I’ve been a moderate fan of Dr Pepper for as long as I can remember. I’m actually more of a Pepsi girl, but occasionally, I like to switch it up and when I do, it’s frequently Dr Pepper to the rescue. So imagine my surprise when I learned some pretty cool things about this cherry-like-flavored-cousin-to-cola drink. First of all, I was shocked to find out that Dr Pepper was created in 1855 in Waco, Texas by a pharmacist who worked for a local drug store. Apparently, in his free time, he like to mix syrups with carbonated water to discover new flavors. The story says he liked the smell of the drug store, and was trying to recreate it. Who knows…I’ve heard stranger things. Anyway, through trial and error, he came up with this cool concoction we know as “Dr Pepper”. The patrons and locals liked it as well, and before long people were coming in asking for a “Waco”. And that’s that…the rest is history.
Except for one little part — where did the name “Dr Pepper” come from. There are dozens of stories, but my favorite on and therefore the one I’ve chosen to believe is the sweetest and most romantic of all. Apparently this soda creating pharmacist had a crush on a girl. To get on her good side and gain her father’s respect, legend has it that he named the popular drink after her dad, “Dr Pepper”. Like i said, there are dozens of stories about this, but this is by far my favorite, so over here in Calibama, that’s the story!
Last interesting fact before the recipe…did you know there is a Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Tx? Low-key I wanna go, cuz I just can’t imagine what all they have in there. If you’ve ever been, drop a comment below and tell me about it. Maybe one day we’ll be driving through and I’ll convince the hubs to take a detour.
Now for this Dr Pepper BBQ Sauce I made. It’s got a little kick to is truthfully, but not so much that it’s unbearable. It’s made like most BBQ sauces, sugar, acid (vinegar) and spices. But I have to admin, it was better than I thought it would be. It’s downright delicious if you ask me! I’m really glad I tried it because now there’s a whole new flavor combination going on around these parts You can use on BBQ ribs, deviled eggs, wings, ribs,…you name it!
Best of all, it doesn’t take long to make it. So, as part of my Taste Texas series on WFAA Channel 88, here’s my recipe for Sightly Spicy Dr Pepper BBQ Sauce. I hope you enjoy and try it out for your next snack-attack!
[Slightly Spicy] Dr Pepper BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz Can Dr Pepper
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp mustard powder
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
Instructions
- In a saucepan, melt the butter. Add all ingredients and stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 – 25 minutes until the sauce is thickened.
- Enjoy in tons of different ways on tons of different dishes!