Root beer and vanilla are the star flavors in this sweet and spicy barbecue sauce. This stuff is so good, you may never use bottle BBQ sauce again.
*I was compensated with free products for this post, but the opinions shared are my own.
We recently spent time with our son in St. Louis, and I had an amazing barbecue sauce at a local restaurant. I brought a bottle home, but since it won’t last forever, I decided to create this Root Beer Vanilla Barbecue Sauce in my own kitchen.
I am happy to report that my version tastes just like the sauce I had in St. Louis, with a great root beer flavor, and a hint of sweet vanilla flavor thanks to my gourmet vanilla from The Sweetest Bean.
I rarely (almost never) collaborate with brands anymore, so you know I love this product, this company, and everything they represent.
First, they are a woman-owned, Colorado based business, just like me! And they source all their organic, whole-bean, vanilla from the same community near Kampala, Uganda, with the sole purpose of building an economy on the other side of the world that will continue to be run by Ugandans.
When you purchase vanilla from The Sweetest Bean, you are also buying into the fight against oppression. They commit to one-single-supplier, their workers, their children, and their futures, with the hope of true sustainable economic growth.
I used their vanilla extract in this recipe, but they also have vanilla bean powder and whole vanilla beans, and all of their products are amazing.
Why Ugandan vanilla? Ugandan vanilla is sought after for it’s large, plump beans, that many experts now claim is even more flavorful than others.
And yes, you really can taste the vanilla and the root beer in this barbecue sauce. That’s what makes it so good!
Just be sure not to stir in your vanilla until after you’ve reduced your sauce and removed it from the heat. Otherwise all that vanilla flavor will cook out and disappear.
I also recommend using a high-quality, bottled root beer for the best root beer flavor. I find that the less expensive canned versions make a great barbecue sauce, but not a great root beer flavored barbecue sauce.
So yes, I guess this barbecue sauce is kind of fancy. But it’s so worth it! And it’s really easy to make, so although it’s “gourmet” it doesn’t use a lot of ingredients or take a lot of time.
I know there are a million flavors of barbecue sauce out there, but this Root Beer Vanilla Barbecue Sauce really is my favorite. I hope you love it as much as I do.
Be sure to check out The Sweetest Bean to learn more about their products, and their story.
Be sure to save this Root Beer Vanilla Barbecue Sauce recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Root Beer Vanilla Barbecue Sauce
- Root beer
- Vanilla
- Tomato sauce
- Orange juice
- Worcestershire sauce
- Molasses
- Brown sugar
- Spices: ground ginger, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper
Root Beer Vanilla Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups root beer see notes
- 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together all the ingredients, except the vanilla, until smooth.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20-30 minutes, or until sauce reduces to desired thickness.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Cool completely and store in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Notes
Nutrition
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Who Dished It Up First: This is an original recipe
