Bananas foster combines sliced bananas, dark rum, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and cinnamon for a dessert that is absolutely delicious. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of the rum sauce, and an extra dash of ground cinnamon and you’ve got yourself a classic New Orleans dessert. This is sure to become one of your most popular recipes!
Have some leftover bananas? Try my Slow Cooker Banana Nut Cake! It’s the perfect dessert for the holidays. Or make banana jam or banana bread recipes.
What is bananas foster?
Made famous by way of New Orleans, banana foster became a product of the area’s past banana trade from Central and South America. Because bananas hadn’t quite swept the country yet, they were considered an exotic fruit. Turning bananas into bananas foster recipe would happen around 1951 using ingredients that could commonly be found in kitchens at that time.
Recipe Ingredients
- Bananas: Ripe bananas are perfect for this recipe. You’ll only need 3-4 that will be sliced then quartered.
- Dark Rum: Light or dark rum will work. You can also use banana liqueur if you have that on hand.
- Brown Sugar: Helps create the banana foster sauce. Be sure to pack it into the measuring cup and light or dark brown sugar will work.
- Butter: Salted butter adds a delicious taste and texture to the sauce.
- Vanilla: Extract Enhances the flavor of the bananas foster.
- Cinnamon: What’s bananas foster without cinnamon?!
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Peel and cut the bananas in half lengthwise so they are quartered. Add them to the slow cooker cut side up.
Step Two – Drizzle over the sauce.
Step Three – Coat the bananas well.
Step Four – Cook on HIGH for 45 minutes to an hour. Serve immediately.
How to serve:
- This classic dessert is served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of rum sauce.
- These warm bananas can also be served on a bed of freshly cooked pancakes topped with whipped cream.
- Classic bananas foster also pair perfectly with toasted slices of bread or French Toast. Gently shake a dash of powdered sugar on top to finish it off.
Recipe FAQs and Variations
Not necessarily; however, this will allow them to fit into the slow cooker much easier and make for the perfect serving size. Or the bananas can be cut into slices (rounds) instead of long pieces if desired.
Instead of adding a light or dark rum, you can add a rum extract instead. Another option is to substitute the rum using heavy cream.
No. You’ll actually want to turn the slow cooker off after cooking time is up. This is not a great recipe to keep on warm, as the bananas will turn to mush. It will keep at a great temperature just sitting in the slow cooker off for about 30 minutes.
You can make the sauce mix ahead of time and store it in an airtight container for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to make the bananas foster, follow the directions accordingly. You will need to warm the sauce in the mircowave to heat the butter again.
When visiting a restaurant in New Orleans (like Brennan’s Restaurant), they will ignite the rum to create a cool fire show for bananas foster flambé. It doesn’t change the flavor much, just makes it taste a little toasty. Instead make this easy at home version.
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Slow Cooker Bananas Foster
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- ½ cup salted butter
- ½ cup light or dark brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp. light or dark rum
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- 3-4 bananas
For serving
- vanilla ice cream
Instructions:
- In a small microwave safe bowl add butter. Melt in the microwave until hot, not just melted.
- Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, rum and vanilla. Mix well.
- Peel the bananas. Cut them in half in the center, then length wise so they are quartered.
- Add the bananas to the slow cooker, cut side up. Drizzle over the sauce trying to coat the bananas well. If there are some dry spots on the bananas, spoon over the sauce or flip the banana so they are coated.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 45 minutes to an hour. Turn off the slow cooker after cooking time up , not a great recipe to keep on warm, they will turn to mush. But will keep at a perfect temperature just sitting in the slow cooker off for about 30 minutes.
- Serve with 3-4 banana pieces and top with ice cream. Drizzle over the sauce from the slow cooker.
Recipe Notes:
- To make alcohol free: instead of adding a light or dark rum, you can add a rum extract instead. Another option is to substitute the rum using heavy cream.
- Serve promptly, and turn off the slow cooker when ready to serve. For the bananas will continue to cook and turn mushy.
- The bananas can be cut into slices (rounds) instead of long pieces if desired.
- Nutritional values do not include ice cream.
- You can easily double this recipe to feed more people! The cooking time will only need to increase about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
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