Walnut Bananas Foster Recipe

If you're looking for a dessert that looks elegant, but is actually quite easy and inexpensive to make, then the dessert you're looking for is bananas foster. In this bananas foster rendition, courtesy of recipe developer Christina Musgrave, all of that buttery, brown sugary, rum-filled goodness remains the same, but with the added textural bonus of walnuts. "My favorite thing about this dish is it's rich and sweet flavor," Musgrave says. "It's truly a delicious dessert."

One of the best things about bananas foster is that it manages to repurpose a very inexpensive ingredient — bananas — into something quite decadent. All told, you just need a handful of ingredients and 15 minutes of time to make this walnut bananas foster, and you can dress it up with vanilla ice cream or enjoy it as is. This dish is great for serving at a party or gathering, but who's stopping you from making it as an after-dinner dessert on a Monday night? With a recipe this simple and delicious, you really can make it anytime your sweet tooth has a craving. 

Bananas are the star of the show here, so you'll need a few of those, sliced lengthwise. To make them ultra-rich, you'll need some butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. And, it wouldn't be bananas foster without rum, so you'll also need 3 ounces of that. Finally, you'll need walnuts, along with some optional (but recommended) vanilla ice cream for serving.

Place a large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add in the butter, and allow it to melt slightly, then follow that up with the brown sugar, rum, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Stir it all up, and bring the sweet and sticky mixture to a simmer.

After your syrup has simmered for a few minutes, add in the sliced bananas, cut-side down, along with the walnuts. Allow these ingredients to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. "The bananas are perfect when they're brown, and the sauce is starting to thicken," Musgrave advises. 

Once the bananas are adequately caramelized, you can serve them. Be sure to drizzle on some extra sauce, and top with plenty of walnuts. And, optionally, you can serve the dish with vanilla ice cream — it's not strictly mandatory, but the cool creaminess definitely complements the dish well. 

If you're unsure when to serve this dish, Musgrave has you covered. "This would be a great, unexpected birthday dessert, or a great way to celebrate a special occasion," she says. Sorry, birthday cake, your time to shine is over — walnut bananas foster is in.