Rich, decadent, and oh-so-flavorful, this Sweet and Smoky BBQ Sauce is a healthy nod to the famous Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce.  Absolutely delicious and made with wholesome ingredients, this healthy version is a perfect addition for all your BBQ sauce needs and sure to be finger-licking good!

Whole Food Plant Based, vegan, plant based, oil free, refined sugar free, gluten free and no highly processed ingredients.

Hi there, Ameera here!

Mom and I created this amazing WFPB Vegan BBQ “Chicken” Patty, and we just knew we had to make an amazing BBQ sauce to go with it.

Prior to becoming WFPB, we were die-hard Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce fanatics. It was our absolute favorite go-to BBQ for all cookouts. So we set out on a journey to try to create a Whole Food Plant Based recipe that can hold its own up to the original Sweet Baby Ray’s.

Recipe Testing and Reality

We know it is hard to compete with high fructose corn syrup and refined sugar, but we absolutely LOVE our healthier version. It has incredible flavor, and we feel that it comes pretty darn close to being labeled a WFPB “copycat” version of Sweet Baby Ray’s.

One of the things we are most proud of is that it does NOT have a ketchup base as nearly every other BBQ sauce out there does. This loveliness is made from scratch and the flavor is yummilicous!

I’ll let Mom tell you more!

Hi!  Robin here.

When Monkey wanted to make a WFPB copycat version of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce without using a ketchup base, I thought she was nuts. I honestly just didn’t think it could be done.

As we all know, it is understood that when we are trying to WFPB/veganize foods from our former lives that there are going to be subtle differences in flavor and texture that simply can’t be duplicated, but we know that going in and are happy with the WFPB versions.

I was more than just happy with Monkey’s BBQ Sauce, I was in BBQ heaven.  Monkey outdid herself!!!  It is SOOOO GOOD!!!  No seriously, this BBQ Sauce is crazy DELICIOUS!!!

We hope you give this deliciousness a try!  We just know you are going to love it!

If you try this delicious BBQ sauce, we would love to know if you enjoy it as much as we do! Please leave us a review! Post a picture on Facebook or Instagram and tag us!  We would love to hear from you.

Products Used:

• Small sauce pot

Sweet and Smoky BBQ Sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s Healthy Copycat)

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• Author: Monkey and Me Kitchen Adventures
• Prep Time: 5 Minutes
• Cook Time: 15 Minutes
• Total Time: 20 Minutes (+Rest)
• Yield: 1.5 cups 1x
• Category: Sauces
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegan

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Description

Rich, decadent, and oh-so-flavorful, this Sweet and Smoky BBQ Sauce is a healthy nod to the famous Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 8 oz. tomato sauce
• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 Tablespoons distilled white vinegar
• 1/3 to ½ cup organic maple syrup (+/-) *
• 3 Tablespoons molasses
• ¼ cup pineapple juice *
• ¼ teaspoon liquid smoke *
• 1 teaspoon reduced-sodium tamari *

Spice/Herb Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons ground mustard powder
• ½ teaspoon regular chili powder *
• 1 ¼ teaspoons smoked paprika
• Pinch cayenne pepper
• ¾ teaspoon sea salt

Slurry

• 2 teaspoons cornstarch (or arrowroot powder) *
• 2 Tablespoons water

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Instructions

1. Place all the ingredients into a small sauce pot, whisk really well to incorporate all the ingredients, bring to a boil, then immediately lower to a low boil, simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Make a slurry by placing 2 teaspoons of cornstarch (or arrowroot powder) with 2 Tablespoons water, whisk to remove all the lumps, then add to the sauce. Increase the heat to boiling, stir, then lower heat to a low boil, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, allow to cool.

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Notes

*Maple Syrup:  Our family had varying opinions on the amount of maple syrup to use.  The sweeter version (1/2 cup of maple syrup) leans more toward the Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce version and works really well with our Vegan BBQ “Chicken” Patty.  However, we also loved the 1/3 cup of maple syrup as it really allowed the tanginess to shine. We suggest you start with 1/3 cup and add more as you taste test the sauce after it has cooked for about 7 minutes. Add more if needed.

*Liquid Smoke:  We used Colgin Natural Hickory Liquid Smoke.

*Pineapple Juice:  We used the juice from a jar of Dole Pineapple Chunks 100% in Pineapple Juice. Then we used the pineapple chunks to make our Easy Pineapple Jalapeno Chutney with our Curry Burgers.

*Tamari: We used San J Tamari Soy Sauce, Gluten Free, Reduced Sodium.  You can substitute the tamari with reduced sodium soy sauce, Braggs Liquid Aminos, or Braggs Coconut Liquid Aminos.

*Chili Powder:  We used Penzeys Regular Chili Powder as it does not have heat to it, just great flavor. Feel free to use your favorite chili powder, just make sure it is a mild chili powder with no heat.

*Serving:  Makes approx. 1 ½ cups

*Storage:  Refrigerate, use within 7 days.

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