This bananas foster recipe is deceptively easy! There’s no need to fear a little fire when you’ve got a foolproof method for making this delicious dessert. Made with brown sugar, butter, bananas, nuts, and a little bit of rum, this bananas foster is quite literally bananas– it’s that good! I love how simple it is to make and how impressive it looks to set on fire.
My first time seeing bananas foster made in New Orleans was a real trip! There’s nothing quite as exciting as a waiter setting your meal on fire tableside! But there’s no need to travel to Bourbon Street to get your a fix with this easy bananas foster recipe! It’s ready to eat in just under 30 minutes at home with simple ingredients and easy to follow steps.
What’s in This Bananas Foster Recipe?
- Butter: Helps the bananas brown in the pan and adds richness to the sauce.
- Brown Sugar: Sweetens the dish and creates a caramelly sauce.
- Bananas: Use perfectly ripe bananas, as they will begin to soften as they cook. Overripe bananas will fall apart when cooked, and underripe bananas will not soften or release their natural sugars.
- Nuts: Pecans or walnuts both work well to add crunch to this recipe.
- Rum: To properly flambé the dish, you will need a rum that is 80-100 proof. I recommend dark, spiced rum for the most authentic flavor. If you choose to use a rum that is lower-proof, you will need to lightly boil the sauce before you can flambé it.
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How to Store and Reheat
While bananas foster is best served immediately after it is made, you can store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Gently reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warm, then serve with cold ice cream. I do not recommend storing bananas foster in the freezer.
Tips for Success
- Slice the bananas just before cooking to keep them from browning too quickly.
- I recommend using a stainless steel or other light-colored pan so that you can easily monitor the color of the sauce.
- You do not need to flambé the bananas if you’re a bit fearful of the flames. Instead, simply cook down the sauce over a light boil for a few minutes.
- You can leave the rum out, or add in some vanilla or rum extract instead.
- Keep the heat on medium to medium-low to avoid cooking down the sauce too fast.
- Add a splash or two of heavy cream before adding the bananas for a richer, creamier sauce.
- When flambéing, do not pour the rum directly from the bottle; this is a potential fire hazard! Instead, measure the rum into a bowl first, then pour from the bowl.
- Use a long, tapered lighter to avoid burning yourself.
- Keep your sleeves rolled up and your hair tied back, and make sure there is not any jewelry or clothing hanging over the flames that could ignite.
- Once lit, shake the pan occasionally to help settle the flames.
- If the flames do not die down on their own, simply cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and turn off the heat.
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy just in case!
- For the best results, serve bananas foster as soon as the flames die out.
Bananas Foster Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter 57 grams (½ stick)
- ¼ cup brown sugar 53 grams
- 2 ripe bananas peeled, halved, and sliced lengthwise
- ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts 113 grams, optional
- 3 tablespoons spiced rum 42 grams
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt optional
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream for serving
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium-sized skillet set over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together until the mixture begins to bubble, about 3-5 minutes.¼ cup unsalted butter, ¼ cup brown sugar
- Place the banana pieces, cut-side down, into the brown sugar mixture. Cook for 30-60 seconds, until just golden. Flip and cook until golden on the other side, another 30 seconds. Add the nuts to the skillet, if using.2 ripe bananas, ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- Remove the skillet from the stovetop and increase the heat to high. Pour the rum into the skillet and return it to the stovetop. Using a long wand lighter, carefully ignite the liquid in the skillet. Allow the flames to burn and die down, then remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle in the cinnamon and salt (if using).3 tablespoons spiced rum, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- Scoop vanilla ice cream into 2 bowls, then divide the bananas and sauce between the bowls and serve immediately.2 scoops vanilla ice cream
Notes
- Note: Because bananas foster is cooked quickly, only some of the alcohol burns off. An estimated 75-85% of the alcohol will remain in the dish, so save this one for the adults.
How to Make Bananas Foster Step-by-Step
Melt the Sugar: In a medium-sized skillet set over medium heat, melt ¼ cup of unsalted butter and ¼ cup of brown sugar together until the mixture begins to bubble, about 3-5 minutes.
Cook the Bananas: Place 2 ripe bananas sliced in half lengthwise, cut-side down, into the brown sugar mixture. Cook for 30-60 seconds, until just golden. Flip and cook until golden on the other side, another 30 seconds. Add ¼ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts to the skillet, if using.
Flambé the Dish: Remove the skillet from the stovetop and increase the heat to high. Pour 3 tablespoons of spiced rum into the skillet and return it to the stovetop. Using a long wand lighter, carefully ignite the liquid in the skillet. Allow the flames to burn and die down, then remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle in ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and ⅛ teaspoon of kosher salt (if using).
Serve: Scoop vanilla ice cream into 2 bowls, then divide the bananas and sauce between the bowls and serve immediately.
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