Hamdi Saidani This Sunny’s Easy Bananas Foster Recipe is a classic and dramatic dessert, which is made with bourbon and a warm brown sugar sauce. It’s a show-stopping recipe that’s surprisingly easy to make, ready in about 15 minutes.
Sunny’s Easy Bananas Foster Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 bananas
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1 pint vanilla ice cream
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
How To Make Sunny’s Easy Bananas Foster
- Create the sauce base: Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Stir in the orange juice, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Cook the bananas: Slice the bananas (diagonally or in rounds) and add them to the skillet. Stir gently to coat them in the sauce. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, until the bananas are tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Flambé the sauce (with caution!): Turn off the heat completely. Carefully add the bourbon to the pan. Using a long-handled click lighter or match, cautiously ignite the alcohol in the skillet. Let the flames burn out on their own.
- Finish and serve: Once the flames have subsided, turn the heat back on to medium and cook for about 1 minute to reduce the sauce slightly. To serve, spoon the warm bananas and sauce over scoops of vanilla ice cream and sprinkle with chopped nuts.
Recipe Tips
- Safety First When Flambéing: This is the most important tip. Always turn off or remove the pan from the heat source before adding any alcohol. This prevents the flame from traveling up the stream of liquid to the bottle. Never lean over the pan when igniting it.
- How to choose the right bananas: Use bananas that are ripe but still firm. Overripe bananas will turn mushy and fall apart in the warm sauce.
- Can I make this without alcohol? Yes. For a non-alcoholic version, simply omit the bourbon and the flambé step. You can add 1/2 teaspoon of rum extract with the orange juice for a similar flavor profile.
- What if I don’t have pumpkin pie spice? You can substitute it with 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of ground nutmeg and ginger.
What To Serve With Bananas Foster
While classic over vanilla ice cream, this dessert is also delicious served with:
- On top of pound cake or angel food cake
- With French toast or pancakes for a decadent brunch
- Alongside a simple crepe
How To Store Bananas Foster
Refrigerate: This dessert is best made and served immediately. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day, but the bananas will soften considerably. Reheat gently in a skillet. Do not freeze.
Sunny’s Easy Bananas Foster Nutrition Facts
(Approximate values for one serving, assuming 4 servings)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Protein: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fat: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
What is the purpose of flambéing?
Flambéing (igniting the alcohol) serves two purposes. It burns off most of the harsh alcohol content, leaving behind the smoother, sweeter notes of the bourbon. It also adds a subtle caramelized flavor to the sauce and makes for a very impressive presentation.
Can I use a different kind of alcohol?
Yes, dark rum is the traditional choice for Bananas Foster. Spiced rum or brandy would also work well.
Why did my sauce not ignite?
This can happen if the alcohol content is too low (less than 40% ABV / 80 proof) or if the sauce isn’t warm enough. The bourbon should be added to the warm pan off the heat.
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Sunny’s Easy Bananas Foster Recipe
Description
Tender bananas are sautéed in a buttery brown sugar and orange sauce, then flambéed with bourbon for a spectacular and delicious dessert served over ice cream.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Melt butter in a skillet; stir in orange juice, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. Simmer.
- Add sliced bananas and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender and coated in the sauce.
- Turn off the heat. Add the bourbon.
- Carefully ignite the liquid with a long lighter and allow the flames to die down.
- Return to heat and cook for 1 more minute.
- Serve immediately over vanilla ice cream, sprinkled with nuts.
Notes
- Use extreme caution when igniting alcohol. Always remove the pan from the heat before adding the bourbon.
- For best results, use bananas that are ripe but still firm to the touch.
- Dark rum can be used as a classic substitute for bourbon.
- The dessert is best enjoyed immediately after preparation for the perfect warm and cold contrast.
