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Classic Restaurant-Style Bananas Foster with Rum Flambé

Close-up of caramelized bananas foster topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel drizzle, and coconut flakes.
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Make the classic New Orleans dessert, Bananas Foster, at home. This recipe features bananas caramelized in a rich, buttery rum sauce, traditionally served over vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 firm, ripe bananas, peeled and sliced lengthwise
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup banana liqueur (optional, for flavor)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup dark rum (e.g., Myers’s or Gosling’s)
  • Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Instructions

  1. Place the sliced bananas in a bowl and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Set aside.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.
  3. Add the brown sugar to the melted butter and stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to bubble, creating a sauce. This takes about 2 minutes.
  4. Add the sliced bananas to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for about 1 minute per side until they begin to soften and caramelize slightly.
  5. If using banana liqueur, pour it over the bananas now. Cook for 30 seconds.
  6. Remove the skillet from the heat. Carefully pour the dark rum into the skillet.
  7. Return the skillet to the heat and immediately tilt the pan slightly toward the flame (if using a gas stove) or use a long match to ignite the rum. Allow the flames to burn out naturally. This is the flambé process.
  8. Once the flames subside, gently stir the bananas to coat them completely in the buttery rum sauce.
  9. Serve the warm Bananas Foster immediately over scoops of cold vanilla ice cream.

Notes

  • If you prefer an alcohol-free version, substitute the rum with 1/4 cup of strong brewed coffee or extra banana liqueur, and skip the flambé step.
  • Use firm, slightly under-ripe bananas; very soft bananas will break apart during cooking.
  • For the best flambé, ensure your rum is at room temperature before adding it to the hot pan.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookerycommand.com/bananas-foster-recipe-classic-new-orleans-dessert/