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The New Orleans-inspired bananas foster recipe, aka banana flambe, is a secret weapon of any date night. Bananas are flambeed in a simple caramel rum sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream. Decadence!
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What is Bananas Foster
The story goes during the 1950's in New Orleans, Brennan's restaurant owner, Owen Brennan, asked Chef Paul Blange to create a dessert with bananas, a locally imported commodity. So he cooked bananas in a caramel rum sauce, ignited it, and topped it with vanilla ice cream. It's such a romantic dessert, no wonder it was born in New Orleans.
Bananas foster recipe ingredients
- butter - add a pinch of salt if using unsalted butter
- brown sugar - light or dark
- cinnamon stick - or ground cinnamon
- ripe bananas - preferably not overripe
- dark rum - bourbon works too
- vanilla ice cream
- pecans - or walnuts (or preferred nut)
How ripe should bananas be for bananas foster dessert?
I prefer to use firmly ripened bananas with very yellow (not browned) skin for bananas foster. They'll soften up when cooked in the rum sauce and I don't want them too soft. If you want a recipe that uses brown-skinned overripe bananas, check out my ridiculously moist Banana Bread recipe. It's banana heaven!
How to make bananas foster
- Make the easy caramel sauce by heating butter, brown sugar, vanilla, pecans, and cinnamon in a skillet.
- Add bananas - saute until softened
- Flambe - (optional) see details in recipe card below
- Baste - cook bananas in the sauce
- Serve - top with ice cream, and devour!
What is banana flambe?
Flambe is when alcohol is added to food and ignited. When you make bananas foster flambe, rum or bourbon is added to a buttery, brown sugar mixture and set alight briefly. You can make bananas foster as a banana flambe, or not. Either method will make a delicious caramel rum sauce.
I'll state the obvious here, but ALL precautions MUST be taken to avoid injury and prevent fire. As with any cooking activity, a fire extinguisher or fire blanket should be on hand at all times.
Can you make Bananas Foster ahead of time?
You could make the caramel sauce ahead of time and refrigerate until needed. However, unless you're hosting an event, I find it just as easy to make the sauce as needed because it comes together in a snap. You wouldn't want to make banana flambe ahead because the bananas will become mushy.
Is Bananas Foster alcoholic?
Alcohol is a key ingredient of classic bananas foster. The flambe process happens very quickly and 75% of the alcohol is retained even after cooking. So, if a person is avoiding alcoholic desserts, omit the alcohol entirely and enjoy this dessert without it.
Can you substitute the alcohol in bananas foster?
If you want to substitute an ingredient for the alcohol in this recipe, you can substitute equal amount of apple juice, pineapple juice, or heavy cream. It might not be a classic bananas foster recipe and you won't be able to flambe (ignite) it, but it will still be delicious.
How to serve bananas foster
One of my favorite things about bananas foster is that you can serve it in the skillet you cooked it in. I used this cute 8" cast iron skillet, which serves 1-2 people. You can serve bananas foster in any dish other than a skillet, I just have a soft spot for iron skillet desserts.
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📖 Recipe
Bananas Foster
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Note about scaling
When scaling (2x or 3x), the light gray ingredient amount doesn’t scale. Please adjust those accordingly.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
- 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
- pinch Cinnamon, or cinnamon stick
- 1 ripe Banana, sliced lengthwise
- 2 tablespoons Dark Rum, or bourbon
- 1-2 (4 ounce scoops) Vanilla Ice Cream
- 1 tablespoon Pecans or Walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Melt BUTTER in skillet over medium heat.
- Add BROWN SUGAR and CINNAMON, stirring until sugar dissolves.
- Add BANANA and cook a few minutes on both sides until softened.
- Turn off stove burner and pour in RUM.
If you don't want to ignite / flambe
- Turn burner back on and allow sauce to cook a few minutes, stirring as needed, then serve.
To make banana flambe, there are 2 ways you can ignite the flame. BE CAREFUL either way and do not stand over the skillet.
- Option 1) Gas stove burner: Turn burner on and adjust to LOW heat. Carefully tip the skillet into the flame to ignite the alcohol, shaking the pan around to baste the bananas until the flame burns off.Option 2) Match or lighter: Keep stove burner off and use a long match or lighter to ignite the alcohol, shaking the pan around to baste the bananas until the flame burns off.
To serve bananas foster
- Serve bananas and sauce in the warm skillet or transfer to a bowl. Add ICE CREAM and PECANS.
Recipe Notes
Equipment
- 8” cast iron skillet or any skillet
- chef's knife or paring knife
- wire whisk or fork
- matches or fireplace lighter (if igniting)
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on brands, ingredients, and portions.
Laura McCormick says
I want to try this recipe but have a question on this...how many can be served with this recipe?
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Laura, the recipe yields (2) 1-cup servings, so it's perfect to share on date night.
Jeff says
This bananas foster hits the spot every time. It's easy to make and is so good, it makes me look like I know what I'm doing. My kind of recipe!
The Kitchen Girl says
Yes! This is my kind of review 🙂 Thanks, Jeff!
Adam Lane says
This recipe is spot on, this has been my favorite forever.
I had it at Brennans once. One of those life altering experiences.
I must say as far as that first paragraph, and also as a bachelor...do you not know the meaning of "Secret"? Aaaaahhhh. i thought this was my secret.
Traci Antonovich says
Adam...wow, thanks SO much! Glad to know you're a fan of this too! Yep, the secret is out
Veena Azmanov says
This is such a unique recipe. Cant wait to try this Banana Foster recipe. I love Bananas fried too. Definitely this dish will turn out to be amazing .
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Veena! Yep, when those fried bananas hit the ice cream...heaven! 😉
Krista Price says
I never would have thought Bananas Foster was so simple! This is my grandmother's favorite dessert! I can't wait to share this with her, and THANK YOU for sharing! 🙂
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Krista! Hope your grandmother approves 😉
Deepika says
What a delicious recipe. And as you said, it is a perfect date night recipe for sure. I will try this for me and my husband sometime soon.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Deepika! I think husbands will love this dessert 🙂
Amy says
Wow, I had no idea that bananas Foster was so easy to make. I guess because it has a fancy name, I always thought it would be more complicated!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Amy, I think the flambe is what throws people 😉 Hope you love it!
Jessica Formicola says
I love a good bananas foster, and this recipe looks great! I can't wait to try this!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Jessica! Hope you love it like I do 🙂
Louise says
Bananas Foster! My absolute favorite dessert of all time! And those skillets... I NEED those skillets! Great recipe and I will be making this for sure!
Traci Antonovich says
I'm pretty crazy about it myself 😉 Hope you get to make this one!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
I just yelled out to my hubby, "I just found a delicious banana foster recipe." He answered with a "Yay." Your recipe looks so delicious and easy! I'll be making your banana foster this weekend for sure!
Traci Antonovich says
Aww Elaine, thank you ...I lovvvvve hearing that! You'll love this recipe...so easy and satisfies that comfort food dessert craving 🙂
Jessica Robinson says
Such an amazing dessert! Love that they are made in little cast iron skillets!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Jessica! The skillets definitely make this dessert so much easier (to not share LOL) 😉
Susie says
Bananas Foster is one of my favorite desserts, yet I do not have a good recipe. This one is perfect! Thanks for sharing!
Traci Antonovich says
Awesome Susie! So glad to hear that 🙂
Priya says
yummy! I would love to try this Bananas Foster Mini Skillet Flambé!
Traci Antonovich says
Awesome Priya...hope you get to try it out and love it 🙂
Gunjan says
What a cool recipe. I love anything banana and this looks like an interesting one.
Traci Antonovich says
Yay Gunjan, love hearing that...thanks! 🙂
Jeni @ Biscuits & Booze says
I've spent most of my adult life in New Orleans, and one thing I can't ever get over is how delicious - and actually easy! - bananas foster is. Your recipe looks perfect, and it's giving me all the cravings! Also, that orange olive oil cake and chocolate ganache - YUMMY!
Traci Antonovich says
Well Jeni, this makes my week! I consider it a complete honor to have someone who's done the time in NOLA pay a compliment like that. Thank you...and lucky YOU! I've wanted to live there for many years!
Emily says
Bananas foster always makes me drool but I've never had it in a skillet. I bet it's to die for!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Emily! Yeah, I thought of this a few years back and had to try it! Now, it's the only way I make the dessert 🙂
Iryna says
Already drooling even by looking at this dessert! I don't have small cast iron skillet, but I think I might be able to double the recipe and make it in my 10-inch skillet. Looks absolutely delicious!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Iryna! Yep, I'd do exactly that if I were you. For this recipe post, I just liked the idea of putting my mini skillets to use, but you can use any size skillet and dish it out into single portions once it's done. Or, eat it straight out of the pan 😉
Sandi says
Flambé sounds like a lot of fun!!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Sandi...it's fun and delicious! Although in the restaurants, they make it look so much more dramatic...I like to play it safe LOL 🙂
Dana says
This looks and sounds amazing! I've never had banana foster, but I do have little skillets so obviously it's meant to be!
Traci Antonovich says
I really really love your attitude Dana...so cute! I think it is meant to be 😉
Jacque says
Not much can beat a great Banana Foster 🙂
Traci Antonovich says
I'm 100% with you on this! In fact, I think I'm gonna make them again over the weekend...been a while 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Colleen says
Can we just stop and talk about how much I love this idea!! Cuteness and deliciousness and portion control all rolled into one! Brilliant!
Traci Antonovich says
You're too sweet! And you totally get me 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and making my day!
Calleigh Keibler says
I swear I could hear my waistline screaming for mercy right now.. this is such a perfect treat.
Traci Antonovich says
Omgosh, me too! My waistline, my booty, my thighs....all of it! But I throw it all out the window for this one any day 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
David @ Cooking Chat says
an impressive dessert! only 10 minutes, that is a good feature too.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks David! It truly looks impressive, but it's so easy. I call this a bachelor's secret weapon 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Brian Jones says
Flambe away I say, it always looks so spectacular, a great way to show off and in reality very little danger of spreading fire unless you are super negligent as the flash point of alcohol is so low.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Brian! Ya, the flame is very low...the only way to play it safe in my book 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Helen of Fuss Free Flavours says
This looks like one of those recipes that is worth breaking the rules for. A lovely mix of ingredients to make a real comforting and treat worthy dessert. What could be better than carmelized brown sugar on banana, with smooth icecream. Blissful.
Traci Antonovich says
Honored to hear it, Helen! I'll break ALL the rules for this dessert...it's so crazy good! Thanks for stopping by...and calling it blissful 🙂