Bananas Foster Pancakes

This banana foster pancakes recipe is one of the best pancake recipes I've ever made! It makes a stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes with warm bananas foster topping that's sweet and caramelized with walnuts for a little crunch. Perfect for brunch if you're hosting, or for a sweet breakfast that your whole family is sure to love!

Why These are The Best Banana Pancakes You'll Ever Make

These bananas foster pancakes taste like a nostalgic, warm, delicious dessert. Except it's acceptable to eat them for breakfast! The fluffy pancakes this recipe makes are delicious on their own, and they're made even more irresistible with caramelized bananas on top.

You can dress them up even more with vanilla ice cream or maple syrup! Any way you choose to enjoy these banana foster pancakes, they'll keep you reaching for more.

Trust me, after I made this recipe for the first time, it became my favorite pancake recipe! That's really saying something cause I've made some delicious pancake recipes, like these churro pancakes and McDonald's buttermilk pancakes.

Ingredients You'll Need

For the pancakes:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugara
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• 1 medium egg
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon melted butter

For the caramelized bananas sauce:

• 1 ½ tablespoon butter
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoon dark rum
• 3 tablespoon chopped walnuts
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 2 bananas

How To Make Bananas Foster Pancakes

Step 1: Mix dry ingredients

First, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, and cinnamon to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine everything, then set it aside.

Step 2: Mix wet ingredients

In a large bowl, add the buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk well until everything combines.

Step 3: Make pancake batter

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients, whisking throughout until the mixture is just combined into a smooth pancake batter.

Step 4: Cook pancakes

Grease a nonstick pan and place it over medium heat. Pour ¼ cup of batter onto the hot pan, spreading it out if necessary to form a circle. Cook about 2-3 pancakes at a time, depending on the size of your pan. Flip the pancakes once they're firm around the edges and have bubbles on top that have popped. I cook mine for about 2-3 minutes on the first side. Anyway, cook the banana pancakes on the other side until golden brown, then transfer them to a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter until all pancakes are cooked.

Step 5: Make banana foster topping

After you cook all of the pancakes, or at the same time, place another pan over medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, add rum, brown sugar, salt, walnuts, and cinnamon. Stir until the brown sugar has dissolved, and then let the mixture cook for 1 minute until thickened and bubbling. Stir in the vanilla extract and banana slices and toss to coat the bananas in the sauce. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, then remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl.

Step 6: Serve

Stack the pancakes onto two plates, add the caramelized bananas and sauce over the stacks, and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Expert Tips To Make Perfect Banana Foster Pancakes

• Do not overmix the batter. When you add the dry ingredients to the wet, whisk just until you do not see big streaks of flour. A few small lumps are totally fine. Overmixing makes pancakes tough instead of fluffy.
• Let the batter rest for 5 to 10 minutes. This gives the flour time to hydrate and the leaveners time to start working, which helps you get taller, softer pancakes with a better crumb.
• Use room temp buttermilk and egg if you can. Cold ingredients can make melted butter clump and can slow down how evenly the batter cooks. Even 10 minutes on the counter helps.
• Control your heat. Medium is the sweet spot. If the pan is too hot, the outside browns before the inside cooks. If it is too low, you will not get that golden color. A good sign is when a tiny drop of water dances on the surface, not aggressively sizzles.
• Watch for the right flip cues. Flip when the edges look set and you see bubbles forming and popping on top, usually around 2 to 3 minutes. If you flip too early, they spread and tear. If you flip too late, they can dry out.
• Keep cooked pancakes warm the right way. Covering with a clean kitchen towel is perfect because it keeps them warm without trapping steam the way a tight lid would. Trapped steam can make pancakes soggy.
• Use bananas that are ripe but not mushy. For the Foster topping, you want bananas that hold their shape when tossed in the sauce. If they are overly brown and soft, they can turn into banana jam, still tasty, just a different vibe.
• Add the bananas at the end. Let the butter, rum, brown sugar, and spices bubble for a minute first so the sauce thickens. Then toss in the bananas for 1 to 2 minutes so they get glossy and caramelized without breaking down.
• Be careful with the rum. You are simmering it, not setting it on fire. Keep the heat at medium and let it bubble so the alcohol cooks off and the flavor mellows. If you want to skip alcohol, you can replace the rum with a splash of apple juice, pineapple juice, or even a little extra vanilla and a tablespoon of water, and it will still taste amazing.
• Toast the walnuts for bigger flavor. If you have an extra 3 minutes, toast the walnuts in a dry pan until fragrant, then add them to the sauce. It makes the whole topping taste more “Bananas Foster” and less just sweet.
• Serve immediately. The Foster sauce is at its best right off the heat, thick, glossy, and warm. Once it cools, it thickens up a lot, so this is one of those recipes that is worth timing so everything hits the plate hot.

Banana Foster Pancakes FAQS

Can I make the pancake batter ahead of time?

You can mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately the night before, then combine them right before cooking. Fully mixed batter is best cooked soon after mixing because the baking soda and baking powder start working right away and you can lose some fluff if it sits too long.

Can I make Banana Foster topping ahead of time?

Yes, but it is best fresh. If you make it ahead, store it in the fridge and reheat gently in a pan with a small splash of water to loosen the sauce. Add fresh banana slices at the end if you want the prettiest texture.

What can I use instead of rum in Bananas Foster?

If you do not want alcohol, swap the rum for 2 to 3 tablespoons apple juice, pineapple juice, or orange juice. You can also use water plus a little extra vanilla. You will still get a sweet, caramelized sauce with the same cozy flavor.

How do I keep pancakes fluffy and not flat?

Do not overmix the batter, let it rest 5 to 10 minutes, and make sure your pan is at medium heat. Also check that your baking powder and baking soda are fresh, because old leaveners are one of the biggest reasons pancakes turn out flat.

Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?

Buttermilk gives the best flavor and texture, but you can make a quick substitute by adding 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit 5 minutes. It is not identical, but it works well in pancakes.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Store pancakes in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a toaster for crisp edges or microwave briefly for a soft texture. Store the Foster topping separately and reheat gently in a pan or microwave in short bursts so the sauce does not split.

Can I freeze Banana Foster pancakes?

Yes. Freeze the pancakes (without the topping) in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Reheat in the toaster or oven. The topping can be frozen, but the bananas soften more after thawing, so it is best made fresh if you can.

More Pancake Recipes

• Bisquick pancakes
• Denny's pancakes
• IHOP pancakes
• Fluffy pancakes without milk
• Sweet potato pancakes