Our easy Bananas Foster recipe is just like the original from Brennan's restaurant, with caramelized bananas served with vanilla ice cream. This impressive dessert is ready in less than 15 minutes.
Prep all ingredients and set them on the counter next to the stove where you will prepare the bananas foster. Also have a longer lighter withing reach, for the flambé. Tie hair back, and lift any loose sleeve up.
Slice each banana once in half vertically, and once in half horizontally.
Caramel Sauce: Add butter to a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once melted, stir in brown sugar and cinnamon. Cook over medium high-heat, stirring constantly, just a few minutes until bubbly and slightly thickened to syrup consistency. Stir in vanilla.
Add banana slices and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Flambé*: Tilt pan down slightly away from you and add the rum. Use a long lighter to immediately and carefully ignite a flame, to flambé the bananas foster. When the fire is going, carefully lift pan flat, a few inches above the stove burner and shake/swirl it gently back and forth, until the flames subside.
Serve: Add one or two scoops of vanilla ice cream to the center of a bowl. Add one banana slice to each side to cradle the ice cream. Spoon caramel sauce on top. Top with chopped walnuts, if desired.
Notes
Rum: You could also substitute bourbon, banana liqueur, or brandy. Add more if you like a boozier flavor.Alcohol Free: The flames cook off most of the alcohol, but if you need a substitute, add 1 ½ teaspoons rum extract, or more, to taste, at the same time as the vanilla. You won’t be able to flambé the sauce. Flambé: Make sure to have hair tied back, sleeves rolled up, and no other burners on, next to the pan. Bananas Foster French Toast: Stir in a splash of heavy cream to the sauce. Serve over French toast.