These Easy Pan-Fried Bananas make an amazing dessert in less than 10 minutes! Enjoy them with ice cream, yogurt, in crepes, or on their own.

These Fried Bananas are soooooo tasty! They only take a few minutes to make and they transform boring old bananas into a drool-worthy dessert. Impress your guests and family members with this yummy treat!
Sweet and tender bananas fried with sugar, butter, and amaretto (or rum)… Who can say no to that?
But, first things first. Let’s learn how to pick the right banana.
Fried Bananas Video Tutorial
Best Bananas for This Recipe
I recommend staying away from overripe bananas. I still CAN use them, but they won’t hold shape as well. I find it’s best to use bananas that have just turned yellow. That way, they offer sweetness and hold their shape better.
Ingredients for Fried Bananas
- Bananas. As mentioned above, it’s best to use yellow bananas, or even slightly green ones would work.
- Sugar. Use regular white sugar, or substitute with coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup.
- Butter. For a vegan option, coconut oil can be used. It does separate a bit when mixed with sugar, but it still tastes fantastic!
- Liquor. Use Amaretto or Rum. When you mix the liquor into the butter and sugar, it creates an amazing flavor. It also helps to make the sauce in which we’ll fry the bananas. If you don’t want to use alcohol, you have two options: 1) omit the liquid altogether, or 2) use water instead. This option is great if you are looking to have some sauce around the bananas that can later be used to drizzle on the dessert.
How to Make Fried Bananas
1. Peel the bananas and cut them into ½-inch thick slices.
2. Heat up a skillet over medium heat. Add the sugar and wait just until it starts to melt and starts turning golden.
3. Add the butter, and stir, until fully melted.
4. Pour in the Amaretto (or Rum). Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
5. Arrange the bananas in a single layer. Bring the heat back to medium. Fry the bananas in this sauce for 1 minute, flip, and cook for another minute. Remove from heat and serve.
How to Serve Fried Bananas
There are many ways to serve this tasty treat:
- As is. Just plate them and drizzle some of the sauce on top.
- Over Ice Cream. Vanilla ice cream pairs really well with these. Add some of the pan sauce on top!
- In Crepes. Or over crepes. 🙂
- On Waffles or Pancakes. Add a small (or big!) scoop of ice cream and these bananas on top. Now, that's an impressive breakfast!
- With Dutch Babies. Use them as a topping for your Dutch Baby Pancake.
- With French Toast.
Tip and Tricks
Don’t slice too thin! If you slice the bananas too thin, you’ll have difficulties with flipping them, and they will overcook.
Prepare the ingredients. Have all of the ingredient ready and nearby because once you start frying, it will take just minutes to cook it and you will be busy stirring and watching the bananas.
Don’t use overripe bananas. The bananas get softer when you cook them, so overripe bananas will get really mushy.
Be careful with the liquor. The liquor is flammable, as you know, so be cautious when you pour it into the pan, especially if you’re using a gas stove.
How to Store and Reheat
If you have leftovers, refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to three days. When ready to eat, reheat them in the skillet and serve.
More delicious recipes:
Fried Bananas
Ingredients
- 2 medium bananas
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 3 tbsp. Amaretto or Rum
Instructions
- Peel the bananas and cut them into ½-inch thick slices.
- Heat up a skillet over medium heat. Add the sugar and wait just until it starts to melt and starts turning golden.
- Add the butter, and stir, until fully melted.
- Pour in the Amaretto (or Rum). Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
- Arrange the bananas in a single layer. Bring the heat back to medium. Fry the bananas in this sauce for 1 minute, flip, and cook for another minute. Remove from heat and serve.
Nora Eagel says
I've tried fried bananas while on vacation in South America, and I've been craving them for months. Found this recipe by accident on Pinterest and they were better than the ones I tried. Simply amazing. I will be making these often now.
Tania Sheff says
Thank you, Nora! I am glad you enjoyed these bananas!
Julia says
I made these today and they were so GOOD! I used Amaretto, as suggested. Will make again.
Tania Sheff says
Thank you, Julia!
Michelle says
Tania, this recipe <3 I love bananas and used to love the Banana's Fosters served at a restaurant by my college. Thanks for the inspiration to make it again!
Tania Sheff says
Thank you, Michelle!