New Orleans Style Bananas Foster

I couldn't get through Mardi Gras week without making Bananas Foster, made famous by Brennan's Restaurant, located in the French Quarter. This recipe is really very easy, but impressive to make and absolutely delicious!

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.

Add the banana liqueur and stir to blend into the caramel sauce.

Add bananas, making sure to flip and cook on both sides until the bananas start to soften and lightly brown, about 3 minutes.

Quickly remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the rum. Return pan to heat and shake back and forth to warm the rum and flame the pan. (Or, off the heat, carefully ignite the pan with a match and return to the heat.) Shake the pan back and forth, basting the bananas, until the flame dies.

Divide the ice cream among 4 dessert dishes. Gently lift the bananas from the pan and place 4 pieces on each scoop of ice cream. Spoon a generous amount of sauce over the ice cream and bananas, and serve immediately.

New Orleans Style Bananas Foster

4 ripe bananas, peeled
½ stick butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup banana liqueur
¼ cup dark rum
8 scoops vanilla ice cream, divided

Cut the bananas in half across and then lengthwise.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Add the banana liqueur and stir to blend into the caramel sauce. Add bananas, making sure to flip and cook on both sides until the bananas start to soften and lightly brown, about 3 minutes. Quickly remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the rum. Return pan to heat and shake back and forth to warm the rum and flame the pan. (Or, off the heat, carefully ignite the pan with a match and return to the heat.) Shake the pan back and forth, basting the bananas, until the flame dies.