Introducing a blast from the past, our delicious Cherry Cola Spare Ribs! This nostalgic recipe pays homage to the classic soda that has been a staple in American households since 1985. As a child of the 90s, I was feeling a wave of nostalgia and decided to revisit some of my favorite movies and video games from my teenage years. During this retro phase, I set out to create the ultimate cherry cola BBQ sauce, and after five rounds of experimentation, I finally hit the perfect balance of flavors.
This sauce is the perfect blend of sweet and tangy, with a hint of smokiness that will transport you back to those carefree summer days spent chilling with friends. The rich, dark cherry cola taste is enhanced by a touch of molasses, giving it a subtle depth of flavor. The tangy kick comes from the addition of Worcestershire and apple cider vinegar, which perfectly balances out the sweetness.
I had the pleasure of introducing this sauce to my friends at a retro video game night, and it was a big hit! One of my friends actually made a gallon of the sauce at home, presumably to douse everything from ribs to ice cream. Okay, maybe not ice cream, but you get the idea. This sauce was a hit.
If you want to relive those 90s memories while adding a unique twist to your BBQ routine, try our Cherry Cola Spare Ribs – you won’t be disappointed!
Ingredients
Ribs
- 2 racks Pork spare ribs, St. Louis cut
- ⅓ cup - Simon Barbecue Montreal Rub
- Wood chunks for smoking, preferably cherry
Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup - Ketchup
- 1 cup - Cherry cola
- ½ cup - Molasses
- ½ cup - Apple cider vinegar
- 3 Chipotle chile in adobo sauce, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp - Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp - Black pepper
- 2 tsp - Smoked paprika
- 2 tsp - Simon Barbecue Montreal Rub
Preparation
- Preheat your smoker to 225°F or set up a charcoal grill for indirect heat by lighting a chimney starter and placing the coals on one side. Adjust the vents to bring the temperature to around 225°F.
- Trim any excess fat from the spare ribs and remove the membrane from the back.
- Rub spare ribs on both sides with Simon Barbecue Montreal Rub.
- Place spare ribs in your smoker or on the indirect heat side of your charcoal grill. Toss 1 – 2 wood chunks onto hot coals for smoking.
- In a saucepan or skillet, mix all the ingredients for the Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Cook the ribs for 4-5 hours or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 205°F. We recommend using a wireless cooking thermometer if you have one.
- During the last hour of cooking, brush spare ribs with Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce.
- Once spare ribs have reached 205°F internal temperature, remove from the smoker or grill and let them rest for 15-20 minutes. Cut into desired portions and serve them with extra Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce.