I don’t insist on making everything from scratch, but I enjoy the challenge of recreating favorite store-bought items at home. This is my take on Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. I was preparing a large batch of smoked pork when I realized I had no sauce on hand, so I quickly whipped this up. The texture and flavor are very close to the original and it’s ready in minutes.
Make It Your Way
One of the best things about making your own copycat Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce is the flexibility. Want it smokier? Add a drop or two of liquid smoke (start very small). Prefer heat? Increase the cayenne, add hot sauce, or sprinkle in red pepper flakes. Need it thinner? Stir in a bit of water. Want it thicker? Use less water or finish with a cornstarch slurry. I change mine every time to suit whatever I’m serving it with.
Also try my copycat Dreamland BBQ sauce.
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Copycat Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce
Equipment
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups ketchup
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- ¼ cup pineapple juice or apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 ½ teaspoons ground mustard
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cold water (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
Instructions
- Stir together all ingredients except the water and cornstarch in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the brown sugar dissolves.
- To thicken, mix the cornstarch with the cold water to make a slurry, then slowly whisk it into the sauce and simmer until you reach the desired thickness.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little water at a time and stir until the texture is right.
Notes
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 96 g |
Protein: 2 g |
Fat: 1 g |
Sodium: 1620 mg |
Sugar: 88 g
Nutritional values are approximate.