Bananas Foster

Name: Bananas Foster
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1 banana (ripe, yet firm); 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 tablespoon butter; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 ounce banana liqueur; 1/2 ounce rum; 1 scoop vanilla ice cream

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 5 mins

Total: 15 mins

Serving: 1 serving

15 ratings

Write a Review

Add a comment

Bananas Foster is not only a dessert—it's a show. It was created by chef Paul Blangé at Brennan's restaurant in New Orleans back in 1951. At that time, New Orleans was a major hub for the import of bananas from South America. The chef created a dessert where bananas are sautéed in a butter and brown sugar sauce flavored with cinnamon. Banana liqueur and rum are then added to the dish and ignited with a flame. This technique is called flambé meaning "flamed" in French. After the alcohol is heated in the pan, it is then ignited to partially burn off the strong alcohol, while maintaining the flavors of the liquor in the dish. This process reduces the alcohol content of the food modestly, boiling off about 25 percent of the alcohol and producing a dramatic effect.

This showstopping dessert is perfect when served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The contrast between the warm bananas and sauce with the cold ice cream is a delight. Spoon extra sauce over the ice cream for added flair.

Expert Tutorial: How to Flambé Foods

1 ripe yet firm banana
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 ounce banana liqueur
1/2 ounce rum
1 scoop vanilla ice cream

Gather the ingredients.

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni
Peel banana and slice lengthwise.

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni
Melt brown sugar and butter in a small saucepan.

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni
Add banana and sauté until tender.

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni
Sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Add banana liqueur and rum. Gently warm alcohol and coat bananas in sauce.

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni
Ignite sauce with a flame.

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni
Baste bananas in liquid until flame burns out.

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni
Serve bananas foster immediately with a scoop of ice cream, and enjoy.

Tips

Have all your equipment and ingredients needed to flambé your dish ready before starting the process.
Cold alcohol will not ignite. Be sure to heat it just until bubbles begin to form around the edges of the saucepan. You will be able to see vapors rise from the liquid in the pan.
A tableside flambé can be part of the show. If you are planning to flambé in front of your guests, light the dish at the table, but far away from guests and flammable objects.

Warning

Never pour alcohol directly from a bottle into a pan that is near an open flame. The flame can follow the stream of alcohol into the bottle and cause it to explode.
Do not carry the dish while flaming.
Be sure to use a flambé pan or large skillet with rounded, deep sides and long handle for safety.
Keep a large metal lid on hand, to cover the dish in case your flambé gets out of hand. Always remember to use caution as you will be dealing with a liquid that is on fire.

Bananas Foster French Toast Breakfast Casserole

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
498	Calories
19g	Fat
69g	Carbs
4g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories	498
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g	25%
Saturated Fat 12g	60%
Cholesterol 60mg	20%
Sodium 152mg	7%
Total Carbohydrate 69g	25%
Dietary Fiber 4g	14%
Total Sugars 54g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 11mg	53%
Calcium 119mg	9%
Iron 1mg	3%
Potassium 590mg	13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.