Homemade Cannabis Pizza That Balances Flavor and Buzz

Written by Sipho Sam

December 16th, 2025

You can make cannabis pizza that tastes great and delivers predictable effects without wasting expensive product.

The biggest question everyone asks first: Does baking at 475°F destroy the THC?

No, it doesn't when you protect the infused oil by mixing it into the sauce or the dough.

The internal temperature of these components stays well below THC's degradation point, keeping your pizza potent from first slice to last.

This guide works for everyone.

If you're starting from scratch and want to make your own infused oil with precise potency calculations, we'll walk through the math.

If you're looking for a quick shortcut using already-heated material, we'll show you that path too.

If you're an experienced user who wants to stack multiple infusion methods for stronger effects, we'll explain exactly how to do it safely.

You'll learn the calculator-backed approach that turns pizza from a risky experiment into a controllable system.

We'll cover temperature control that prevents wasted product, component-based infusion methods that let you dial strength up or down, and the per-slice math that keeps effects predictable.

Let's make some pizza.

Table of Contents

• Getting Started with Cannabis Pizza at Home

• Calculate Your THC Per Slice Before You Start

• How to Make Cannabis Infused Olive Oil

  • Step One: Heating the Cannabis

  • Step Two: Gentle Oil Infusion

  • Understanding Your Oil's Potency

• Baking Cannabis Pizza Without Losing Potency

  • Same-Day Pizza Dough Recipe

  • Temperature Management During Baking

  • Assembly Order for Best Results

• Three Ways to Infuse Your Pizza

• Mistakes That Waste Cannabis and How to Avoid Them

• Storing Cannabis Pizza Dough and Infused Oil

• Quick Answers About Cannabis Pizza

• Your Plan for Great Cannabis Pizza

Getting Started with Cannabis Pizza at Home

Cannabis pizza works better than many other homemade edibles because of a simple protection principle.

When you mix infused oil into sauce or dough, those components shield the oil from direct oven heat.

The surface of your pizza might reach 475°F, but the internal temperature of the sauce and dough stays much lower, keeping your THC intact.

Exposed oil painted on top needs more careful handling, but protected oil bakes safely.

This creates a reliable system.

You decide your target strength per slice, create or choose your infusion method, assemble the pizza with protection in mind, and calculate your final per-slice content.

Pizza gives you multiple infusion points, which means control.

You can put infused oil in the sauce, mix it into the dough, or brush it on the crust.

You can combine methods for higher strength or keep it in just one component for moderation.

The fat content matters too.

Olive oil in your infusion, oil in the dough, and cheese on top all contain fats that help your body absorb THC more efficiently.

This means cannabis pizza can feel stronger than the same amount of THC in a lean recipe.

Starting with flower, lab-tested flower gives you the consistent potency numbers you need for accurate planning.

When you know exactly what you're working with, the math becomes straightforward.

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Calculate Your THC Per Slice Before You Start

Before you make anything, decide what strength you're aiming for per slice.

This isn't medical advice, just common starting points.

Beginners often find 5 to 10mg per slice creates a pleasant, manageable experience.

Regular cannabis users typically enjoy 15 to 25mg per slice.

Experienced users with higher tolerance might target 25mg or more.

Here's why pizza's fat content changes the game.

The olive oil you'll infuse, the oil in your dough, and the cheese you'll add all contain fats that enhance THC absorption.

This means 15mg in a fatty pizza can feel noticeably stronger than 15mg in a lean brownie.

Keep this in mind when you're planning your target strength.

If you're moving from other edibles to pizza, you might want to start slightly lower than your usual amount.

Let's work through real numbers so you can see how this translates to actual pizza.

Say you make infused oil with 100mg total THC content.

If you cut your pizza into 8 standard slices, each slice contains roughly 12.5mg.

Cut it into 16 smaller slices, and you're down to about 6mg per slice.

Want more precision?

Use an online THC calculator to plug in your specific numbers based on your starting material's potency and your recipe's total oil content.

This is where lab-tested flower becomes valuable.

When you know your starting material is 20% THC, your calculations actually work.

Guessing at potency means guessing at results.

Starting with tested flower from reliable sources means your math translates to predictable effects.

You'll learn to estimate efficiency and adjust over time, but accurate starting data makes your first attempt far more likely to succeed.

One more timing note: cannabis pizza is an edible, which means effects take 30 to 90 minutes to appear.

This is longer than smoking or vaping.

Wait the full 90 minutes before deciding you need more.

Effects build gradually with edibles, and eating a second slice too soon is how people end up more elevated than they planned.

Patience during that first experience gives you better data for dialing in your perfect strength next time.

How to Make Cannabis Infused Olive Oil

Good infused oil is the foundation of reliable cannabis pizza.

This process takes a few hours but creates a versatile ingredient you can use across multiple pizzas.

You'll turn raw flower into activated, potent oil with predictable strength you can calculate and control.

Step One: Heating the Cannabis

Spread your cannabis evenly in an oven-safe dish.

Heat it at 240°F for 40 minutes.

This heating process amplifies the potency of THCa, transforming it into the active form your body recognizes.

You'll see the color shift from bright green to a light golden brown.

The smell becomes more pronounced.

This step is not optional.

Skipping it means weak or ineffective oil because unheated THCa doesn't produce the effects you're looking for.

Use an oven thermometer to verify your actual oven temperature.

Many ovens run hot or cold, and precise temperature matters here.

Too hot and you'll degrade the THC you're trying to preserve.

Too cool, and the heating process won't complete properly.

Set a timer and check the color partway through.

When it's done, let it cool for a few minutes before moving to the infusion step.

Step Two: Gentle Oil Infusion

Combine your heated cannabis with olive oil in a double boiler or slow cooker.

The key is maintaining steady, gentle heat between 160°F and 180°F for 2 to 3 hours.

This temperature range extracts THC into the oil without degrading it.

Use a cooking thermometer to monitor the temperature throughout.

Stir occasionally to ensure even infusion.

After the infusion time is complete, strain the mixture through cheesecloth into a clean container.

Squeeze the cheesecloth gently to extract as much infused oil as possible.

The leftover plant material can be discarded.

Your finished oil should have a greenish tint and an herbal aroma.

Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months, or freeze it for up to 6 months.

Understanding Your Oil's Potency

Let's calculate what you actually made.

If you started with 3.5 grams of flower testing at 20% THC, you began with 700mg of theoretical THC.

The heating and infusion process isn't perfectly efficient.

A realistic efficiency estimate is 80%, which means you'll capture roughly 560mg of THC in your finished oil.

This is the number you'll use for per-slice calculations.

Why does efficiency matter?

Some THC inevitably remains in the plant material you strain out.

Some degrades slightly during heating despite your careful temperature control.

Planning for 80% efficiency gives you a realistic estimate rather than an inflated expectation.

If you're using concentrates instead of flower, your starting potency is much higher, which means you'll need less material to reach your target oil strength.

Concentrates also tend to infuse more completely since there's less plant matter to trap the oil.

Baking Cannabis Pizza Without Losing Potency

Making the actual pizza requires attention to technique, not complex equipment.

The dough recipe is straightforward, and the key is developing gluten properly so your infused oil distributes evenly throughout.

Same-Day Pizza Dough Recipe

Combine 3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons active dry yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl.

Add 1 cup warm water (around 110°F) and 2 tablespoons olive oil.

If you're using infused oil in the dough, this is where you'd substitute it for regular olive oil or add it in addition to the regular oil, depending on your target strength.

Mix until a shaggy dough forms, then turn it out onto a floured surface.

Knead for at least 10 minutes.

This isn't busywork.

Proper kneading develops the gluten network that will hold your infused oil evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Under-kneaded dough tears when you stretch it, creating spots where oil pools.

Well-kneaded dough stretches smoothly and keeps your THC content consistent from slice to slice.

Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise for about 1 hour until doubled in size.

Punch it down, then let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes before shaping.

This rest period makes the dough easier to stretch without tearing.

If your dough keeps springing back when you try to shape it, let it rest another 10 minutes.

Fighting with resistant dough creates structural problems that lead to uneven thickness and inconsistent strength.

Temperature Management During Baking

Preheat your oven to 475°F with a pizza stone or baking sheet inside if you have one.

This high temperature creates the crispy crust everyone loves.

Your infused oil is safe at this temperature as long as it's protected.

When oil is mixed into sauce or dough, the moisture in those components keeps the internal temperature well below 350°F, which is where THC degradation accelerates.

If you're planning to brush infused oil on the crust edges, you have two safe options.

The first is adding the oil after baking, once the pizza comes out of the oven.

The second is reducing your oven temperature to 350°F or below if you're applying oil before baking.

The trade-off is a slightly less crispy crust, but your THC stays intact.

Bake your pizza for 12 to 15 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.

The internal temperature of the dough and sauce will rise, but not enough to cause THC loss when the oil is properly incorporated.

You're looking for visual cues: the crust should have some color, the cheese should be melted with a few brown spots, and the edges should be set rather than doughy.

Assembly Order for Best Results

Start by stretching or rolling your dough on a floured surface to your desired thickness.

If you added infused oil to the dough during mixing, it's already incorporated.

Spread your pizza sauce evenly, leaving a small border for the crust.

If you're using infused oil in the sauce, warm the sauce gently first and stir in your measured amount of infused oil until completely combined.

Add your cheese and any other toppings you want.

Standard mozzarella works perfectly and its fat content helps with THC absorption.

Transfer the assembled pizza to your preheated stone or baking sheet and bake.

The order matters because each component needs to cook properly.

Sauce goes directly on dough, cheese and toppings go on sauce, and any post-bake oil application happens after everything else is done.

For added flavor complexity, you can infuse your oil with herbs alongside the cannabis.

Rosemary, basil, or oregano complement the herbal notes from the cannabis and make your infused oil taste intentional rather than medicinal.

This works especially well if you're brushing oil on the crust, where the flavor will be most prominent.

Add dried herbs to your oil during the infusion process and strain them out along with the plant material.

Three Ways to Infuse Your Pizza

Pizza's multiple components give you control over where and how you add THC.

Each method has advantages depending on your priorities and your comfort level with cannabis cooking.

Oil in Sauce is the simplest starting point for most people.

Warm your prepared pizza sauce gently on the stove.

Don't let it boil, just warm it enough to help the oil incorporate smoothly.

Stir in your measured amount of infused oil thoroughly.

The stirring is important.

You want the oil distributed evenly throughout the sauce so every spoonful that goes on your pizza carries roughly the same THC content.

This method works great for beginners because sauce naturally coats the pizza surface evenly, making strength per slice predictable.

The flavor of the sauce tends to overpower any cannabis taste, which some people prefer.

Oil in Dough provides the most even distribution possible.

Add your infused oil during the initial dough mixing stage, either replacing some of the regular olive oil in the recipe or adding it in addition.

The kneading process then works the oil throughout the entire gluten network.

Every bite of crust contains roughly the same THC content.

This method requires more planning since you need to commit to the infusion before you shape and bake the pizza.

You can't adjust on the fly.

But for consistent strength across an entire pizza, oil in the dough is hard to beat.

Brushing Crust gives you targeted control.

You can brush some slices and leave others plain, which is useful when you're serving people with different preferences.

You can also use this method to test a new strength level on just a slice or two before committing to a full pizza.

The downside is less even distribution, and you need to be careful about temperature.

Brush after baking, or reduce your oven temperature to 350°F or below if you're applying oil before the pizza goes in.

This method puts the most pronounced cannabis flavor on your crust edges where it's least masked by sauce and cheese.

For users with higher tolerance who want stronger effects, you can combine methods.

Infuse both the sauce and the dough for compound strength.

The math gets a bit more complex because you're adding THC from multiple sources, but the principle is the same.

Calculate the THC content from each component, add them together, then divide by the number of slices.

Start conservative when stacking methods.

It's easier to add more next time than to deal with uncomfortably strong effects from going too heavy on your first attempt.

There's a quicker shortcut using already-vaped bud (AVB) or other previously heated cannabis.

Grind it very fine and sprinkle a small amount into warm sauce, stirring thoroughly.

This works in a pinch when you don't have time for the full oil infusion process.

The honest assessment: it's less predictable.

Previously heated material varies widely in remaining potency depending on how thoroughly it was vaped or heated before.

Flavor can be harsh.

But if you're experimenting or need a fast solution, it's worth knowing this option exists.

Mistakes That Waste Cannabis and How to Avoid Them

Learning from others' errors saves you expensive product and disappointing results.

These are the most common problems people run into when making cannabis pizza, along with specific solutions that actually work.

Overheating Exposed Oil is the fastest way to lose potency.

When infused oil is directly exposed to heat above 350°F, THC begins to degrade rapidly.

You can lose 30% or more of your potency through careless temperature exposure.

The solution is protection.

Mix your oil into the sauce or dough where moisture and other ingredients shield it from direct heat.

If you're brushing oil on the crust, do it after baking or reduce your oven temperature.

This single principle prevents the majority of potency loss problems.

Skipping the Heating Step before infusion means you're working with THCa that hasn't been activated.

Your pizza will be weak or produce almost no effects at all.

The solution is never skipping the 240°F for 40 minutes heating process.

This step isn't optional, regardless of which infusion method you choose.

Even if you're in a hurry, taking shortcuts here means wasting your starting material.

Already-vaped bud bypasses this because it was heated during vaping, but raw flower always requires the heating process first.

Poor Mixing Creates Hot Spots where THC content varies wildly from slice to slice.

One serving might contain 5mg while another contains 50mg, which creates unpredictable and potentially uncomfortable experiences.

The solution depends on your infusion method.

For sauce, stir thoroughly and scrape the bottom and sides of your pan to ensure even distribution.

For dough, knead for the full 10+ minutes to develop gluten and distribute oil throughout.

For brushed crust, apply oil as evenly as possible with consistent coverage.

Taking time to mix properly protects both your product and your experience.

Tearing Dough and Oil Pooling happens when you rush the process or work with dough that hasn't rested enough.

Tears in stretched dough create low spots where infused oil collects, making those areas significantly stronger than others.

The solution is patience.

Let your dough rest 20 to 30 minutes after kneading before you try to shape it.

Handle it gently when stretching, and if it keeps springing back, give it another 10 minutes to relax.

Well-rested dough stretches smoothly without tearing.

This creates the structural integrity that keeps oil distributed evenly.

Guessing at Potency without doing any math means you're relying on luck for good results.

Eyeballing how much flower to use or skipping calculations leaves you with disappointing weakness or overwhelming strength.

The solution is using lab-tested starting material with known THC percentages, doing the calculator-based math, and keeping notes about what worked.

Your first attempt might not be perfect, but having actual numbers to work with means your second attempt will be much more accurate.

Guessing doesn't improve over time.

Measuring and calculating does.

Storing Cannabis Pizza Dough and Infused Oil

Making components ahead extends the utility of your work and gives you pizza-ready ingredients when you want them.

Both infused oil and prepared dough store well when handled properly.

Freeze your pizza dough by flattening it into discs before freezing.

This shape thaws more evenly than a ball and takes up less freezer space.

Wrap each disc tightly in plastic wrap, then add a layer of aluminum foil or place in a freezer bag.

Label with the date and whether it contains infused oil.

Cannabis-infused dough stays stable in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.

Frozen dough gives you the option to make a single pizza without preparing a full batch of fresh dough.

Store infused oil in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

The cool temperature slows oxidation and keeps your oil fresh.

For longer storage, freeze infused oil for up to 6 months.

Cannabinoids remain stable when frozen, so you won't lose potency.

A useful trick is portioning oil into ice cube trays before freezing.

Once frozen, pop the cubes into a freezer bag.

Each cube is a pre-measured amount.

If you calculated your oil's potency, you can figure out the THC content per cube, making future pizza assembly even more convenient.

Cold fermentation adds flavor complexity to your dough while keeping your infused oil stable.

After your dough completes its initial rise, punch it down and refrigerate it for 24 to 72 hours before shaping.

The slow, cool fermentation develops deeper flavor and makes the dough easier to handle.

The extended time doesn't affect the cannabis oil negatively.

When you're ready to use it, bring the dough to room temperature for 30 minutes, then proceed with shaping and baking as normal.

This technique is worth trying once you've mastered the basic process.

Always label your cannabis-infused items clearly with the date and estimated strength.

Store them separately from regular kitchen items to avoid confusion.

Include information about THC content if you've calculated it.

These basic organizational habits prevent accidental consumption and help you track which batches turned out well so you can repeat your successes.

Quick Answers About Cannabis Pizza

Does baking kill THC in cannabis pizza?

Baking at 475°F does not destroy THC when the oil is mixed into sauce or dough.

The internal temperature of these components stays below THC's degradation point of 350°F, preserving potency throughout the cooking process.

The moisture in sauce and dough provides natural protection from the oven's surface temperature.

Exposed oil on crust surfaces needs more careful handling.

Either add the oil after baking or keep your oven temperature at 350°F or below if applying before baking.

How long do cannabis pizza effects take?

Cannabis pizza effects typically appear within 30 to 90 minutes, similar to other edibles.

This is longer than smoking or vaping, which work within minutes.

Effects from edibles also last longer, generally 4 to 8 hours compared to 1 to 3 hours for inhaled cannabis.

Always wait the full 90 minutes before consuming more pizza.

Effects build gradually with edibles, and eating a second slice too soon is how people end up more elevated than they intended.

Can I freeze cannabis pizza dough?

Yes, cannabis-infused pizza dough remains stable when frozen for up to 3 months.

Cannabinoids don't degrade in freezing temperatures.

Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze it flat for easy storage.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.

Frozen dough maintains both its baking properties and its THC content, giving you pizza-ready ingredients whenever you want them without starting from scratch.

What is jailhouse pizza?

Jailhouse pizza refers to improvised prison recipes using crushed chips, cheese packets from commissary, and hot water or microwaves to create a pizza-like meal.

It's completely unrelated to cannabis infusion.

The term appears in searches alongside cannabis pizza simply because both contain the word pizza, but they're entirely different concepts.

Jailhouse pizza is about making food with limited ingredients and resources, not about adding THC to homemade meals.

How do I calculate THC per slice?

Calculate THC per slice by dividing your infused oil's total THC content by the number of pizza slices.

Start by determining your oil's potency.

If you made oil from 3.5 grams of 20% THC flower with 80% efficiency, you have approximately 560mg total THC.

Divide 560mg by 8 standard slices for 70mg per slice, or by 16 smaller slices for 35mg per slice.

For more complex scenarios with multiple infusion points, add the THC from each component before dividing by slice count.

Your Plan for Great Cannabis Pizza

You now have the knowledge to make cannabis pizza that delivers predictable effects and actually tastes good.

The path forward is straightforward.

Set your per-slice THC target based on your tolerance and desired experience.

Heat your cannabis properly using the heating process that amplifies THCa's potency.

Infuse your oil gently at controlled temperatures.

Assemble your pizza with protection in mind, mixing infused oil into the sauce or dough where it stays safe from degradation.

Calculate your final strength per slice so you know exactly what you're consuming.

The beauty of this system is that it scales with your needs.

Start with a single infusion method in your sauce if you want simplicity.

Stack multiple infusion points across dough and sauce when you want higher strength.

Make a big batch of infused oil and freeze portions for future pizzas.

The framework stays the same regardless of your specific approach.

Protection, calculation, and proper technique prevent wasted product and disappointing results.

When you want lab-tested starting materials that make your calculations actually work, explore cannabis flower organized by effect.

Whether you're looking for energizing varieties for afternoon pizza or relaxing options for evening enjoyment, consistent potency testing removes the guesswork from your planning.

Concentrates offer even higher starting potency when you need maximum strength in minimum volume.

Mood is not a medical authority.

This article provides educational information about cannabis cooking techniques.

Consult a healthcare professional for personal health questions.