Description
Make this classic New Orleans dessert, Bananas Foster, right in your kitchen. You get caramelized bananas in a rich, buttery rum sauce served warm over vanilla ice cream. It is a quick and indulgent treat ready in under 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup dark rum (for authentic flavor)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 firm, ripe bananas, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise
- 1/4 cup banana liqueur (optional, for deeper flavor)
- Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium heat.
- Add the brown sugar and cinnamon to the melted butter. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes a smooth, bubbly sauce, about 2 minutes.
- Add the sliced bananas to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for about 1 minute per side until they are slightly softened and coated in the sauce.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Carefully pour the dark rum into the skillet. Return the skillet to the heat.
- Tilt the skillet slightly toward the flame (if using a gas stove) or use a long match to ignite the rum. Allow the alcohol to burn off, swirling the pan gently until the flames subside. This creates the signature flambé.
- If you are not comfortable with flambé, simply let the rum simmer for 1 minute to cook off the raw alcohol taste. Stir in the banana liqueur now, if using.
- Spoon the warm bananas and sauce immediately over scoops of cold vanilla ice cream. Serve this dessert over ice cream right away.
Notes
- Use firm, slightly under-ripe bananas; very soft bananas will break apart when sautéed.
- For a non-alcoholic version, substitute the rum with 1/4 cup of strong brewed coffee or extra banana juice/extract mixed with a little water.
- If you want a copycat experience, use high-quality vanilla bean ice cream.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 7 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop Sauté
- Cuisine: Southern/New Orleans
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (with ice cream)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 75mg