This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Bananas Foster is a classic New Orleans dessert made with sliced bananas cooked in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then served warm over vanilla ice cream. This single serving bananas foster recipe comes together in one skillet in about 10 minutes.
Featured Comment
“I made it exactly as written and it was SO good and so easy. Don’t be intimidated by a ‘fancy’ dessert, you can do this one!!”
– Kay
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick & Easy: Made in one skillet and ready in about 10 minutes.
- Customizable: Add rum for classic bananas foster flavor or leave it out for an alcohol-free version. Flambé if you’d like, or skip it.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and one banana.
- Rich Sauce: The warm caramel sauce coats the bananas beautifully.
- Easily Doubles: Double the ingredients to make dessert for two.
Bananas Foster is a classic New Orleans dessert made with sliced bananas cooked in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then spooned warm over vanilla ice cream. Created at Brennan’s restaurant in the 1950s, it became famous for its rich sauce and dramatic flambé.
Growing up in New Orleans, this is a dessert I’ve known and loved for years. This single serving version keeps all the flavor of the original while making just enough to enjoy right away.
Looking for more New Orleans-inspired recipes made for one or two? Try my seafood gumbo for one, single serving jambalaya, mini muffuletta, or our small batch pralines recipe!
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch bananas foster recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Butter: Use salted or unsalted butter to make the sauce. If using unsalted, add a small pinch of salt. Coconut oil can be used for a dairy-free option.
- Brown Sugar and Cinnamon: Brown sugar melts into the butter to create the classic caramel sauce. Light or dark brown sugar both work. Cinnamon adds warmth.
- Banana: One ripe banana is ideal. Choose a banana that is yellow with a few brown spots for the best flavor and texture when cooked. If you’ve got an extra banana, use to make banana bread with one banana or a mini caramelized banana upside down cake.
- Rum: Rum is traditional in bananas foster and is perfect for flambéing, but it’s optional. Light or dark rum both work. Leave it out for an alcohol-free version. Use extra rum in a small batch of rum balls.
- Single Serve Vanilla Ice Cream: Vanilla ice cream is the classic topping and pairs well with the warm caramelized bananas.
Recipe Variations
Here are a few easy ways to customize this single serving bananas foster:
- Warm Spices: Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom for extra depth.
- Nutty Addition: Stir in chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch.
- Maple Flavor: Replace part of the brown sugar with maple syrup for a slightly different sweetness.
- No Rum: Skip the rum for an alcohol-free version that’s still rich and flavorful.
How To Make Bananas Foster
These step-by-step photos show how to make a single serving of bananas foster. Ingredient amounts and full instructions are in the recipe card below.
Personal Note: Flambéing is optional in this recipe. Skipping it still gives you the same rich banana and caramel flavor, with no flames involved.
Before You Begin: This dessert cooks quickly, so have all ingredients measured and ready before you start.
- Melt the butter in an 8-inch or 10-inch stainless steel or cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat.
- Stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon. Cook until the sugar melts and the sauce is smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Slice the banana and add it to the skillet. Stir gently until the banana softens, about 1 minute.
- Measure 2 tablespoons of rum into a small bowl before adding it to the skillet. This helps prevent spills or flare-ups. Let the sauce simmer briefly. For an alcohol-free option, use a dash of vanilla or rum extract instead.
- If flambéing, carefully tilt the pan and ignite the rum with a long lighter. Let the flames burn out naturally. If flames last longer than expected, cover the pan with a lid and turn off the heat.
- Spoon the warm bananas and sauce over a scoop of vanilla ice cream and serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- Measure the rum into a small bowl before adding it to the pan. Never pour rum directly from the bottle to prevent spills or flare-ups.
- Flambéing is optional. Skipping it still gives you the same rich banana and caramel flavor.
- If flambéing, use a long-reach lighter and carefully tilt the pan to ignite the alcohol vapors.
- If the flames last longer than expected, cover the pan with a lid and turn off the heat.
Serving Suggestions
Bananas Foster is traditionally served warm over vanilla ice cream, but here are a few other easy ways to enjoy it:
- Bananas Foster French Toast: Spoon the warm bananas and sauce over a single serving of French toast for a rich breakfast-style treat.
- Bananas Foster Sundae: Add whipped cream and chopped nuts for a simple dessert upgrade.
- Over Pancakes or Waffles: Drizzle over small batch pancakes or a waffle for one.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Flambéing is optional. Skipping it still gives you the same rich banana and caramel flavor without using an open flame.
Yes. Simply leave out the rum or use a small dash of vanilla or rum extract instead.
This single serving bananas foster recipe takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.
Yes. Double all ingredients and use a slightly larger skillet to make dessert for two.
Bananas Foster is best enjoyed right after cooking. The sauce thickens and the bananas soften as it sits.
RELATED: 15 Easy Dessert Recipes For One
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this easy bananas foster recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Bananas Foster For One
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar -packed
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 medium banana -sliced
- 2 tablespoons rum or use vanilla or rum extract
- vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions
This dessert cooks quickly, so have all ingredients measured and ready before you start.
- Melt the butter in an 8-inch or 10-inch stainless steel or cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat.
- Stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon. Cook until the sugar melts and the sauce is smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Slice the banana and add it to the skillet. Stir gently until the banana softens, about 1 minute.
- Measure 2 tablespoons of rum into a small bowl before adding it to the skillet. This helps prevent spills or flare-ups. Let the sauce simmer briefly. For an alcohol-free option, use a dash of vanilla or rum extract instead.
- If flambéing, carefully tilt the pan and ignite the rum with a long lighter. Let the flames burn out naturally. If flames last longer than expected, cover the pan with a lid and turn off the heat.
- Spoon the warm bananas and sauce over a scoop of vanilla ice cream and serve immediately.
Notes
- Measure the rum into a small bowl before adding it to the pan. Never pour rum directly from the bottle to prevent spills or flare-ups.
- Flambéing is optional. Skipping it still gives you the same rich banana and caramel flavor.
- If flambéing, use a long-reach lighter and carefully tilt the pan to ignite the alcohol vapors.
- If the flames last longer than expected, cover the pan with a lid and turn off the heat.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I have a Mardi Gras event tomorrow night and will be making Bananas Foster. I found this “for one” recipe and had to test it.
I pre-measured ingredients before starting the recipe. It was fast, easy, and delicious! Thank you.
Sounds like you’re all set for a fantastic Mardi Gras event! I’m so glad you gave the recipe a test run and enjoyed it. Bananas Foster is such a fun and delicious dessert—perfect for celebrating! Hope your event is a great one!
The one time this year I bought bananas and was itching to try this recipe. I made it exactly as written and it was SO good and so easy. Don’t be intimidated by a ‘fancy’ dessert, you can do this one!!
The recipe for one serving was large, my husband and I shared it and I was plenty for the two of us. Excellent!
Joanie, since finding your recipe I have made this several times and really enjoy it. I had it tonight and found I was out of rum. Let me share with you it tastes just as wonderful with Southern Comfort.
I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying the recipe! Southern Comfort is such a clever choice — its smooth, slightly fruity flavor works beautifully here, and being a New Orleans liqueur, it feels right at home in Bananas Foster.
Joanie, this was excellent. The exact portions of each ingredient Blended perfectly. Why spend 9 or 10 dollars for a head waiter, who also wants a tip, to prepare this at tableside when you can make it at home for a buck. Every bit is good if not better than restaurant. I forwarded the recipe to my kids and granddaughter who does not like bananas. I told her, simple, use a fresh sliced Peach
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe and love your idea of using peaches instead of bananas—that’s such a great twist. I hope your kids and granddaughter enjoy it too!
perfect measurements and overall a delicious, quick, and easy treat. Thank u!
Yummmo and exactly what I was looking for. Only alcohol I had on had was an amaretto liqueur-added the tiniest bit.
I spooned this over a slice of banana bread I made yesterday, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
I am making this recipe for 6 dinner guests. Do I have to make one at a time?
To accommodate 6 dinner guests, you can easily scale up the ingredients of the Bananas Foster recipe. Just multiply the quantities by the number of servings you need. Remember to use a larger skillet to ensure there’s enough space for the increased amount of ingredients.
My first one dish kitchen total failure. Brown sugar was burned and bitter by the time it finally melted enough to blend with the butter. Don’t think I’ll try it again.
Hi Rosemary, it sounds like the heat may have been a little too high which made the brown sugar burn faster. As we demonstrate in the recipe video, the brown sugar and butter should meld together very easily. If the brown sugar burned, it tells me the heat was likely too high.
Definitely try again with lower heat. Bananas foster is so delicious, cheap and easy to make at home. You will be glad that you did.