How To Make Solventless Nerd Ropes at Home


Cannabis enthusiast and student of the art of solventless extraction
Nerd Ropes bring back memories of childhood candy aisles. When you infuse them with solventless cannabis concentrates, they become next-level edibles that combine nostalgia and potency. This recipe is beginner-friendly, requiring only basic kitchen tools, common ingredients, and a bit of patience while everything sets.
Whether you're looking for a fun weekend edible project or searching for creative ways to use your reclaim, this guide walks you through making professional-quality Nerd Ropes in your own kitchen. The process is straightforward, the results are delicious, and the dosing is entirely under your control.
What Are Solventless Nerd Ropes?
The concept is beautifully simple and fun: take a gummy base, infuse it with cannabis, then coat it in crunchy Nerds candy for texture contrast. The magic happens when you use solventless rosin-infused oil instead of traditional cannabutter.
Or if you want to capture the remaining potency inside your dab rig, reclaim can be a budget-friendly way to utilize leftover concentrates that would otherwise sit unused in your rig. While it's not as flavorful as fresh rosin, reclaim still delivers reliable potency and makes perfect sense for edible applications where other flavors dominate. You can also substitute infused coconut oil. Results and potency will vary based on what you're working with.
Gathering Your Supplies
1. You'll need a double boiler setup, which simply means placing a heat-safe bowl over a pot of simmering water. This indirect heating method prevents burning and gives you precise temperature control.
2. A small silicone dab mat or baking mat provides the perfect surface for shaping your ropes.
3. Add a spatula for stirring, a knife or pizza cutter for portioning.
4. Airtight container with parchment paper for storage.
Food and Cannabis ingredients:
1. 1.5 - 2 grams of rosin (or reclaim) as your base dosing amount.
2. Grab 22 gummy candies, with Starburst gummies working particularly well due to their texture and melting properties.
3. 0.5 tablespoon of coconut oil to help everything blend smoothly.
4. 1 small pinch of lecithin for emulsification.
5. Enough Rainbow Nerds to coat both the bottom and top of your ropes.
The Step-by-Step Process
1. Begin by setting up your double boiler. Fill a small pot with a few inches of water and bring it to a gentle simmer. Place your heat-safe bowl on top, ensuring the bottom doesn't touch the water directly. This indirect heat source is crucial for preventing scorching and maintaining control throughout the process.

2. Melt your coconut oil in the bowl. Let it liquify completely before moving forward. The coconut oil serves as a carrier for your reclaim and helps everything emulsify properly with the gummy base.
3. Once your oil is melted, add your solventless cannabis concentrate and stir until fully combined. Take your time here, working the reclaim into the oil until you achieve a smooth, even mixture with no visible chunks or separation. Proper integration at this stage ensures consistent potency throughout your final product.

4. Add your gummy candies in a single, even layer in the bowl. Let them sit for approximately four minutes to soften and begin melting. As they start breaking down, gently stir to encourage even melting. The gummies will gradually lose their individual shapes and start forming a unified mixture.
5. When the mixture begins smoothing out, add a small pinch of lecithin. This emulsifier is key to preventing oil separation and creating the uniform texture you want. Stir consistently until everything combines into one homogeneous mixture without any visible oil pooling or separation.
6. Prepare your workspace by spreading a layer of Nerds on your dab mat where you plan to shape your ropes. Pour your gummy mixture in lines over the Nerds, then use your spatula to shape and flatten the mixture to your desired thickness. Work relatively quickly here, as the mixture will begin setting as it cools.
7. While the mixture is still warm and tacky, sprinkle a generous layer of Nerds over the top. Press them gently into the surface so they adhere properly. Let everything sit at room temperature for about five minutes to begin the setting process.
8. Transfer your mat to the refrigerator and chill for approximately two hours. The cold solidifies the gummy base and makes cutting much cleaner. Once fully set, use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to portion your rope into individual servings. Clean cuts between pieces prevent tearing and give you professional-looking results.
Storage and Shelf Life
Wrap individual rope pieces in parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together during storage. Place wrapped pieces in an airtight container and store in a cool, dark place or the refrigerator. These edibles will last as long as the original candy components would, typically several weeks when properly stored. The main enemy is moisture, which can make the Nerds coating soggy and affect texture.
Calculating Your Dosing
Dosing with rosin and especically reclaim requires some educated guessing unless you have lab testing available. Reclaim typically averages around 50 percent THC, though this varies based on what you've been dabbing and how the reclaim was collected. Using 1.6 grams of reclaim at 50 percent potency gives you approximately 800mg of THC total in your batch.
Calculate individual serving strength by dividing total THC by the number of pieces you cut. If you portion your rope into 8 pieces, each would contain roughly 100mg. Adjust your portioning based on your desired dose per serving.
Always start with a lower dose when trying a new batch, especially if you're uncertain about your reclaim's potency. Edibles metabolize differently than smoking or dabbing, producing stronger and longer-lasting effects. Give yourself at least two hours to feel full effects before considering additional dosing.
Read more in our article How To Calculate THC Content in Homemade Edibles and Tinctures.
Cannabis Craft Candy
Making solventless Nerd Ropes is the fun intersection of simple technique and creative expression. You're taking leftover concentrates and transforming them into enjoyable, shareable edibles using methods anyone can master. The process teaches fundamental edible-making skills like proper emulsification and dosing calculation while producing treats that look professional and taste great.
With minimal equipment investment and ingredients you can find at any grocery store, you can create custom edibles that rival commercial products. The real advantage is complete control over potency, ingredients, and quality. You know exactly what went into your Nerd Ropes because you made them yourself.
Start with this basic recipe, dial in your technique, then explore variations that match your preferences. As always, keep detailed notes on measurements and results so you can replicate successful batches.
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