Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe: Twist on a Classic!

Are you a BBQ fan? Then here is a recipe for a great sauce to go with it. This post contains all you need to know and have to make a tasty cherry BBQ sauce.
By
Jeremy Bivens
Jeremy Bivens
Research Writer
Jeremy Bivens is a passionate writer and grilling enthusiast. He's been working as a freelance journalist for over 15 years now and has a particular interest in food writing read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams
Expert Consultant
Claims that grilling is the art that he has been learning all his life long and is not planning to stop. Has been grilling for as long as he can remember. Author of numerous read more
Last updated: August 20, 2023
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Cherries are one of the many fruits that have been incorporated into food and healthy drink Trusted Source The benefits of cherry juice ranked Cherry juice has many alleged health benefits, including reducing gout symptoms, aiding sleep, and improving short-term memory. www.medicalnewstoday.com recipes over the years. Sweet, tart, or both, cherries can be boiled, mashed, frozen, or eaten as it is in many cakes, juice, jam, cocktail, sauce, or muffin recipes. They can be mixed with other sweet flavors as well, such as chocolate, vanilla, and so on. Another creative way of eating cherries is when they are used in fatty and meaty dishes. One of which is as a sauce for a rich, juicy, hot barbecue roast from any meat.

And if you have never tried a cherry BBQ sauce, here is your chance to. This post is about a great recipe that you can try at home or on the go to make BBQ sauce from cherries. By the end of this post, you would know how to make a delicious cherry sauce that would go with a BBQ that you have cooked with a grill that can handle the heat and have picked with good tongs that won’t break the roast. So, if you are ready to make your recipe of a cherry BBQ sauce for you and anyone else that you’d like to share it with, let’s go on.

What is a cherry BBQ sauce?

It is a sauce made from freshly pitted frozen or thawed cherries Trusted Source 5 benefits of cherries for gout, sleep, nutrition, and more Cherries contain a number of beneficial nutrients, such as vitamin C and antioxidants. Some evidence suggests that they may also help lower inflammation, protect heart health, and improve sleep as part of a healthy diet. www.medicalnewstoday.com . The cherries can either be sweet, tart, or mixed (depending on your taste). The sauce is an addition to grilled barbecue roast and can either be spread on the roast or used as a dip for chips or fries. Since cherry is already sweet, some people might not add a sweetener, but as you would see in the recipe, you can use cane sugar, brown sugar, or any other sweetener you prefer to spice things up. It would take you only about 35 to 40 minutes to make this recipe and 3 days to allow the sauce to perfect itself. After which, you can store it and use it frequently for up to a month or more.

Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe: Twist on a Classic! 1

Cherry BBQ Sauce - Recipe

Bruce Williams
To make the cherry BBQ sauce in your home or on the move, you need a saucepan or a deep pot, a thick cooking heat-resistant glove, and a refrigerator, stirring spoon, a potato masher (optional), a blender, and an air-tight container. If you have these things available at home or in your RV, then you are ready to make a cherry sauce for your home or RV grilled barbecue
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Sauce
Servings 3 cups of sauce
Calories 140 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups of frozen or fresh pitted cherries
  • 2 tsp of olive oil or butter
  • 2 tsp of dry ground mustard
  • 1 medium-sized onion (chopped) or 1/2 large-sized
  • 1 cup of plain tomato paste
  • 1/2 tsp of freshly ground black pepper or 2 tsp of white pepper
  • 1/4 cup of apple cider or balsamic vinegar
  • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1 cup of cane sugar or 2/3 cup of dark brown sugar (you can use any alternative sweeteneryou want too)
  • 1/4 cup of orange juice or apple juice
  • 3 tsp of molasses
  • 2 tsp of ancho chili powder
  • 1/8 tsp of cayenne pepper
  • 2 tsp of kosher salt

Instructions
 

  • Over medium heat, melt the butter (or heat the oil) in a medium-sized pot or a saucepan. Pour the chopped onions and cook for about 5 to 7 mins. (If you want to add scallions, cook the onion for 3 to 4 minutes, add the scallion and cook for another 3 minutes).  Then add the garlic and stir for about half a minute more. 
    Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe: Twist on a Classic! 3
  • Next, pour in the cherries, vinegar, brown or cane sugar, black or white pepper, tomato paste, molasses, mustard, orange/apple juice (or water*), cayenne, and any one of the optional ingredients, including ketchup, garlic powder, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, onion powder, ground ginger, salt, and real maple syrup. 
    Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe: Twist on a Classic! 5
  • Stir and leave until it boils. You can mash the frozen cherries with a potato masher if you wish. 
  • Then reduce the heat and allow it to simmer (uncovered) until it is thick - which should be for about 20 to 30 mins. Remember to stir during the simmering occasionally. 
    Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe: Twist on a Classic! 7
  • Using cooking gloves, pour the sauce in a blender and puree until it is smooth if you want a chunky sauce (don't blend for too long). 
  • Let it cool naturally in an air-tight container, and wait for 3 days to allow the flavor to meld. You can keep the sauce for up to a month in a refrigerator. 

Video

Notes

Tip: You can store your sauce for up to a year if you pour the sauce (as it is hot) in a pint-sized jar or a sterilized half-pint jar. Ensure that you leave about 1/4 inch headspace in the jars. Next, process the water bath for about 15 minutes before letting the jar sit for a whole day (24 hrs) without being disturbed in any way. Then, you can move the jar to a refrigerator to cool and store it.

Nutrition

Calories: 140kcal

Final thoughts

While cooking, you can slow cook the ingredients with the cherry to soften the cherry faster (if it was previously frozen). You can also mash the cherries with a potato masher to quicken the cooking process. While blending the cherry BBQ sauce, don’t blend for too long if you don’t want a smooth mix. What you can do is blend it for a few seconds, then stop to see the mixed texture before continuing. Prepare your barbecue three days after cooking the sauce. And after you have grilled your barbecue, pick it off the grill with your favorite tongs and serve it on a plate; you can then walk up to your refrigerator to dish your sauce on the side. Dish your BBQ and cherry sauce with a glass of freshly squeezed juice, an alcoholic cocktail, a beer, or any drink of your liking.

References

1.
The benefits of cherry juice ranked
Cherry juice has many alleged health benefits, including reducing gout symptoms, aiding sleep, and improving short-term memory.
2.
5 benefits of cherries for gout, sleep, nutrition, and more
Cherries contain a number of beneficial nutrients, such as vitamin C and antioxidants. Some evidence suggests that they may also help lower inflammation, protect heart health, and improve sleep as part of a healthy diet.
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