Blackberry BBQ Sauce (Low Sugar)

This simple blackberry BBQ sauce is perfect for grilling season. Plus, unlike traditional sauces, mine is very low in sugar and contains only real ingredients.  My go-to sweetener of choice is always fruit because not only is it the most natural sugar available, but using the fruit also adds fiber and additional antioxidants to whatever recipe you are making.  Why do anything differently when it comes to a BBQ sauce? Especially when there is so much delicious fruit available in the summertime?  In fact, this recipe would be great with just about any fruit that you like…blueberries, peaches, or strawberries would be amazing as well!   I added a touch of molasses to this recipe for flavor, but if you are trying to avoid added sweetener altogether, you can very easily enjoy this sauce with just the sweetness from the fruit.

My Blackberry BBQ Sauce recipe was inspired by a homemade blueberry bourbon BBQ sauce that I once made from a recipe in a magazine.  At the time, I loved the idea of using fruit in a sauce like this, but it called for a lot of sugar. I don’t care to use that much sugar in my recipes anymore. I say if it doesn’t need the sugar, then why add the sugar?  The less sugar you consume the less you enjoy eating foods that are overly sweet, so this sauce is just the perfect amount of yum.  Not too sweet, but full of delicious flavor and super easy to make!

How should you use this blackberry BBQ sauce?  On a shoe perhaps?  Just kidding! Enjoy it on anything that you would regularly use BBQ sauce on. Things like grilled chicken, fish, steak, or tempeh.  You can also try it as a salad dressing or as a sauce for homemade baked beans.

I would love to know and see when you make this BBQ sauce, so share your creations with me!

3 from 2 votes

Print

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 6 -8

Author Sara

Ingredients

• 1 cup blackberries fresh or frozen or use any fruit that you like
• 1 teaspoons freshly graded ginger
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
• 1-2 Tablespoons unsulfured molasses optional if you want no added sugar

Instructions

1. Put all of the ingredients into a small sauce pan over medium heat.
2. Stir to combined and simmer until the sauce becomes thickened, about 10-15 minutes.
3. Blend smooth in a blender or feel free to leave it a bit chunkier as is or simply mash with a fork or potato masher.
4. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for one week, or one month in the freezer.

Recipe Notes

Reader Recommendation: For those that don't like vinegar-based Carolina BBQ sauces try 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and 1/2 cup sparkling blackberry water in place of the 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar.

I recommend adding this sauce to grilled items just before they are done. If you add the sauce to early it may burn.

Choose organic ingredients when possible.