Apple Cider Baby Back Ribs

This recipe, inspired by LongHorn Steakhouse’s Fall Chef’s Showcase Apple Cider Baby Back Ribs, serves four.

Ingredients:

• 2 racks of baby back ribs
• 2 Tbsp. canola oil
• 2 cups of BBQ sauce of your choice
• 1 cup, plus 2 oz., of apple cider/apple cider beer
• 2 oz. of apple liqueur (optional)
• 1 dash of ground cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp. finely chopped garlic
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped onion
• 2 Tbsp. salt
• 2 Tsp. pepper
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp. onion powder

Instructions:

1. You can find prepared and cut racks of ribs at your local butcher or grocery store. If you have a full rack of ribs, cut them in half if you’re cooking in an oven in your home kitchen or on a typical gas grill.
2. Season ribs with salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder.
3. Lay ribs meat-side down on a baking sheet with an elevated edge. Pour 1 cup of apple cider into the bottom of the pan. Cover the sheet pan completely in aluminum foil.
4. Bake in 325-degree oven for approximately 2 ½ hours or until meat is tender enough to be pulled from the bone.
5. Combine BBQ sauce, 2 oz. apple cider beer, apple liqueur, garlic and onion in a medium-sized bowl and mix.
6. Apply canola oil to char-grill and heat to medium-high.
7. Place ribs on grill meat-side up and baste with BBQ sauce.
8. Grill for approximately 3 minutes.
9. Flip so meat-side is down, and grill for 3 minutes. Apply BBQ sauce to the back of the ribs.
10. Grill ribs until BBQ sauce has started to caramelize and meat has started to get crisp edges.
11. Let ribs rest for 5 minutes then brush with BBQ sauce before cutting them into 1 and 2-bone pieces. Serve with remaining BBQ sauce on the side for dipping.