This is my adaptation of a fantastic recipe I discovered in my mother’s cookbook. Actually, it originated with my grandmother Momo during World War 2. The only significant alteration I made was to use applesauce instead of oil. Please feel free to try either.
| Prep Time: | 5 mins |
| Cook Time: | 20 mins |
| Total Time: | 25 mins |
| Servings: | 8 |
| Yield: | 8 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 (14 ounce) bottle ketchup
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard (such as French’s®)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 (16 ounce) packages cocktail-size smoked link sausages (such as Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies ®)
Instructions
- Stir the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves together in a saucepan over low heat; cook until completely warmed, about 5 minutes. Add the sausages and continue cooking until the sausages are heated through, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 404 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 20 g |
| Cholesterol | 70 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 15 g |
| Saturated Fat | 13 g |
| Sodium | 1653 mg |
| Sugars | 18 g |
| Fat | 30 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |
Reviews
I used this recipe because I didn’t have the ingredients for the recipe I normally use. I was thinking to myself that these may be too ketchupy. But very pleasantly surprised! I didn’t have any of the cloves this called for so added a little chili powder. I also threw in some minced onion and substituted dry mustard for regular, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Took these to work and everyone just loved them. This is now my new standard! Anxious to try again with the cloves.
It was a little too ketchupy for us. Next time I’m thinking of adding a touch of Liquid Smoke to see if that will make it more hearty tasing.
Great flavor, but sauce needs to be thicker. Added onion and garlic powder.
What a great flavor these little guys have!
I made these exactly as written. I used French’s honey dijon mustard because that’s what I had in my fridge. These were so delicious! They were all gobbled up. The cinnamon and cloves give them an extra special something. Great recipe!
Pretty good, and ooooo so easy to make. i used a little less ketchup and added some bbq sauce. I also added a ouuple dashes of worsteshire sauce.
A really unique combination but it payed off to make it.
I did not care for this at all. Too much katchup flavor. I ended up putting more brown sugar in to it and reheated it. This was very salty, so I feel I need to balance out the salt with more sugar. I do like the cinnamon and cloves but I’ll have to find another way to incorporate the spices within a different recipe.
These were fantastic – 5 stars because of the unique flavor that’s a refreshing change to the typical BBQ or jellied sauce you usually find in this dish. Was just a bit short on ketchup (about 2 oz) and it wasn’t ketchupy at all as a couple other reviewers commented…maybe that 2 oz. made the difference.
Omitted the cloves, and didn’t have mustard, used Mcd’s honey mustard instead.
This is the sauce I was looking for! It’s something different than the usual sauces. I’m not a fan of ketchup but used it anyways. I did add a little Worcestershire sauce for a beefier taste.
Yum! I made it exactly how stated and love the taste. It’s different than the typical bbq sauce & jelly recipe that people tend to do but in a very good way. Everything blends together nicely and it’s not ketchupy at all. I always make this in a crock-pot since I bring this to my work pot-lucks. I mix all the sauce ingredients in a seperate bowl and pour over the Lit’l Smokies, then stir to coat them. I cover and turn on high for about 2 hours until heated through and then turn to low to keep warm while serving all while stirring occasionally. It’s a keeper in my recipe collection!!
I have always used bottled bbq sauce to make lil smokies, but these were really good and very easy. I added some garlic and onion powders. I will probably make them like this from now on! Thanks.
If you like ketchup these are a winner. I followed the recipe exactly and think it is a winner just like this!
Seemed too ketchup-y. Added more spices, mustard and added a little barbeque sauce.
Delicious, and very easy to make! Used 1 cup of ketchup, and 3/4 a cup of Barbecue Sauce.
We loved these! I did not have yellow mustard so I added spicy instead and it worked well. 5 Stars!
Not bad. Easy, and the flavor is pretty good. We like ketchup, so although the taste was there, it melded well with the rest of the ingredients. I put on the stove on low for about 2 1/2 hours and it was perfect. Thanks for the recipe!
Many compliments on the little smokies, and it was easy too!
I got the courage to go with this recipe with the unusual ingredients of cinnamon and cloves…. glad I did. This is slightly different from your typical BBQ sauce type dish – and certainly not Italian. Rather a tangy/sweet flavor. Since this was an appetizer for a pot luck party – wasn’t looking for a meal – rather tidbits with a different flavor. It was a hit……..
Delicious! I was skeptical of the cinnamon and cloves, but they really made the sauce tasty. I doubled all the ingredients except for the ketchup, and it wasn’t too ketchupy tasting. My husband (a huge little smokie fan) loved it!