Bananas Foster Pecan Pancakes

Bananas Foster Pecan Pancakes are our favorite Christmas morning tradition. In our house, it officially feels like the holidays when a tall stack of warm, buttery pancakes hits the table. Inspired by classic Bananas Foster, this breakfast version features fluffy homemade pancakes topped with caramelized bananas, toasted pecans, and a rich brown sugar butter sauce. It’s the perfect Christmas morning breakfast, cozy winter brunch recipe, or special occasion pancake stack that feels just a little extra.

Making a fully loaded stack of pancakes has never been easier. With a few tips and shortcuts, you will be serving up this decadent stack to family and friends.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THESE BANANAS FOSTER PECAN PANCAKES

They taste like classic Bananas Foster in pancake form: Warm caramelized bananas, toasted pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, and rum create that rich, buttery sauce you expect from traditional Bananas Foster, but poured over fluffy pancakes.

They work with gluten-free or regular flour: Whether you’re baking gluten-free or using all-purpose flour, this pancake recipe turns out soft, fluffy, and reliable every time.

The sauce feels special but is easy to make: The spiced rum, brown sugar, and cinnamon simmer together in just minutes. Add bananas and pecans, and you have a restaurant-style topping without complicated steps.

Perfect for Christmas morning or weekend brunch: These pancakes are ideal for holiday breakfasts, brunch gatherings, or anytime you want something a little extra without spending all morning in the kitchen.

Sweet, buttery, and balanced: The richness of the sauce is balanced by fluffy buttermilk pancakes, making every bite warm, comforting, and layered with flavor.

Flipping Over Gluten Free Bananas Foster Pecan Pancakes

Heat up your griddle and pour a mimosa, because brunch is about to get taken up a few levels.

• Make your favorite Gluten Free pancakes. You can use a mix such as I did, or you can use your favorite recipe.

• Add your spiced rum, water, a cinnamon stick, and brown sugar to a saucepan over medium heat and allow it to cook for five minutes.

• Slice two bananas and add it to the spiced rum sauce along with a cup of pecans. Let the mixture cook another couple of minutes until it begins to thicken.

• Spoon the glorious mixture over the stack of your pancakes. It really is that easy!

Tips for the Perfect Pancakes

There is nothing like sinking your fork into a mile high stack of pillowy pancakes. Perfectly crisp on the outside and airy inside, they’re a food group unto themselves. Whether you’re making homemade pancakes from scratch or using your favorite Gluten Free mix, here are some top tips to make the best pancakes.

• Don’t Overmix the batter! – It’s better to have a few lumps in your batter than it is to over mix. Overmixing your batter will create a tough and chewy pancake instead of a tender and airy bite.
• Let your batter rest. – After mixing up your pancake batter, allow it to rest for at least ten minutes. This will let it relax, giving you that tender bite.
• Make sure your pan is fully heated – A hot pan or griddle equals happy pancakes. Make sure your griddle or skillet is fully heated. This will give you that golden brown exterior and prevent the pancakes from spreading out and being too thin as the heat helps cause them to puff. 
• Don’t scorch your pancakes! – You want a hot pan to cause that puff, but you don’t want your pan or griddle so hot that the exterior of your pancakes burn before the interior has a chance to cook. Maple syrup makes everything better, but not burnt pancakes.
• Grease your griddle or skillet. – Make sure that you use either melted Dairy Free butter or nonstick spray on your pan or griddle before adding your batter. Even if you’re using a nonstick pan, this helps the to easily release.
• Measure your batter. – Use a ladle or squirt bottle to easily and evenly distribute your batter. Cooking consistent sized pancakes at the same time makes it easier to manage.
• Don’t overcrowd your pan or griddle. – It’s better to make your pancakes in batches than it is to try and make too many at one time. Not only does the batter drop the temperature of the hot surface, but you also risk them running together. Plus, they’re easier to flip when they’re more spread out. 
• Flip Once – Be careful of over flipping your pancakes. The first side may cook a little longer than the second side and that’s okay. How do you know when to flip your pancakes? Watch for bubbles. You will see bubbles begin to form both on the outside edges of the pancakes and also in the middle. Gently ease your spatula under the cake, and then flip with confidence.
• The first pancake is never perfect. – If your first pancake isn’t Instagram worthy, this isn’t a big deal! Crepes and pancakes have an unwritten rule, the first one might look a little wonky. This is a great way to gauge the heat of your pan or griddle, if you have enough grease, and how long to let your pancakes cook.