This collection of fire-driven dessert recipes is the suggested third course in my romantic dinner date guide. The guide calls for a dessert that is hands-on and theatrical in order to inspire new conversation and intimacy. I recommend reading the guide if you plan to serve this to a lucky lady. And with that, let’s get to the recipes.

S’Mores

They’re so simple, and yet no one thinks to make them at home. Perhaps that’s because most homes don’t have a blowtorch.

So when you pull out the s’mores ingredients and ask your date to torch her own marshmallow, things’ll get exciting. I prefer to use the Bernzomatic TS8000.

Here is the fuel you’ll need. Unlike at a campfire, you can put the marshmallow down directly on a heat-resistant tray or plate to torch (no sticks needed). I recommend upgrading your s’mores with a bit of maldon salt or salted peanut butter.

Bananas foster

Bananas foster is basically a sugary, rum-drenched banana that is roasted and lit on fire to caramelize. It’s served with ice cream and a bit of mint. The smell is intoxicating, and the flambé (the process of igniting hot alcohol while cooking) is quite the sight.

This recipe is best learned visually, so I recommend checking out this YouTube video to get it right.

Be sure to test the flambé before your date. You don’t want to lose any eyebrows or cause your fire alarm to go off.

Creme Brulee

Thanks to sous vide, creme brulee is easy now. You can even make it a week in advance. When it’s time for dessert, you and your date can brulee (i.e. caramelize the sugar coating on top using a torch) your servings together.

My preferred recipe for sous vide creme brulee is here. If you don’t have an immersion circulator, I recommend this one. Even if you don’t use it for this creme brulee, your steaks will thank you.

Here are the jars you’ll need. I recommend running the glass jar under warm water briefly before torching the sugary top. Otherwise, the glass goes from extreme cold to extreme heat and risks cracking.