Sweet baked plantains are a fun, easy, tropical dessert. Mix sugar, seasonings, and a rum sauce over sliced plantains for a taste of summer.
Jump to RecipeSummer is the best time of the year for me. I enjoy the warmth, the sun, and all the tropical flavors that come with it. We enjoy trying new recipes and especially new desserts.
Making them in this rum sauce reminds me of the rum cakes we would get when we go to some of the Caribbean islands on cruises and our trip to the Dominican Republic. The rum cooks out, so there isn’t a worry about kids having the dessert.
Just like using regular ripe bananas in a recipe, you can have plantains with brown and black spots. Most of the time, those have the sweetest taste. Just make sure they are still firm enough to slice.
There are a few types of plantains. Make sure you get the right plantain for this easy recipe. Green plantains are unripe plantains and won’t work for this recipe. You want ripe sweet plantains.
What Are Plantains?
Plantains are similar in looks to the type of banana we are used to seeing in grocery stores. They are very different, though. Plantains are a good source of resistant starch which is “a type of dietary fiber that helps you feel full, doesn’t raise blood sugar levels, and feeds the good bacteria that keep your gut healthy”. (https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/plantains-overview)
Plantains are commonly found in the tropical regions of the Caribbean, South and Central America, and Africa. They cannot be eaten raw, but they are versatile and easy to cook with. While this is a sweet dessert recipe, there are many ways to use them in savory dishes, too. Oftentimes you’ll find them as a delicious side dish in Puerto Rican meals.
When a plantain is green and very raw, it can be difficult to peel because they have a much thicker peel than a banana. The easiest way is to get plantains that are bright yellow and start to get brown spots. They will be easier to peel and take less effort.
Where do I find Plantains?
Most grocery stores in the United States will carry plantains in the same area as other fresh fruit. They are typically similar in price to bananas.
If you can’t find them fresh, look for a frozen variety called platanos maduros. They are similar to fresh and can be thawed and cooked similar to the fresh plantains in this recipe.

Sweet Baked Plantains Step by Step
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup rum
- 3-4 medium-sized very ripe yellow plantains

Preparation
In a small bowl, stir together sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, then set aside.

Place butter in a 9×13 baking pan.
Set the oven to 350 degrees F, and while it preheats place the dish with the butter in the oven to melt the butter. If you don’t have a nonstick pan, you may want to line it with parchment paper or aluminum foil before heating the butter.

Sprinkle melted butter evenly with the sugar mixture.

Drizzle the rum on top as evenly as possible.
Peel and slice the plantains with a lengthwise slit. Cut off the ends of the plantains. Place the plantain slices on top of the sugar-laden dish, flat side down, in a single layer.

Cover the baking dish with foil and bake plantains for 20 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and carefully flip the plantains.

Place back in the oven, uncovered, for about 15-20 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbling and golden brown.
Plantains are done when a fork or spoon will slice with minimal resistance.
Let plantains cool until mixture is no longer bubbling, but serve warm to taste the soft sweet centers. You can drizzle the caramelized sugar over like a dipping sauce.

Sweet Baked Plantains Leftovers
These oven-roasted sweet plantains don’t keep for very long. Our leftovers did not reheat well, so I suggest only making as many as you will eat. If you do want to save them, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. The best way to reheat is in the oven until just warmed through. If they get dry, add a small amount of butter to the pan.

Recipe
Originally Published On: May 16, 2022
Last Updated On: August 29, 2023

Sweet Baked Plantains
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup rum
- 3-4 medium-sized very ripe plantains
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together sugar, spices, and salt, then set aside
- Place half a stick of butter in a 9×13 baking pan
- Set the oven to 350, and while it preheats place the dish with the butter in the oven to melt the butter
- Sprinkle melted butter evenly with the sugar mixture
- Drizzle the rum on top as evenly as possible
- Peel and slice the plantains lengthwise and place them on top of the sugar-laden dish, flat side down
- Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes
- Remove pan from oven and flip plantains
- Place back in the oven, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbling and golden brown
- Plantains are done when a fork or spoon will slice with minimal resistance
- Let plantains cool until mixture is no longer bubbling, but serve warm
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Other Summer Recipes
- Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Recipe: Perfect Summer Dessert
- Cucumber Summer Salad
- Fresh Summer Relish
- 5 Ingredient Rum Runner Cocktail Recipe
- Summer Veggie Stir-Fry
- Frozen Piña Colada
- Hawaiian Chicken Wraps: An Easy Summer Meal
- Spiked Agua Fresca: A Perfect Summer Drink
- Frozen Fruit Cups: The Perfect Summer Treat
- Summer Basil Chicken and Shrimp Kabobs
- Fluffy Frozen Fruit Salad
- Grilled Summer Orzo Salad
- 5 Cup Salad Recipe: A Perfect Cool Summer Dessert
- Simple Classic 3 Ingredient Margarita Recipe
- Amaretto Punch Slush
- Classic Potato Salad
- Strawberry Cobbler
- Watermelon Lemonade
- Sweet Baked Plantains
- Simple Strawberry Lemonade
- Grilled Pineapple Pork Chops
- Pineapple Bread Casserole
- Simple Classic Coleslaw Recipe
- Fresh Caprese Salad
Mmmm yes, please! Looks so good. In the Philippines, we have a similar version of these sweet baked plantains. It’s super yummy and very satisfying.
This sounds like such a delicious treat. I’m a huge fan of plantains. I buy them all the time, in fact. I’m going to give this a try.
These look amazing! These are something I’d never think to make.
This looks like something everyone in my family would enjoy.
Did I know and knew only the fried recipe, as they are? Does the taste not lose its goodness? I’ll try!
This is great. Eating this plantains makes me remember my childhood. In grade school, we used to buy this food stuff on the way home. Its so filling. In the Philippines, we dont bake them, instead, we caramelized the sugar on a low heat fire and put in the banana (or plantains) until the caramelized syrup stick on the banana.
In my country these banana plantains are always eaten as snacks. I miss eating these, I’d love to make it again!
Wow, the finished look so good. I would love to try this weekend. Thank you for sharing!
Oh, these look sooo delish. I would love to try these! I dont think there will be leftovers when I make this at home lol
Yyyeeesssssss! Now, this is a favourite of mine. I really love baked plantain!
Yum! These look delicious. I bet the cinnamon and nutmeg give it just the right amount of sweetness. I can’t wait to try this recipe.
I miss my childhood. My weekend is incomplete without plantain on the table
I’ve not seen a sweet plantain recipe. This sounds lovely, especially with the cinnamon and nutmeg. That would be lovely with vanilla ice cream.
It’s been a while since I ate a plantain of any type. The addition of rum in this recipe I’m sure makes it that much better!
I just got back from Guatemala, and we had baked plantains so much. I need to try to make them at home. So good!!
Sweet Baked Plantains have so much flavor and it looks so delish. It’s hard to resist a recipe that makes life easy, healthy, and delicious.
This dish looks absolutely delicious and yummy! Perfect for an afternoon snack while having that great chat with family/friends! The finished product and its texture make it enticing and tempting!
We have a version of it here in the Philippines — fried. But I guess it’s healthier to bake it.
This is one of my favorite snack! here in our country we call this “banana que” traditionally, they put the banana on a stick before frying! taste really gooooood! This is something that I want to try – baking instead of frying as a healthier choice
I’ve had them fried and they taste almost like potato chips! I haven’t had them baked but I’m willing to give it a go.
These are a common snack meal here in the Philippines and I tell you this is the bomb! Love how you make simple yet delicious recipes available for everyone.
That looks delicious! I like to make fried bananas with brown sugar. This baked version looks as good.
This sounds like a delish treat! I love plantains! I need to try this!
I have all the ingredients minus the plantains. I can pick those up over the weekend, so I cay try your receipt. Thank you so much!
This recipe is soooo good! Thanks for sharing the step-by-step directions. Because of that, it’s easier to follow the recipe.
Thank you for sharing this step-by-step guide. As a result, following the recipe is simpler.
i love me some plantains. i def need to make them again soon.
It is really nice to provide such information and Tips. I will definitely try it in my kitchen in India