This classic Bananas Foster is the real deal when it comes to simple indulgence. We basically drench fresh sliced bananas in a luscious cinnamon spiced caramel sauce then we fire it up with rum and banana liqueur to create the sweet treat of your dreams! And don’t even get me started on what happens when you scoop on that melty vanilla ice cream? Baby bye! It’s pure bliss.
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Y’all know how much I love me some New Orleans. From Loretta’s beignets to Willa Jean biscuits, I can’t wait to hop back on a flight and get my whole life. When I can’t get myself to NOLA for the good eats, I make the classics right in my own kitchen. This bananas foster is the best way to end any NOLA meal boos. If you have some ripe bananas sitting on the counter, get into this recipe ASAP.
What is Bananas Foster?
Bananas Foster is a dessert made famous by Brennan’s restaurant in New Orleans back in 1951. If you’ve never been to Brennan’s, it’s the OG boos. I once had bananas foster there, and it’s a whole experience served table side. In this recipe, bananas get sautéed in butter, brown sugar, and rum. The rum is then flambeed, which basically means it’s lit on fire to burn off the alcohol. Once the liquor evaporates and a caramel has formed, the bananas are served with vanilla ice cream. It’s a straight up dream y’all.
The Lowdown of The Best Bananas Foster Recipe
Cuisine Inspiration: New Orleans baby!
Primary Cooking Method: Sautéing and Flambéing
Dietary Info: Vegetarian but we going high on the sugar, butter and indulgence here boos
Key Flavor: Sweet Buttery Caramelized Banana with a Hint of Rum
Skill Level: Intermediate (we playing with fire on this one!)
Quick Fix Luxury
In a time crunch? No worries boos! This recipe is a high-end, high-reward dessert without the all-day prep time.
Dinner Showstopper
Impress your guests with live cooking and the dramatic flambé. Folks will go crazy!
Beyond Versatile
You can serve this bananas foster recipe over crepes, french toast, ice cream or just about anything you want. This dessert is the definition of versatile indulgence for reals.
Ingredients you’ll need to make Bananas Foster
- Butter: Can’t get that sauce party started without this rich and creamy ingredient!
- Brown Sugar: This deepens the flavors giving those intense molasses vibes.
- Cinnamon: This spice adds a spicy warmth creating a richer caramel sauce base.
- Nutmeg: A little adds a unique peppery flavor that makes the sauce super cozy.
- Salt: You gotta always add a little salt to balance and enhance the sweetness.
- Bananas: They should be peeled and sliced lengthwise so they can soak up that bomb sauce but still maintain good texture. Ripe but not too soft is the key.
- Light Rum and Banana Liqueur: Rum is essential to making traditional banana foster. It gives a boozy warmth while the liqueur enhances all the banana essence It amps things up even more than just using rum.
- Vanilla Extract: Get the good vanilla boo. It’s aromatic notes pair perfectly with this sauce.
How to make Bananas Foster
What to serve with banana foster
- Go Classic: You simply can’t beat serving this up old school with scoops of homemade vanilla ice cream. It’s the OG serving for a reason.
- Breakfast Vibes: Drizzle some of this over fluffy pancakes, buttermilk waffles or a seasonal eggnog french toast, and get your whole life.
- Epic Desserts: Banana foster can be the whole dessert or a pairing. This is wonderful served over slices of sour cream pound cake or cream cheese pound cake with whipped cream dollops.
- New Orleans Menu: End a perfect NOLA meal complete with gumbo, shrimp etouffee, red beans and rice and of course New Orleans Hurricane drinks.
Recipe Substitutions
- Brown Sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar for this. If none is around, grab some granulated sugar and molasses and make your own brown sugar.
- Spices: You can sub in some allspice, a pinch of clove or use a hybrid of spices like apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.
- Rum: Replace rum with whisky or if you don’t want any alcohol, grab apple, orange or pineapple juice. It won’t light a fire but it will still taste lovely.
- Banana Liqueur: I know this is a speciality item so if you don’t want to make the extra splurge, you can use more rum.
- Vanilla: Toss in vanilla bean paste or scrape in some vanilla seeds for more intense flavor. You can also swap in almond extract.
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Recipe Variations and Additions
- Bananas Foster Bread Pudding: This twist is a fun way to honor the classic but turn things up a notch boos!
- Mix Up the Fruit: A mix of pineapple, mango and banana will give some fun tropical vibes.
- Remix the Booze: You can switch out rum with spiced rum, amaretto, Baileys Irish Cream, brandy or coconut rum for a different flavor.
- Brighten it Up: A little lemon, lime or orange zest added to the mix will really create a zesty bright twist in the sauce.
- Coconut Vibes: Substitute coconut milk for some of the butter and add a whole new essence.
Expert Tips and Tricks for making the best banana foster recipe.
- Ripe but Not Too Ripe: Make sure you use ripe banana so that sweet flavor is poppin but don’t use overripe. They should still be somewhat firm. Too soft bananas will turn to mush as soon as you cook them.
- Stay safe boos: We are literally playing with fire so you need to make sure your area is well-ventilated and keep your lid nearby when you light it up. Light with a longer lighter or match, and make sure you tilt the pan away from you for safety.
- Serve Right Away: Make sure you get that bananas foster recipe on plates asap with ice cream to serve. It’s best when its nice and warm, and that sauce is deliciously gooey.
How to store & reheat Bananas Foster
If you wanna store leftovers, it is super simple. Cool it down to room temp first then add to an airtight container and pop in the fridge. When you want to reheat, you can either microwave in 20-30 second intervals, giving a very gentle stir to the sauce in between. Or you can add leftovers to a saucepan and heat on low, stirring gently so the bananas don’t break apart. If you need a bit more liquid, just splash in a little rum to loosen the caramel sauce up.
How long will banana foster last in the fridge?
It should last about 2-3 days.
Can I freeze this banana foster recipe?
Naw boos. I definitely wouldn’t do it. The flavor and texture won’t be the same when you try to thaw and reheat.
Frequently asked questions
You can definitely skip firing it up. It just helps burn off the alcohol faster. If you want to skip this step, simmer the sauce longer to burn off the alcohol more naturally.
Yep you can boos. Just substitute the rum and liqueur with orange, pineapple or apple juice and skip the light up!
Honestly I wouldn’t suggest that you do. It’s best to serve this up immediately after making it.
Make sure you grab a sauté pan or heavy bottomed skillet that applies even heat and can stand the heat! Just don’t use non-stick for this since it isn’t usually built to handle high heat.
Boos, this Bananas foster recipe is a dessert game changer. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a restaurant worthy dish that impresses every dang body. Get out that skillet, and let’s get cooking.
More Banana recipes
- No Bake Banana Cheesecake
- Banana Pudding Cheesecake Blondie recipe
- Homemade Banana Pudding
- Banana Fritters
Bananas Foster
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
- 3 medium sized bananas peeled and sliced lengthwise into long strips
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- pinch of nutmeg
- 1/4 cup light rum
- 1 tbsp banana liqueur
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add butter to a large heavy bottomed pan and melt over medium heat.
- Once completely melted down, whisk or stir in the brown sugar and let dissolve into the butter completely.
- Add banana slices to the sugar mixture and cook for about 2 minutes on one side then turn over and cook for 2 minutes on the other side.
- Add in cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg then finally the rum, banana liqueur and vanilla and cook until it begins to bubble.
- THIS IS OPTIONAL: Once you see it bubbling, use a long lighter and light it but be VERY CAREFUL.
- Continue basting until the flames burn out and then serve with vanilla ice cream immediately.
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My children loved it when I would sprinkle cinnamon into the flame.
We can’t get enough of this recipe! So soooo yummy!! Thank you!
Enjoyed this for dessert last night and it was incredible! The caramel sauce can’t be beat; easily, a new favorite way to enjoy bananas!
OMG, the best! Love bananas foster and this recipe is perfection. Love to serve this with ice cream. It’s a dessert that everyone always loves. Thanks for the great recipe.
This is pretty much my ideal dessert. So simple and delicious.
I LOVE bananas foster, but have always been too intimidated to try making it at home. But I am going to try this, as it sounds much easier than I thought! And I wanted to be transported to New Orleans for a night!