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The Banana Bomb from Muss & Turner’s.

There aren’t many better ways to surprise your sweetie for Valentine’s Day than with a homemade dessert. If you can find one that uses an aphrodisiac to put you both in the mood, all the better.

The Banana Bomb from Muss & Turner's in Smyrna fits the bill on both counts. Learn how to make the dish from the restaurant's pastry chef Charlie Zaremba below, and read more about metro Atlanta aphrodisiac dishes to spark Valentine's Day romance here.

If it’s easier for you to follow along in print, here’s the full recipe:

Banana Bombs*

*In the restaurant, we pour the banana bread batter into silicone dome molds, allow the bread to cool after cooking, then cut each dome into 3 layers. Cream cheese icing goes in between each layer and around the outside of the ‘bomb’, then they are rolled in sweetened toasted coconut.

For home use, the same recipe can make a Coconut Banana Bread Cake. Spread coconut flakes in a thin layer on sheet tray and toast at 350F until golden brown. Allow to cool. Pour the batter into 2 9” spring form pans, cook banana bread at 350F for 30 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center and comes out clean.  Allow the bread to cool before removing from the pans, use a sharp serrated knife to even the top of each cake. Layer the top of one cake with cream banana cheese icing, then stack the cakes. Roughly ice the top and sides of the cakes and pack on the toasted coconut.

Banana Bread

4 to 5 very ripe bananas, peeled.

2 large egg, beaten

1 1/2 cup sugar

2/3 cup melted butter

2 teaspoon vanilla extract.

3 cups of all-purpose flour

2 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

3 cups sweetened coconut flakes

Peel and mash bananas. Mix together eggs, sugar, bananas, vanilla and melted butter. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and add to wet mixture. Transfer into desired pans, bake at 350F for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Banana Cream Cheese Icing

1 ½ lb cream cheese, softened

¾ lb butter, softened

¾ lb powdered sugar

Splash of Banana extract

Yellow food coloring to your liking

Whip together the softened butter and powdered sugar in a mixer using the paddle attachment until the mixture is smooth. Add the cream cheese in stages, scraping the bowl between additions. Add a splash of banana extract if desired. Add a drop of food coloring at a time until desired color is achieved.

More ways to trick out your Valentine’s Day:

Ayurvedic herbs can spice things up for Valentine’s Day

5 restaurants to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Atlanta

6 ways to eat free or cheap on Valentine’s Day in Atlanta

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