Red Beet Chocolate Cake

Rita~'s Note:

You can use a jar baby food beets, canned beets in water that you pureed (NOT pickled) or roast your own beets then puree. You will be very surprised at how good this is. In taste and for your health. Beets are high in carbohydrates and low in fat. Containing phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, as well as fiber, vitamins A and C, niacin, folic acid, and biotin.

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 16

• 1 ¾ cups flour , unbleached, sifted
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 -1 ½ cup beet , pureed (15 ounce can of beets in water, drained and pureed is 1 cup)
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate (Melt and cool the 2 1-oz squares of baking chocolate.)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• confectioners' sugar , sifted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Grease 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.
3. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
4. Combine sugar, eggs, and oil in a mixing bowl.
5. Beat with an electric mixer set at medium speed for 2 minutes.
6. Beat in the beets, cooled chocolate, and vanilla.
7. Gradually add dry ingredients, beating well after each addition.
8. Pour into prepared baking pan.
9. Bake for 25 minutes or until cake tests done.
10. Cool in pan on rack.
11. Cover and let stand overnight to improve flavor.
12. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Reviews

[Chef #1187872]

Delicious! Very chocolaty. No beet taste at all. Really moist and tasty. I used canned beets and added a few shakes of cinnamon, a teaspoon of Jameson whiskey (whiskey is great with chocolate! Try substituting it for water in your favorite boxed brownie mix... heavenly!), 1 teaspoon of chocolate extract, 2 Tbsp of Dutch Process cocoa (increased sugar by 4 Tbsp) and a pinch of cardamom. Cake tester came out clean after 25 min, but center was still gooey. Ensuring cake springs back when touched is a better test of doneness.

[Oliver's mommy]

If I could give this more stars I would! This is the best chocolate cake I've ever made. I used canned beets and added cocoa powder in addition to the melted chocolate. I was looking for a cake that would hold together when cut so I could make a kitty cake for my son's 4th birthday(I posted some photos). This cake held together using several shapes of pans and was still unbelievably moist and delicious!! I'll use this as my regular recipe every year. Thank you VERY much!! It was a hit with all the kids and parents too!

[AmyJoV3]

Delicious! I had fresh beets in my weekly produce delivery box and wanted to try something new with them. This recipe was it. I roasted the beets in the oven (drizzled with a little honey) and then pureed them in the blender. I also melted chocolate chips (about 1/2 c melted) because I didn't have any unsweetened chocolate. It turned out great - and the kids loved it! They had no idea that beets were the secret ingredient in their "chocolate" cake.