Quick and Easy Bananas Foster
Bananas Foster is a simple dessert that comes together in minutes, but it’s full of rich, complex flavors that make it truly special. You’ll put this recipe on frequent repeat!
Bananas Foster is dangerously easy to make. And by that I mean, you might just find yourself whipping it up every week (or even every night) once you discover how delicious and how quick it is. Delicious and quick is a dangerous combination, especially for a dessert! I first had this in the famous New Orleans Brennan’s Restaurant in the French Quarter and I dream about it almost daily.
Not only does Bananas Foster taste amazing, but this classic New Orleans dessert is easy to prepare and it’s presentation makes it a perfect dessert for any occasion—it’s simple enough for any old day, but fancy enough for a party. Whether you’re looking to impress your dinner guests or simply treat your family on a weeknight, this recipe will NOT disappoint.
The natural sweetness of the bananas is intensified when they’re caramelized in butter and brown sugar. And let’s not forget about the rum! The whole shebang is served with vanilla ice cream, which melts into a saucy, divine mess of deliciousness. So. Freaking. Good.
Ingredients for Bananas Foster
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this easy bananas foster recipe. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Butter – Because Bananas Foster is all about the butter, I use salted butter! It’s a big part of the flavor. If you’re sensitive to salt, you can use unsalted butter.
- Dark Brown Sugar – This isn’t just for sweetness, but also a deep molasses flavor. You can use light brown sugar if you don’t have dark brown.
- Rum – Rum adds a warm, boozy flavor to the sauce; omit this or use a rum extract for a non-alcoholic version. For a richer flavor, use dark rum or you can also use a banana liqueur for an extra hit of banana flavor.
- Cointreau – A citrusy liqueur that enhances the flavor; you can substitute this with triple sec or orange juice.
- Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor. Vanilla bean paste would be good too!
- Ground Cinnamon and Nutmeg – These bring warm, cozy notes.
- Bananas – The star of the dish; use ripe, but firm bananas for the best texture.
- Walnuts – Pecans would also work well if you prefer them!
- Vanilla Ice Cream – Use a good one! The kind with flecks of vanilla bean! I like making my Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Recipe if I have time.
How to Make Bananas Foster
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full printable instructions.
- Start the sauce. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, rum, Cointreau, vanilla, and spices. Cook for a minute or two.
- Add bananas and walnuts. Stir the banana and walnuts into the rum sauce in the skillet, getting them all saucy. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the bananas soften a bit.
- Serve. Spoon the caramelized Bananas Foster over a scoop of vanilla ice cream and top with additional chopped walnuts or toasted pecans.
Tips for Making Bananas Foster
These additional pointers will help you make the best Bananas Foster!
- Make it extra tipsy. For even more boozy flavor, add a splash of rum to the skillet just before serving. The alcohol won’t have time to cook off.
- This isn’t banana bread. Don’t use over-ripe bananas! Save them for banana bread! But don’t use unripe bananas either. Too soft and you’ll end up with a skillet of mush; not ripe enough and you won’t get that banana flavor. You want the banana peel to have a few brown spots, like it’s lightly freckled.
- Don’t overcook. You want the sauce to be thick and sticky and the bananas to just begin getting tender. If you leave them in the pan too long, the bananas will get mushy and the sauce will be impossible to scrape from the skillet.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Bananas Foster is best enjoyed right away, but if you happen to have leftovers, you can store them for later. Transfer the bananas and sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When reheating, use a skillet over low heat to gently warm the bananas and sauce, being careful not to overcook the bananas.
If you don’t want to risk overcooking the bananas and you want to reinvent your dessert, blend the leftover Bananas Foster with vanilla ice cream and milk to make a Bananas Foster milkshake. Bliss!
What to Serve With Bananas Foster
I love serving this recipe over homemade vanilla ice cream, but there are countless ways you can serve up Bananas Foster. Here’s some inspiration:
- Best New York Cheesecake Recipe
- Homemade Vanilla Pudding
- The Best No Bake Cheesecake
- Easy Creme Brûlée Recipe
- The Best Pound Cake
Get the Recipe: Bananas Foster Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ⅔ cup dark brown sugar
- 3 ½ tablespoons rum
- 1/2 tablespoon cointreau
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 bananas, peeled and sliced lengthwise and crosswise
- ¼ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
- 1 pint vanilla ice cream
Equipment
- skillet
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, rum, cointreau, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. Bring to a low boil and cook 1-2 minutes.
- Place bananas and walnuts in the pan. Cook until bananas have softened, 1-2 minutes.
- Serve hot over vanilla ice cream sprinkled with chopped walnuts, if desired.
More Banana Recipes
- Banana Pancakes
- Pina Colada Banana Bread with Coconut Cream Glaze
- Banana Blueberry Muffins
- Chocolate Banana Smoothie
- No Bake Banana Split Pie
- Banana Pudding Cookies
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