Chocolate creme brulee is a rich and sweet dessert, which makes it one choice to add to a special Valentine's Day meal.  Frequently served in high-end restaurants, chocolate creme brulee can be created at home using a handful of ingredients, a bit of time and some skill.  Chocolate custard is created, then baked in a water bath.  After refrigeration, the custard is topped with sugar, which is caramelized to complete the creme brulee.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhfR-l98Ko4

Preparing chocolate creme brulee requires knowing a few cooking techniques.  The chocolate must be melted, cream must be scalded, which means heating dairy to just under a boil, and the mixture must be tempered, which means slowly heating the temperature of eggs by whisking in the hot dairy.  Finally, to complete the dessert, sugar is melted using a torch, a process that can be tricky to perfect.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhfR-l98Ko4

• 2 cups heavy or whipping cream
  
• 5 egg yolks
• 1/3 cup and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, plus more for the topping
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
• Boiling water
• Powdered sugar, for garnishhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhfR-l98Ko4

• Medium saucepan
  
• 2 large mixing bowls
• Wire whisk
• Rubber scraper
• Measuring pitcher
• Kitchen towel
• Custard dishes
• Large baking pan
• Propane torch
• Parchment paperhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhfR-l98Ko4

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
   
2. Place the cream in the medium saucepan.  Heat over high and cook just until bubbles form around the side of the pan, but before it begins to boil.
3. Combine the egg yolks, sugar, salt and vanilla extract in the large mixing bowl.  Beat well using the wire whisk until well combined.
4. Temper the eggs by slowly whisking the hot cream into the egg mixture.  Stir rapidly while drizzling the cream into the eggs using the wire whisk.
5. Place the melted chocolate in the second large mixing bowl.  Pour the cream mixture into the chocolate and mix using the rubber scraper or wire whisk.  Transfer to the measuring pitcher.
6. Lay the kitchen towel flat in the bottom of the large baking dish.  Place the custard dishes in the pan over the towel.  Pour the chocolate-cream mixture into each custard dish, filling each about two-thirds full.
7. Fill the baking dish with hot water until it reaches halfway up the side of the custard dishes.
8. Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 20 minutes.  Check the custards and remove from oven or continue to cook until the center shakes like the consistency of jello.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.  Refrigerate overnight.
10. Sprinkle sugar generously over each custard.  Use the propane torch to carefully caramelize and burn the sugar.  The sugar should be dark in color and completely melted.
11. Cut the parchment paper to the size of the custard cup and cut a design, such as a heart, into the center of the paper circle.  Place the parchment paper over the dessert.  Dust with powdered sugar, then remove the parchment paper.  Serve.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhfR-l98Ko4