Bananas Foster Without Rum

Bananas foster is a famous dessert that was created by chef Paul Blangé at Brennan’s Restaurant in 1951. The name Foster is in honor of a friend of Blangé.

Bananas foster is commonly found in New Orleans restaurants, and thanks to its exceptional flavor, you can find it in many states and countries.

So what is bananas foster? Bananas foster is a combination of bananas with brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, rum, banana liqueur, and butter.

To make bananas foster, you first whip up the syrup with butter, sugar, and spices. Then, you add the bananas to the skillet where they are cooked slightly. The final stage is the liquor flambé.

Many people prefer not to drink liquor or fear flaming because it is a dangerous process. I am in the second group, I prefer not to flambé in my house for fear of ruining the kitchen. This technique is better suited for restaurants that have adequate and equipped kitchens for this purpose. 

I have my own technique for making bananas foster without rum, and I’d like to share it with you today!

Making Bananas Foster Without Rum or Alcohol

Making bananas foster without rum or alcohol is easy!

However, the cooking process is slightly different, so let’s run through the necessary adjustments for making alcohol-free bananas foster.

1. Make a banana puree by mixing bananas with butter, water, sugar, and spices.
2. Cook the banana mixture on the stovetop for a few minutes until it reaches the consistency of syrup. Meanwhile, slice the additional bananas.
3. Add the sliced bananas to the pan. It is only necessary to cook them for three to five minutes until they get the color and flavor of the sauce. The only thing missing is serving hot with ice cream over.

How to Select the Best Bananas for Bananas Foster

For bananas foster, it is best to choose barely ripe bananas. Overripe bananas can be turned to mush during the cooking process.

If you don’t care about the look of your dessert, then you can still make it with overripe bananas since the flavor would be similar, albeit sweeter.

Another important point that you should have with bananas is that they oxidize and turn brown quickly. After peeling the bananas, add a few drops of lemon on top to prevent them from turning dark.

All the banana pieces should be cut evenly. Here’s how to properly slice bananas:

1. After peeling the banana, cut the narrower ends, and use them for the banana puree in the sauce.
2. Cut the banana crosswise in half.
3. Take each half, and cut it vertically. I prefer to cut the bananas once the sauce is ready.

Bananas foster is normally accompanied by vanilla ice cream. No one can deny that they are a perfect combination.

If you want to get really fancy, you could even make your own vanilla ice cream.

I don’t usually eat bananas foster alone, but I do use it as an ingredient in other dishes. Leftover bananas foster can turn an ordinary breakfast into something extraordinary. One of my favorite ways to serve bananas foster is with pancakes, crepes, waffles, and cakes.

Explore the various bananas foster combinations for yourself! You really can’t go wrong.

Freezing Leftover Bananas Foster

You can prepare this recipe in advance and keep it in the freezer for up to 1 month.

When you’re ready to eat it, you can thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, and heat it in the pan for a few minutes. It might look a little funny, but it will taste like it is freshly made!

For more information, feel free to read our recent article: Can You Freeze Mashed Bananas?

How to Make Bananas Foster Without Rum

Step 1: Gather your ingredients.

Step 2: Melt the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Step 3: Chop the bananas and add to the butter mixture.

Step 4: Add the sliced bananas and cook for 5-10 minutes.

Step 5: Remove from heat. Top with peanuts and vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

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