Bananas Foster

Step 1

Peel both bananas and place them on a cutting board with one end pointing away from you. Cut each banana lengthwise in half, then cut each half lengthwise again, creating four long strips per banana.

Step 2

Scoop vanilla ice cream into two bowls, about 2 tablespoons per bowl, and place them in the freezer so the ice cream stays cold until needed.

Step 3

Place the 12-inch skillet on the stove and set the heat to medium. Add 3 tablespoons butter and let it melt, about 45 seconds, until the surface is foamy and slides easily when you tilt the pan.

Step 4

Add 3 tablespoons brown sugar to the melted butter and stir constantly with a wooden spoon for 30 seconds until the mixture looks wet and clumpy, like damp sand.

Step 5

Sprinkle 0.25 teaspoon cinnamon and 0.125 teaspoon nutmeg over the sugar mixture and stir for 15 seconds until the spices smell strongly fragrant and are evenly mixed in.

Step 6

Carefully arrange all eight banana strips flat in a single layer in the hot sauce, curved-side down, making sure each piece touches the bottom of the skillet.

Step 7

Let the bananas cook undisturbed for 90 seconds until the bottoms turn golden brown and smell caramelized, like warm butterscotch.

Step 8

Using tongs, carefully flip each banana strip over and cook for another 60 seconds until the second side is also golden brown and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

Step 9

Remove the skillet from the heat and let it sit for 10 seconds so the flames will be less intense when the rum ignites.

Step 10

Pour 3 tablespoons rum into the skillet away from your face, then carefully tilt the skillet toward a lit match or lighter held just above the surface to ignite the rum, creating flames.

Step 11

Let the flames burn for 15 seconds while watching safely from a distance, then gently shake the skillet back and forth to help the flames subside naturally.

Step 12

Stir 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract into the sauce until evenly mixed, about 5 seconds.

Step 13

Remove the bowls of ice cream from the freezer and place one bowl to the left of each plate or serving bowl.

Step 14

Spoon 4 banana strips and 2 tablespoons of warm caramel sauce over each bowl of ice cream, arranging the banana pieces in a crisscross pattern on top.

Step 15

Serve immediately so the warm bananas and sauce soften the ice cream as the diner eats.