A deliciously flavorful and fruity cherry barbecue sauce you can enjoy on your grilled meats, chicken, burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and used in any recipe that calls for barbecue sauce!
What would you do with 75 pounds of cherries?
That’s what I picked up this past weekend: Three 25 lb boxes of plump, luscious bing cherries.
I’ve been busy pitting and canning cherries in light syrup, making jam, making cherry sauce, cherry crisp, fruit leather, and baking Cherry Almond Streusel Cake.
What are some of your favorite ways to use cherries? Â Share with us by leaving a comment below!
With still more cherries left I wanted to try something savory. Â How about a cherry barbecue sauce? Â It sound great to me so I got to work experimenting with small quantities to get the ingredients and ratios right.
The end result: Â A deliciously flavorful and fruity barbecue sauce you can enjoy on your grilled meats, chicken, burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and used in any recipe that calls for barbecue sauce!
The flavor of this cherry barbecue sauce gets better with time, so I recommend waiting at least 3 days before using it to allow the flavors some time to meld.
I’ve also included instructions for canning if you want to make a larger batch for long-term storage, which is what I’m doing (I still have 25 pounds of cherries left to process!)
Cherry Barbecue Sauce Recipe
Let’s get started!
Heat the oil in a medium-sized heavy-bottomed pan and cook the onions and garlic until soft and translucent, 5-7 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients and bring it to a boil.
NOTE: Â Alternatively, at this point you can place everything in a slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours. Â Once pureed in the blender, return the sauce to the slow cooker and continue to cook uncovered if the sauce needs thickening.
Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
Transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth.
Pour into airtight jars and store in the refrigerator. Â Wait at least 3 days before using to allow the flavors to meld. Â Will keep in the fridge for up to a month.
How to Can Cherry Barbecue Sauce
If canning, pour the hot sauce into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
Process in a water bath for 15 minutes then carefully remove and let the cans sit undisturbed for 24 hours before moving them to a cool place to store for up to a year.
Enjoy!
For more delicious homemade condiments be sure to try our:
- Ultimate BBQ Sauce
- Big Mac Sauce
- Tartar Sauce
- Yum Yum Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Curry Ketchup
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Hoisin Sauce
- Romesco Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Aji Verde Sauce
- Ponzu Sauce
Cherry Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups pitted cherries fresh or frozen/thawed
- 1 cup plain tomato sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup cane sugar, for low sugar alternative use sugar substitute, e.g. Swerve Sweetener, though if canning you'll need to confirm if it's suitable for that purpose)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dry ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1-2 teaspoons liquid smoke optional
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a medium-sized heavy-bottomed pot and cook the onions and garlic until soft and translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth.
- Pour the sauce into non-reactive air-tight containers and store in the refrigerator. Wait at least 3 days before using to allow the flavors to meld. Will keep for up to a month.
- If canning for long-term storage, pour the hot barbecue sauce into sterilized half pint or pint sized jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Process in a water bath for 15 minutes. Remove and let the jars sit undisturbed for 24 hours before moving them to a cool place. Will keep for up to a year.Makes about 4 half pint jars.
Notes
Lara @ Tiny Quality Homes says
This bbq sauce looks amazing. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Cathy @ Lemon Tree Dwelling says
I love a sweet bbq sauce! This looks amazing!
Adina says
Such a detailed post again, lovely! We have a huge cherry tree and most years more cherries than the entire neighborhood can eat. My favorite way of using them in large quantities is to make cherry butter or can them. However, this year there is not one cherry in the tree, this happens every 3-4 years or so… I will pin this delicious sauce for next year.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Cherry butter, now why didn’t I think of that?? I make apple butter, pear butter, peach butter and plum butter…I’ve got to add some cherry to the mix! Thanks for the idea, Adina! :)
Amy @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
I looove summery cherry recipes! Can’t believe you were able to go through 75 pounds … but I totally would everything you’re mentioned making! I love the idea of using cherries in a savory sauce – I bet they add such a unique zing!
Natalie Loftus says
Made this Wednesday and let it sit for 3 days. Just tried it – LOVE IT!! Will make a double batch next for canning.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, Natalie, thank you!
Suev says
Canning cherries one of my favorites, maraschino, pie filling, brandied. Wish we could get them by the 25 pound box, must be a lot cheaper. I do a chocolate cherry barbeque sauce, but this one looks good. Those cherries look wonderful by the way.
Colleen says
What a robust sauce! Cherries in any for are great! This sauce sounds delicious!
Kelly - A Side of Sweet says
Yum! Love the idea of combinging BBQ and cherry! So good!
eat good 4 life says
I could probably use this sauce for a multiple of recipes. I love cherries and now that they are in season it is perfect!
carrie @ frugal foodie mama says
I just love fruit in my BBQ sauces! And I love that this can be canned. :)
Jen says
I love making cherry fruit leather with my cherries! But this looks like such a creative recipe. Can’t wait to try it!
Dorothy Reinhold says
I am a sucker for a sweet and spicy sauce. I’ve never thought of using cherries in a BBQ sauce! So creative!
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
75 POUNDS of cherries? Oh my WORD, that’s insane! And this barbecue sauce? Equally insane! Loving the tart-sweet cherry addition!
Kelly @ Nosh and Nourish says
75 pounds?!?!? Oh my starzies. Would that even fit in the fridge?!? I love the sound and look of this bbq sauce. I bet it would be sooooooooo good on a yummy burger!
Sarah Bates says
This looks phenomenal! I love using fruit in savory dishes too and recently made a peach barbecue sauce that turned out amazing. I actually have cherries in my fridge right now and I’ve been wondering what to make. Cherry Barbecue Sauce it is!