Bananas Foster New Orleans Classic (Print Version)

Caramelized bananas with brown sugar sauce served warm atop vanilla ice cream, inspired by New Orleans flavors.

# What You Need:

→ Fruit

01 - 4 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced lengthwise then halved

→ Sauce

02 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
03 - 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
04 - 1/4 cup apple juice or orange juice
05 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - Pinch of salt

→ To Serve

08 - 4 scoops vanilla ice cream

# Directions:

01 - Place a large skillet over medium heat and add the butter. Allow it to melt completely.
02 - Stir in the brown sugar, juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Cook while stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to bubble, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Add the banana slices to the skillet. Gently cook for 2 to 3 minutes, spooning the sauce over the bananas repeatedly, until they are softened but still hold their shape.
04 - Take the skillet off the heat source to stop the cooking process.
05 - Divide the vanilla ice cream equally among four serving dishes.
06 - Spoon the warm bananas and caramel sauce generously over the ice cream. Serve immediately while the sauce is still warm and the ice cream is cold.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The way the warm sauce melts into cold ice cream creates the most incredible temperature contrast that feels like eating dessert at a fancy restaurant
  • You get all those deep caramel flavors without needing any special ingredients or alcohol, making it perfect for unexpected guests or weeknight treats
02 -
  • Once the sauce starts bubbling, it can go from perfect to burnt in seconds, so have your bananas ready to drop in before you even turn on the stove
  • The sauce thickens quickly as it cools, so work efficiently and serve immediately for that perfect sauce consistency
03 -
  • A cast iron skillet holds heat beautifully and creates those gorgeous caramelized edges on the bananas
  • Let your bananas ripen fully until they are covered in brown spots—the difference in flavor and sweetness is remarkable

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