McDonalds Sweet Sour Sauce Copycat (Printable version)
Tangy, sweet dipping sauce ready in 15 minutes using pantry staples.
# What You'll Need:
→ Base Ingredients
01 - 1/2 cup apricot preserves
02 - 1/4 cup canned pineapple juice
03 - 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
04 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
05 - 3 tablespoons ketchup
06 - 2 teaspoons soy sauce
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Thickener
08 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
09 - 2 tablespoons cold water
→ Optional Seasonings
10 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
# How to Prepare:
01 - In a small saucepan, combine apricot preserves, pineapple juice, vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and salt.
02 - Place over medium heat and whisk until smooth and heated through, about 3-4 minutes.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with cold water until fully dissolved and smooth.
04 - Pour the cornstarch mixture into the saucepan while stirring constantly to prevent lumps.
05 - Bring to a gentle boil, whisking frequently, until sauce thickens and becomes glossy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
06 - If using, stir in garlic powder and onion powder for additional depth of flavor.
07 - Remove from heat and let cool slightly before serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- You will finally stop buying those tiny dipping packets and wonder why you ever did
- Your freezer stash of nuggets just found its best friend for life
02 -
- The sauce thickens considerably as it cools so do not panic if it looks thin while still hot
- Refrigerating overnight makes the flavors develop exponentially better than same day
03 -
- Always whisk the cornstarch into cold water never hot or it will clump instantly
- The sauce keeps perfectly in the refrigerator for up to two weeks if it lasts that long