Soft fresh bananas are simmered in a flavorful sauce with flavors of rum, cinnamon, and brown sugar then served over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This classic Banana Foster is a super quick and easy dessert you’ll love! 

If you want something quick and easy for desserts, you’ve come to the right place. This recipe only requires a handful of ingredients and takes no time to make. 

WHAT IS BANANA FOSTER?

Banana Foster is a classic dessert that originated from New Orleans. It features fresh bananas cooked in an indulgent cinnamon buttery sugar sauce, then ignited with gentle flames by adding a bit of alcohol and served with vanilla ice cream, as a crepe filling, or pancake topping.

Fresh bananas are naturally sweet, but once they are soaked in buttery caramel sauce, they’ll take on a more robust flavor and give you the perfect sauce that you can pour over anything or eat on its own. Pure heaven.

ALCOHOL SUBSTITUTE

The traditional recipe uses rum in it; however, you can make a non-alcoholic version. If you want to substitute the alcohol in this recipe, you can substitute equal amount of juice like apple juice, pineapple juice, or heavy cream. It will still be delicious although it might not be a traditional recipe and you won’t be able to flambé the dish. 

BANANA FOSTER INGREDIENTS

• Salted butter: just add a pinch of salt if using unsalted butter
• Brown sugar: either light or dark
• Ground cinnamon
• Ripe banana
• Dark rum: optional in this recipe. You can substitute the alcohol part with apple juice, pineapple juice or heavy cream. However, you’ll have to use the rum if you’d like to do the flambé. 
• Vanilla ice cream
• Walnuts or pecans, or your preferred nuts.

HOW TO MAKE BANANAS FOSTER

Make The Sauce: In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon, and mix to combine. Cook the mixture over low medium heat until the sugar has dissolved, and everything is combined. The sauce at this time will be smooth.

Add in Bananas: Stir in the bananas. Cook 2-3 minutes, until the bananas are slightly softened.

Add Rum and Flambé: after the bananas are added and slightly cooked, remove your pan from the heat. Pour the rum over the bananas and use a long lighter to ignite the rum. Gently shake the pan around until the flames burn off, about 30 seconds. 

Serve. Spoon banana and sauce over vanilla ice cream. Add in chopped nuts if desired. Enjoy!

NOTE

This recipe may involve working directly with fire. Therefore, all precautions MUST be taken to avoid injury and prevent fire. During the cooking, a fire extinguisher should be available all times, in case you want to put out the flame.

If you make this recipe, let me know by tagging me on Instagram or tell me all about it in the comments section down below. I’d love to see your creations from your kitchen 🙂

More Banana Recipes:

• Banana Bread
• Banana Pancake
• Nutella Banana Mousse