Valentine's Day can be something of a challenge when it comes whipping up a homemade dessert, because some people love vanilla while others live and die by chocolate.

Throw a Valentine with a gluten sensitivity into the mix and you might want to simply offer up a heart-shaped box of assorted chocolates to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth in one fell swoop.

We say it doesn't have to be so. Made individually or in tandem, these two timeless desserts allow you to go the extra mile on Feb. 14 with minimal effort, while also dishing up everyone's favorite flavors — a velvety, melt-in-your mouth creme brulee and a fudgy, flour-free chocolate torte with roots in Italy.

Wonderfully rich and oh-so-elegant, Smitten Kitchen's recipe for creme brulee requires just five simple ingredients — vanilla, sugar, eggs, cream and salt — with either a kitchen torch or your oven's broiler creating its signature crackly sugar top.

Via Corota's flourless chocolate cake is likewise crafted with just a handful of everyday grocery items, with a sprinkle of confectioner's sugar and veil of bitter cocoa adding to the sweet, chocolatey goodness.

Each is decadent enough to make those eating it feel special, but still easy on the cook. Also, because you're making it yourself, it includes the day's most important ingredient: love.

Family-style Creme Brulee

PG tested

Is there anything more satisfying than cracking through the crunchy caramel crust of a creme brulee with the tip of your spoon? Which is why it's the perfect dessert for Valentine's Day. The rich, silky-smooth custard whisks together in minutes, and you don't need a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar topping — your oven broiler will also get the job done.

This recipe is made in a single pan instead of individual ramekins for a shareable, family-sized dessert.

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