The first time I tasted Banana Rum Boats was five years ago at a really fun outdoor wedding. It didn’t cross my mind again until a friend brought over a stem of bananas. This is the perfect dessert on a day or night when you are grilling. Platter all your ingredients and let everyone pitch in to make them. You’ll know they are done when they start bubbling and the smell of caramelizing sugar fills the air.
Starting 1/2″ from each end slit the banana being careful not to slice too deeply.
Push the ends towards each other to open the banana. If the opening isn’t wide enough push it open with your thumbs.
Put the banana on a heated grill.
Let the skin blacken and the banana start to heat up.
Add the brown sugar to taste, about a teaspoon.
Add a dab of butter and let it heat.
When it starts to bubble and you smell caramelizing sugar, they are done.
Banana Rum Boats
Bananas – 1 per person
Per banana
½ tablespoon Rum
teaspoon Brown sugar
Dab of Butter
Vanilla ice cream
Preheat the grill. Wash the bananas and cut them lengthwise, ½” deep, starting and ending ½” from the ends. Make sure the skin is not pierced. Squeeze both ends together (like a baked potato) and open the banana up. Press it with your thumbs if the banana hasn’t opened enough.
Place the bananas on the grill, cut side up and grill until the skin starts to blacken and the banana interior heats, around 5 minutes. Transfer ½ tablespoon of rum into a small pourable container and carefully pour into the banana, sprinkle the top with brown sugar and a small dab of butter. Let it cook until the rum and sugar starts to melt and bubble around 5 – 7 minutes. Take off the heat and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.