Cherry Bourbon BBQ Sauce Recipe
Cherry Bourbon BBQ Sauce Recipe brings together ripe cherry sweetness, bourbon depth, tangy apple cider vinegar, and savory Worcestershire sauce.
Equipment
- Large saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Immersion blender
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 2 cups 300 g fresh pitted cherries
- 1½ cups 360 g ketchup
- ½ cup 100 g packed brown sugar
- ⅓ cup 80 ml bourbon
- ¼ cup 60 ml apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons 30 ml Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon 15 ml olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion about 100 g, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves about 9 g, minced
- ½ teaspoon 1 g chili powder
- 1 teaspoon 2 g smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon 1 g freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon 3 g salt
Instructions
Step 1
- Warm the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring now and then, until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until you can smell the garlic.
Step 2
- Add the fresh cherries, ketchup, brown sugar, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Give everything a good stir until the cherries and seasonings are well mixed into the sauce.
Step 3
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then turn the heat to low. Cook uncovered for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally so nothing sticks to the bottom. The cherries will soften as the sauce cooks, and the mixture will become thicker and richer.
Step 4
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the sauce cool for a few minutes. Blend it with an immersion blender until smooth. Taste the sauce and add a little more salt or seasoning if needed. Let it cool completely, then pour it into a clean airtight container and refrigerate or serve it.