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Flavorful Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Cherry Bourbon Glaze

grilled baby back ribs cherry bourbon glaze - featured image
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A quick and easy grilled baby back ribs recipe featuring a sweet and smoky cherry bourbon glaze that delivers bold BBQ flavor in under 45 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 full rack baby back ribs (about 2 to 2.5 pounds / 900–1100 grams), trimmed of excess fat and membrane removed
  • ½ cup cherry preserves (160 grams), recommended Bonne Maman
  • ¼ cup bourbon (60 ml), recommended Maker’s Mark
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar (25 grams)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (15 ml)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. Prep the ribs: Rinse the baby back ribs and pat dry with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, carefully remove the silver skin membrane on the back of the ribs. Lightly coat both sides with olive oil.
  2. Season the ribs: Combine salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. Sprinkle this dry rub evenly over both sides of the ribs, pressing gently to adhere.
  3. Make the cherry bourbon glaze: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cherry preserves, bourbon, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Stir occasionally as it heats. Once bubbling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the glaze thickens to a syrupy consistency. Be careful not to let it burn.
  4. Preheat the grill: Get your grill to medium heat (around 350°F / 175°C). If using charcoal, wait until the coals are covered in white ash.
  5. Grill the ribs: Place ribs meat side down on the grill. Cook for 10 minutes, then flip. Begin generously brushing the cherry bourbon glaze onto the ribs. Continue flipping every 5 minutes, brushing glaze each time, until ribs are cooked through and nicely caramelized. The meat should be tender and pull back slightly from the bone ends.
  6. Rest and serve: Remove ribs from the grill and tent loosely with foil. Let rest for 5 minutes to lock in juices before slicing between the bones and serving.

Notes

Keep a spray bottle of water handy to manage flare-ups from glaze drips. If ribs char too quickly, move to indirect heat or raise the grill grate. Removing the silver skin membrane is key for tenderness. Simmer glaze gently to avoid burning. Let ribs rest after grilling to lock in juices. Glaze can be made a day ahead and reheated before use. For baking, cook ribs covered at 300°F for 1.5 hours, then broil with glaze for caramelization.

Nutrition

Keywords: baby back ribs, cherry bourbon glaze, grilled ribs, BBQ ribs, quick ribs recipe, summer BBQ, easy ribs, bourbon glaze

Find it online: https://cooksyla.com/flavorful-grilled-baby-back-ribs-with-cherry-bourbon-glaze-recipe-for-perfect-bbq/