showing up with beer.
If you’re throwing the party, consider who’s going to be attending. While an adult-only party of close friends may be a fantastic opportunity to try out all the new holiday goodies, if you’re going to be entertaining a lot of families with young children, breaking out the infused chocolate and gingerbread is not the best move.
How To Mind Your Edible Etiquette This Holiday Season
Whatever your situation this year, it’s important to mind your manners and keep a few things in mind.
A lot of this comes down to safety and consideration for other people. Make sure that anything you bring and serve is clearly labelled. It should go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway – you should never serve anyone an edible without their knowledge and consent. You should also make sure that the THC dosages are well-known to everyone at the party (be sure to check out our full edible education guide if you’re new to all of this).
You should also be aware of the role that booze plays here since consuming alcohol and cannabis at the same time can have an impact on its effects.
Last but certainly not least, make sure you drive safe this holiday season. While some people are still under the impression that driving under the influence of cannabis is an acceptable option, that’s simply not the case. Stay safe, plan ahead and use taxis, Ubers and designated drivers if you know you’ll be under the influence.
What We’ll Be Stocking At Spiritleaf
While we’ll certainly be doing everything we can to get all the new goodies up and in our stores in time for the holidays, it’s important to note that stock will most likely be limited. In accordance with the new edible and infused product laws that went into effect on October 17th, all licensed producers are required to submit a 60 day notification to Health Canada of their intent to sell new products.
And unfortunately, that timeline means that you’re most likely not going to have much luck finding a decent selection in time for Christmas.
With that said, keep your eyes peeled – we’re hoping to have a limited selection of gummies and chocolate, as well as a number of infused beverages available as soon as we can get our hands on them.
Two Easy Edible Recipes For The Holidays
While you’ll probably be hard-pressed to find much edible variety in stores this December, that doesn’t have to stop you from making your own. Here are two quick and easy recipe choices that are perfect for your next party.
Cooking With Cannabutter
In the interest of keeping things simple and beginner-friendly, both of the recipes we’ve chosen involve cannabutter as the primary THC-infused ingredient. Making it can be somewhat tricky for a first-timer (especially when it comes to getting the THC dosage right), so if you’ve never tried it before, be sure to check out this complete guide.
Eggnog
A Christmas classic, the obligatory bowl of alcohol-infused “adult” eggnog is a staple of holiday parties everywhere. It’s thick, creamy, and delicious. It’s also ideal for getting your cannabis in – just swap the rum or whiskey for cannabutter:
Ingredients
5 eggs (separated into yolks and whites)
1/2 cup sugar (plus 1 tablespoon)
2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3 tablespoons cannabutter
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Ground cinnamon (for topping)
Instructions
- With a whisk or hand mixer, beat egg yolks in a large bowl until they lighten, then gradually add in the sugar.
- Add milk, cream, cannabutter (melted) and nutmeg. Mix well.
- In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites together with 1 tablespoon sugar.
- Whisk egg whites together with the mixture, then chill, top with cinnamon and enjoy.
Sugar Cookies
While a nice, warm plate of sugar cookies may be great any time of year, they’re perfect for your holiday party. They’re also dead simple:
Ingredients
2 ½ cups flour, plus more for rolling
1 cup sugar
1 cup cannabutter
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine cannabutter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a bowl with a hand mixer.
- Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients, stirring slowly to make the dough.
- Cover and refrigerator for an hour. Preheat oven to 345F.
- Roll dough and cut cookies (into whatever “Christmasy” shapes you’d like).
- Bake for about 10 minutes. Remove, let cool, and enjoy.
Enjoy the holiday and consume responsibly.
