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Copycat Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce brushed onto a rack of ribs

Copycat Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce

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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings

Description

Thick, glossy, sweet-and-tangy homemade BBQ sauce with deep molasses flavor and a pineapple-juice secret — better than the bottle, made in one pot.

Ingredients 

  • cups ketchup
  • ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup molasses, not blackstrap
  • cup pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp liquid smoke
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, optional

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan off the heat, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire, and Dijon until smooth.
  • Whisk in the liquid smoke, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, and cayenne until fully combined.
  • Set over medium heat until it just bubbles, then reduce to low. Simmer uncovered, stirring often, for about 20 minutes, until thick and glossy and it coats the back of a spoon.
  • Remove from heat and let cool — it thickens more as it sits. Taste and adjust sweetness or tang, then transfer to a jar.

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Whisk

Notes

Makes about 2 cups. Keeps in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks, or freeze up to 3 months. For a smoother, bottled texture, blitz with an immersion blender before cooling. Want it thicker for ribs? Simmer a few extra minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 142kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 1gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 640mgPotassium: 366mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 324IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 1mg