Cayenne Cinnamon Baby Back Ribs with Maple Glaze

Cayenne Cinnamon Baby Back Ribs with Maple Glaze

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon cayenne powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
3 pounds pork baby back ribs
1/4 cup maple syrup

Preheat oven to 375F (or prepare your grill. We're using the oven because it's too hot and too rainy to grill!). Remove the tough membrane from the underside of the ribs.

In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, garlic powder, both paprikas, ground cinnamon, cayenne and salt. Place ribs on a double layer of tin foil (large enough to wrap around ribs) and season the ribs on both sides with the rub. Fold over foil and completely cover ribs. Place ribs on baking sheet or roasting pan.

Bake 1-1/2 hours or until meat starts to pull away from bones.

Carefully open foil. Brush ribs with maple syrup. Return to oven (leaving foil open) and roast 30 minutes. Carefully turn ribs over, brush with remaining maple syrup and bake for 15-30 minutes more or until ribs are very tender and browned.

These were very good! Falling apart tender, nice flavor, but a little too sweet for my taste. I'll definitely use the rub again, but instead of maple syrup I'll switch to a vinegar based BBQ sauce...but that's strictly my personal preference. I'll also double the cayenne.

Adapted from a recipe at steamykitchen.com