Halloween Bat Wings
Halloween bat wings may resemble the creatures of the night, but the spooktacular finger foods are beyond delicious. The chicken wings are smoked and then brushed with a sweet and spicy sauce. The result is tender, smoky wings with excellent heat and fruity sweetness for balance. To play up those fruity notes, use cherry or applewood pellets.
Equipment
- Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill
- Z Grills Apple Wood Pellets
- Baking Sheet
- Small Saucepan
- Blender
Ingredients
- 3 pounds whole chicken wings
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 dried chipotle peppers
- 1 heaping tablespoon dried cherries
- 1 heaping tablespoon raisins
- 2 Medjool dates, pitted
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- Juice of half a lemon
- ¼ teaspoon black food coloring, or as needed
Instructions
- Preheat your Z Grills wood pellet grill (preferably with branded applewood or cherry pellets) or other wood pellet grill to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pat the wings dry, then transfer them to a large tray.
- Drizzle the wings with oil—season with garlic salt and black pepper.
- Toss to coat the wings in oil and seasonings.
- Transfer the wings to the grill grates. Make sure they are evenly spaced.
- Close the lid and smoke for 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, remove the stems and seeds from the chipotles. Transfer them to a bowl with the cherries, raisins, and dates.
- Bring a small saucepan filled with water to a boil.
- Pour the water over the contents of the bowl and soak for 15 minutes.
- Transfer the rehydrated chipotles, cherries, raisins, and dates to a blender and pulse until smooth. Add the soaking liquid as needed to achieve the right consistency.
- Pour the puree into a saucepan with the sugar, soy sauce, and lemon juice.
- Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the food coloring. Add more if needed to achieve a rich black hue.
- Strain the sauce to remove any solids (gently press it through the strainer with the back of a spoon). Divide the sauce in half.
- Uncover the grill, brush the wings with half of the sauce, cover the grill and cook for another 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the Halloween bat wings from the grill, brush with the remaining sauce, and serve.
Notes
Food coloring varies by brand. Some are very pigmented while others are not, so start with a small amount and add as you mix to achieve the right color.
