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    Home » Recipes » Frozen Dessert Recipes

    Quick and Easy Banana Flambe Sundaes

    Published: May 6, 2021 · Modified: May 6, 2021 by Sandi Gaertner · 8 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    a pinterest collage pin of the bananas flambe sundae

    Get ready to go wild over these delicious banana flambe sundaes! I caramelize ripe bananas into syrupy goodness and top it over cold vanilla ice cream. This flambe banana recipe is awesome in so many ways!

    a white bowl filled with ice cream and caramelized bananas
    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe is great:
    • Ingredients notes:
    • How to ripen bananas:
    • Recipe step by step directions:
    • Flambe safety tips:
    • Tips and Recipe FAQ:
    • More delicious ice cream recipes:
    • Recipe
    • Community

    I overbought bananas this week, which is pretty common for me. I love bananas, and including bananas in many of my gluten free banana recipes. This time I decided not to bake because it is already getting hot here in the Bay Area. I decided to try a copycat of a dessert I had a couple of years ago.

    Ripe bananas cooked in brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, and cardamom come out with a thick caramel-like syrup. This is my new favorite topper for ice cream!

    This is my new summer favorite! If you love ice cream as much as we do, you will want to check out all of my gluten free ice cream recipes on the blot!

    Why this recipe is great:

    This recipe is one of my favorites. It is full of caramelized sweet banana flavor. You can make this flambe bananas recipe with whole, sliced, or mashed ripe bananas. It is delicious over ice cream or add on top of my gluten free brownies with ice cream and bananas.

    Top this delicious dessert with my sweet cinnamon candied walnuts!!

    Ingredients notes:

    banana flambe ingredients
    • Bananas - The riper, the better! See below for easy tips to ripen your bananas if you need them riper.
    • Honey - There is no need to use expensive honey for this recipe. Use a cheap one as it won't affect the final flavor.
    • Butter - To make this recipe dairy-free, use vegan butter.

    How to ripen bananas:

    1. Place your bananas on a baking sheet and bake at 225º F for 20 minutes.
    2. If you are not in a rush, you can place your bananas in a brown paper bag and let them sit on the counter for a couple of days. (Don't forget to close the bag!)
    3. You can grill the bananas. Use a knife to slit down the peel. Place the bananas on the grill. Close the lid and cook at 300º F for 15 minutes.

    Recipe step by step directions:

    photos of steps 1 and 2 of banana flambe sundaes

    Step 1: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sugar and cinnamon and stir until all the sugar melts.

    Step 2: Add the sliced bananas, cardamom, and vanilla, and stir to blend.

    photos of steps 3 and 4 of banana flambe

    Step 3: Continue to cook the banana mixture on low heat while the sauce thickens. Flambe is optional, if you choose NOT to flambe the bananas, add the rum to step 2 with the bananas so the rum cooks down as it caramelizes.

    Flambe safety tips:

    The choice to flambe the bananas is totally optional. When you flambe your bananas it further cooks off the dark rum. To flambe, add the rum, then tilt the pan very slightly so the rum in the bananas catches the flame. (You can also use a LONG fireplace match to start the flame.)

    1. NEVER pour the alcohol into the pan from the bottle. This is dangerous. Pour the measured amount of alcohol into a small dish and pour into the pan from that.
    2. Have a fire extinguisher handy on the counter just in case. There is so little alcohol, it burns off very quickly in just 3-4 seconds.

    Step 4: Allow to cool to warm and serve over ice cream.

    Adding a scoop of flambe banana slices onto a scoop of vanilla ice cream

    Tips and Recipe FAQ:

    Can you use different fruits?

    You can use different fruits like apples or pineapple in this recipe.

    What liquor is best for flambe?

    I used dark rum because it works with the ripe caramelized banana flavors. You can also use brandy.

    Is the liquor gluten free?

    Yes, hard alcohol is gluten free. The gluten is removed in the distillation process.

    Will the alcohol cook off if I don't flambe the bananas?

    The alcohol will cook down, but you want to make almost a reduction sauce to cook down the alcohol.

    How long will the caramelized bananas keep fresh?

    The bananas will keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

    You may also love this Air Fryer Banana recipe because it is a quick way to caramelize bananas.

    a bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with caramelized banana slices

    More delicious ice cream recipes:

    • Earl Grey Ice Cream
    • Caramel Chip Ice Cream
    • Pineapple Sorbet
    • Lemon Curd Ice Cream

    Recipe

    a white bowl filled with ice cream and caramelized bananas

    Banana Flambe Sundaes

    Sandi Gaertner
    An incredible banana flambe dessert made with caramelized bananas over ice cream.
    5 from 3 votes
    an egg free allergen icon
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    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Total Time 16 mins
    Course Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 365 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 ripe bananas * see note
    • ¼ cup butter
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons honey * see note
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2 tablespoons dark rum * see note

    Instructions
     

    • In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sugar and cinnamon and stir until all the sugar melts.
    • Add the sliced bananas, cardamom, vanilla, and rum and stir to blend. Cook for 3 or 4 minutes until the bananas are warm. Turn the heat to low and simmer until the sauce is thickened.
    • Scoop ice cream into individual serving bowls and top with the bananas and sauce. Serve at once.

    Notes

    1. Traditionally the bananas are sliced in half and then vertically, but you can simply slice them into bite-size rounds.
    2. The dark rum is optional. It will cook down if it is reduced in the banana flambe caramel sauce.
    3. Also, once the rum is hot, you can remove the skillet from the burner and set fire to the rum to remove the alcohol content but leave the flavor. 
    4. This banana flambe mixture will keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

    Flambe safety tips:

    The choice to flambe the bananas is totally optional. When you flambe your bananas it further cooks off the dark rum. To flambe, add the rum, then tilt the pan very slightly so the rum in the bananas catches the flame. (You can also use a LONG fireplace match to start the flame.)
    1. NEVER pour the alcohol into the pan from the bottle. This is dangerous. Pour the measured amount of alcohol into a small dish and pour into the pan from that.
    2. Have a fire extinguisher handy on the counter just in case. There is so little alcohol, it burns off very quickly in just 3-4 seconds.

    How to ripen bananas:

    1. Place your bananas on a baking sheet and bake at 225º F for 20 minutes.
    2. If you aren't in a hurry, you can put your bananas in a brown paper bag and let them sit on the counter. (Don't forget to close the bag!)
    3. You can grill the bananas. Just slit down the skin and place on a grill. Close the lid and cook at 300º F for 15 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 365kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 111mgPotassium: 473mgFiber: 3gSugar: 50gVitamin A: 430IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Taryn

      July 26, 2021 at 11:40 am

      5 stars
      This is one of our favorite desserts! It reminds me of bananas foster I had many years ago in New Orleans.

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        July 28, 2021 at 4:46 pm

        New Orleans is on my bucket list :-).

        Reply
    2. Nellie Tracy

      July 26, 2021 at 9:44 am

      5 stars
      Banana flambe is one of my favorite desserts. Such a great recipe for a make at home version! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        July 28, 2021 at 4:46 pm

        I am glad you enjoyed it :-).

        Reply
    3. Maria

      May 12, 2021 at 2:59 pm

      I don’t know if I miss a step or something. In the ingredients it is calling for cardamom and vanilla. Sit is not mentioned in the steps when to use these ingredients. Can you help with this?

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        May 12, 2021 at 3:03 pm

        Hi Maria, add the cardamom and vanilla with the bananas. I will clarify more in the recipe. Thank you!

        Reply
    4. Feebee

      May 12, 2021 at 11:50 am

      I freeze overripe bananas: can you use them from frozen?

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        May 12, 2021 at 1:11 pm

        That should be fine to use frozen 🙂

        Reply

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