Chocolate Beet Cake

Chocolate Beet Cake

Categories:

Cakes & Cupcakes
Desserts
Valentine's day
Easter
Yields
10 to 12 portions (1 8-inch cake)
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
55 to 65 minutes
Ingredients
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (50 g) cocoa powder
  • 2 ½ tsp (13 g) baking powder
  • 1 tsp (5 g) baking soda
  • 1 tsp (2 g) instant espresso
  • ½ tsp (3 g) salt
  • ⅔ cup (151 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 cup (217 g) Redpath® Dark Brown Sugar, firmly packed
  • ⅔ cup (135 g) Redpath® Granulated Sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ¼ cup (43 g) dark chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 medium (400 g/1 ½ cups) beets, roasted, peeled, and pureed
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) whiskey
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) pure vanilla extract
For the garnish:
  • stencil
  • Redpath® Icing Sugar
Redpath Dark Brown Sugar
Dark Brown Sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Grease a 8 x 3 inch (20 x 8 centimetres) round cake pan and line the bottom with a round of parchment.
  2. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, instant espresso, and salt until well combined. Set aside
    10 to 12 portions (1 8-inch cake)
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the melted butter with the Redpath® Dark Brown Sugar and Redpath® Granulated Sugar until light in colour; about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time. Ensure the egg is incorporated into the batter before adding the second egg. Cream
    Beet Chocolate Cake
    Beet Chocolate Cake
    mixture for about 30 seconds after all the eggs are in. Scrape down bowl.
  4. With the mixer on medium-low, add the melted chocolate and blend until the mixture is homogenous. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure everything is mixed in well. Add the beet puree, whiskey and vanilla extract. Mix until the beets are well incorporated
    Beet Chocolate Cake
    Beet Chocolate Cake
    Beet Chocolate Cake
  5. Add the flour in three parts, mixing until the flour is just moistened. Do not overmix.
  6. Transfer batter to the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Place pan into the preheated oven and bake for 55 to 65 minutes. Rotate the pan halfway through the baking process. Take out of the oven once a skewer comes out clean when inserted in the centre of the cake. Allow to cool slightly in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting and allowing to cool completely on a wire rack
    Beet Chocolate Cake
    Beet Chocolate Cake
  7. Once cake is completely cooled, invert cake onto a cake platter or dish with the bottom side facing up. Place desired stencil onto the top of the cake. With a fine sieve, dust the entire top of the cake with icing sugar. With both hands, lift the stencil straight up, being careful not to tilt the image and deposit icing sugar onto the image.
  8. Serve immediately, as is, or with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream on the side.
CHEF'S TIPS

*For an easy alternative, use canned beets packed in water. Drain and puree beets and proceed as usual, with the recipe.

*Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.