Bananas Foster has tender bananas in a buttery rum sauce and it’s delightfully delicious!

This dish needs just a handful of ingredients and is easy to make! Serve with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

close up of Banana Foster in a white bowl with ice cream

Bananas Foster is sometimes made table-side at fancy restaurants but good news! It’s actually easy to make at home (with or without the flames)!

What is Bananas Foster?

Bananas Foster is most certainly an American dish with roots in New Orleans (and it’s a dish I learned to make in cooking classes in New Orleans).

The dish was made famous by Brennan’s restaurant and named after Richard Foster, chairman of the New Orleans Crime Commission. It is celebrated worldwide for its caramel rum flavor and impressive preparation.

In this dish, bananas are cooked in butter and brown sugar with rum. The rum is often “flambéed” or lit on fire to burn off the alcohol. (I’ve included directions with and without flames below). Try our Bananas Foster French Toast for a fancy & flavorful breakfast!

cutting bananas on cutting board to make Banana Foster

What’s in Bananas Foster?

BANANAS (Of Course!) Choose bananas that are ripe but still firm. You want to be able to cook them while having them still hold their shape.

ALCOHOL The original recipe uses both rum and banana liquor. If you have banana liquor on hand, add it in but if not, I find the dish still equally delicious without it.  Cooking the rum into the sauce gives it a special flavor.

BUTTER & MORE Lots of real butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon make this dish truly delicious!

NO ALCOHOL? Rum definitely gives bananas foster a traditional flavor. If you don’t have (or can’t have) alcohol, you can add a bit of juice in place (apple/pineapple/orange) and a bit of rum extract. The dish won’t be able to be ignited and the flavor will be different but still delicious.

How to Make Bananas Foster

  1. Melt butter, sugars, and cinnamon in a saute pan (per recipe below).

process of making sauce for Banana Foster

  1. Add sliced bananas and cook until they are softened and coated in the sauce.

adding bananas and frying in sauce to make Banana Foster

  1. Add the rum to the pan and ignite it (optional) using a long-stem lighter. Swirl the pan about 30 seconds or until the fire burns out.
  2. Serve immediately over ice cream.

Delicious Desserts to Try!

Did you make this Bananas Foster? Be sure to leave a comment and a rating below! 

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plated Banana Foster with ice cream
5 from 18 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Bananas Foster

Bananas Foster is an easy, elegant, and deliciously sweet dessert!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
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Ingredients  

  • ½ cup butter unsalted
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 bananas halved lengthwise
  • 3 ounces dark rum
  • ice cream for serving

Instructions 

  • Combine butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon over medium heat in a large saucepan. Cook 3-4 minutes stirring occasionally.
  • Add bananas and cook until softened, about 4-5 minutes.
  • Add in rum and with a long lighter, ignite rum (optional, see note). Allow the flames to burn out (about 30 seconds).
  • Serve bananas over ice cream and spoon sauce over top.

Notes

If you do not want to ignite the rum, you can whisk it into the sauce before adding the bananas and skip lighting it. Allow rum to cook with the sauce.
Option: Add 3 oz banana liqueur along with the rum.
Choose bananas that are ripe but firm so they hold their shape.
No Alcohol? Rum definitely gives bananas foster a traditional flavor. If you don't have (or can't have) alcohol, you can add a bit of juice in place (apple/pineapple/orange) and a bit of rum extract. (This cannot be ignited).
5 from 18 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 537 | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 215mg | Potassium: 372mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 63g | Vitamin A: 766IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American

 

Bananas Foster cooking in a pan with writing
Bananas Foster and ice cream in a bowl with writing
ingredients to make Bananas Foster with final dish and a title
Bananas Foster with ice cream in a bowl with writing

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. Terrific elegant dessert, but so easy to make. Didn’t want to light it up so just cooked off the rum and banana liquor for about 10 minutes before I added the bananas. Then let the bananas sit in sauce till served. Love many of your recipes5 stars

  2. This sounds AMAZING! FINALLY a banana foster that’s simple. I love your recipes they are simply the best. Most part easy and flavorful I’ve loved all your recipes. Thank you.