Bananas Foster

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword Bananas Foster, best-bananas-foster-recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings servings (may vary)

Calories 322kcal

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar or dark brown sugar
6 medium bananas peeled and sliced thru the middle lengthwise, then cut each piece in half (4 equal pieces)
1/2 cup dark rum
2 Tbsp banana liquor or banana schnapps (optional)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
vanilla ice cream for serving

Melt the butter in a large heavy bottomed skillet over a medium-high heat. To the pan add brown sugar, vanilla, ground cinnamon and salt. Stir constantly cooking until the sugar dissolves and the sauce bubbles, about 2 minutes.
Peel bananas and slice in half lengthwise then slice each half crosswise for 4 equal pieces. Arrange banana slices in the pan in a single layer in the brown sugar mixture. Turn to coat on all sides.
Remove pan from heat and add rum and banana liquor, if using. Return to the stovetop over medium heat, and carefully ignite using a long lighter or a long matchstick for safety.
Simmer just until the flame goes out, it should burn off quickly. (Pro Tip: Have nearby a lid to put over the pan if the flame gets too high for comfort.) Use a large spoon to baste the bananas with the thick caramel sauce.
Spoon the caramelized bananas mixture over vanilla ice cream and serve immediately.
Alternative to Flambéed: You can add the rum to the pan and not light it on fire, instead simmering until the rum has mostly cooked off and the caramel sauce has reached a consistency similar to honey.

- Rum - You can use dark rum or light rum. I've also made bananas foster using Kentucky bourbon.

- Rum Substitution - You could use orange juice or pineapple juice in place of alcohol. When doing so, use rum extract to amp up the flavor and there's no need to flambe.

- Nuts - Nuts aren't always included in classic bananas foster, but they do lend a crunch and texture to the dish. You can add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts.

- Adjust the Amount of Bananas for Servings - This recipe can easily be adapted or cut in half, if you need a smaller amount.

- Butter - You can use salted butter. When doing so, omit the salt in the ingredients.

- Use a Skillet with a Lid - It's helpful to have nearby a lid to place onto the skillet if you need to extinguish the flame for any reason.

- Safety Tip - You should always measure the alcohol and add to the pan using a measuring cup and not pour directly from the bottle. This is especially important for safety if you're cooking over an open flame.

- Serving Options - You can serve this classic bananas foster dessert over ice cream, over pancakes or waffles with whipped cream or pound cake.