Indulge with this Bananas Foster Manhattan - co*cktail Contessa Dessert co*cktail (2024)

Last Updated on November 5, 2023 by Heather Wibbels

Updated 11/5/23 — As soon as I tried my newest bottle, Giffards Banane du Bresil, I knew I needed this co*cktail: Bananas Foster Manhattan. Bananas Foster is a decadent dessert made of bananas, sugar, rum, and spices served over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Get your spoon out, because you might lick the plate when you’re done.

(Post may contain affiliate links)

Why Bananas Foster in a Manhattan?

The Manhattan co*cktail lends itself to variations quite easily. For more on the basics of the Manhattan and its history, head here. With a common ratio of two to one whiskey to vermouth and a dash or three of bitters, it’s one that’s easy to play with.

Since bourbon already has so many baking spices and caramel notes in it, it’s a natural match for an elevated dessert tipple. The bonus is as a Manhattan co*cktail, it’s served neat, in a fancy chilled glass.

If we’d done this as an old fashioned, as the ice melted we’d have less of the baking spices/vanilla and more of the watered-down caramel and banana flavors.

I didn’t want a creamy take that I might have if I actually made the dessert. Rather, I wanted a sophisticated Manhattan co*cktail that left my palate with the sweet taste of caramelized bananas, bourbon, and a realistic banana taste.

I’m not a fan of most banana-flavored items. Most taste highly artificial. However, this liqueur is just the right combination of intense banana flavor and realistic sweetness without delving into that fake banana flavor.

This was one of those Manhattan co*cktails that I knew would be a success. It’s designed on flavors I love that match well with bourbon.

If you’ve never gotten banana notes on a bourbon, think about banana bread the next time you sip a glass of Old Forester and see if you get a hint of that on the nose and palate.

What’s in the Bananas Foster co*cktail?

Back to the co*cktail. To drive that caramel and vanilla taste, I used bourbon and a bit of salted caramel syrup in this Bananas Foster co*cktail. For the garnish, a slightly caramelized slice or three of bananas on a charred cinnamon stick made the co*cktail sing as I took a sip.

While you could drink this co*cktail any time of day, I’m suggesting this fits best as an after-dinner bourbon co*cktail, designed to take the place of a decadent dessert. Or sipped with a plate of bananas foster dessert shared between friends.

How to Brulee the Banana Slices for the Bananas Foster Manhattan

To make the bruleed banana slices, simple slice relative unripe slices onto a heat-safe surface, sprinkle sugar on top and use a kitchen torch to carmelize the sugars on time. Once the top is a nice dark brown (but not burnt), skewer the slices and rest them on the top of the co*cktail.

Using very ripe bananas will result in flimsy bruleed slices that fall apart as you try to move them.

Or, if they seem precariously balanced, simply serve them on a small plate with the co*cktail and let your guest decide when to add them to the co*cktail.

For extra aromatics, you can add freshly grated nutmeg to the bruleed slice once you’re ready to serve. The heat from the surface will make the nutmeg even more fragrant.

If you love dessert-type co*cktails try out some of my other favorites:

• Blueberry Cake Donut
• Pecan Sticky Bun
• Bourbon Affogato
• Dolce and Banana Manhattan
• Rootbeer Float Julep
• Elvis Julep (peanut butter/banana)