Now that it’s approaching BBQ season again I decided to share my latest delicious recipe (inspired by reading this recipe)….Apple Butter BBQ Sauce!

Ingredients
1 cup apple butter (should be able to find it in the jam/jelly aisle….Smucker’s makes some)
3/4 cups ketchup
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 teaspoons liquid smoke
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon smoked salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder (or to taste)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon roasted garlic powder
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
Honey (to add sweetness, to taste)

Steps
Step 1 – Put everything into a pot and bring almost to a boil at medium heat (takes about 10 minutes), stirring often

Step 2 – Drop the heat to low and let simmer for roughly 20 minutes, stirring often

Step 3 – Serve with food right away or let cool for 20 minutes before trying to bottle it. Should keep in the fridge for a week (longer if you store you sauces properly using “standard canning procedures” – like you would jam or preserves).

Enjoy…it’s pretty good but still needs some tweaking on my part. I like my sauces sweet and smokey so I gave it a squirt of pure honey half way through the cooking time to bring up the sweetness. If you don’t want it as smokey, then use regular paprika and kosher salt instead of the smoked.