Although beetroot and chocolate cakes have been on my radar for a number of years, I have to confess that until now I've never tried them. It's not that I was never sufficiently enticed by the idea of using beetroot in a cake, after all carrots work beautifully in them, but given that Mr E doesn't care for beetroot (he even declined my recent Beetroot & Lentil Pie in favour of Homity Pie!) so a large cake just for me seemed a little bit excessive.
Logic eventually prevailed and my desire to try a beetroot and chocolate cake, morphed into cupcakes. Cupcakes are, of course, the perfect compromise as far as cake is concerned. Even though cupcakes often don't have the same head turning qualities as a cake often has, cupcakes are quicker to bake, and of course any surplus can easily be frozen (without any frosting) with no spoiling effects (not that these beetroot and chocolate cupcakes had chance to be frozen, they were soon devoured ?).
This beetroot and chocolate cupcake recipe, is quick and easy (though it does take a little longer if you choose to use fresh beetroot, as we did, rather than vac packed beets). It's almost as quick as an all-in-one batter once the beetroot is pureed. There's no creaming or folding. Just good old mixing!
The beetroot, although it can't be tasted once the cupcake batter is baked, helps to keep these muffin type buns wonderfully moist as well as bringing a wonderful vibrant pink colour to the frosting. And of course let's not forget about all of the goodness which the humble beet brings too!
These beetroot and chocolate cupcakes are just as delicious with or without the frosting. So if vibrant pink isn't your thing leave it off and enjoy the bake 'naked', so to speak.
So, here's how to make Beetroot and Chocolate Cupcakes with a simple beetroot frosting.
or without the vibrant pink beetroot frosting. These Beetroot and
Chocolate Cupcakes are beautifully moist, and are punctuated with
chocolate chips. They're perfect for sneaking a little extra nutrition
into our diets.
Hands on time: about 15 mins Bake time: 1 hour 5 mins (including roasting the beetroots) Yield: 9
For the batter
- 160g Beetroot (see notes a & b below)
- 140g Buckwheat Flour (plain white flour would work just as well)
- 60g Cocoa Powder
- 2 teaspoon (rounded) Baking Powder
- 150g Caster Sugar
- 2 Eggs, medium, lightly beaten
- 116ml Sunflower Oil
- 60g Chocolate Chips, milk or dark (see note c below)
For the frosting (optional)
- 230g Icing Sugar
- 1- 2 teaspoon beetroot puree
Notes
a) We used fresh beetroot and roasted them before pureeing. Consider using vac-packed beetroot if you prefer. If using vac-packed beetroot follow the recipe from step 3. Drain away the excess water before using in the recipe. b) A total of two medium sized beetroots will be sufficient for adding to the batter and making the pink frosting. c) If you don't have chocolate chips to hand a broken block of chocolate works just as well.
Cindy says
These look amazing!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Thank you Cindy I can assure you they taste great too.
Lucette says
Hi,
Please could you confirm the quantity of the beetroot!
In the Ingredients it asks for 100g Beetroot. Then it asks to add 150g beetroot puree!
Thank you!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Hi Lucette, This recipe was written by Angela who owned the blog before me I took it over a few years ago and I have not had a chance to retest and update all the recipes yet. I would think the 100g raw weight is correct but I will need to make them to find out for sure. Unfortunately, I can not do that this week but will report back as soon as I can. Apologies for the mistake. On the whole Angela's recipes are very good and very reliable but mistakes do happen.
Lucette says
Hi there, I made them!👍🏻 I puréed approx. 160g vacuum packed beetroot. Added 150g to mixture, keeping the excess for the icing! It made an easy 12! Delicious!😁
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Thats fantastic Lucette. Thank you so much for being my tester. I shall update the recipe
Julie McPherson says
Angela these are simply stunning, the colour from the beetroot makes the prettiest icing ever. Commenting as BritMums Baking Round-up Editor. 🙂 x
Choclette Blogger says
These cupcakes looks so pretty and I love the vibrant beetroot icing. I also like that you've used buckwheat flour. I often add it to a mix of other flours, but have rarely baked with it alone. Thanks for sharing with We Should Cocoa 😀
Louise Fairweather says
I love how moist the cakes are with beetroot. Love the icing - who needs food colouring when there is beetroot #recipeoftheweek
Kat BakingExplorer says
I just love that bright pink colour, and it's all from nature too, so cool!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Isn't it a fab cheery colour - and as you say Kat, all natural 🙂
Angela x
Corina says
These are so eye-catching Angela and I think adding beetroot to a cake is a great way to add a little extra nutrition to it. My husband also hates beetroot so I'd love to try these out on him and see what he thinks. Thank you so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice and sorry I'm so late visiting. I'm hoping to get the round up finished tomorrow x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Aw thankyou Corina, it's amazing how a bit of beetroot puree can bring such a vebrant colour to a basic frosting! Ooh I'd love to hear how your hubby gets on with them if you give them a try - I hope he enjoys them as much as Mr E does xx
Angela x
Jenny says
I love using beetroot tin chocolate cakes, it adds such a lovely hidden flavour and depth plus I love sneaking it in for my unsuspecting family! I love the pink colour on top of your cakes - so pretty.
thank you for joining in with #Bakeoftheweek x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
It's amazing how well it works in chocolate cake isn't it Jenny,
Thanks for your lovely comment,
Angela x
Kate Glutenfreealchemist says
Such a vibrant colour! I was only saying to Mr GF today (as we looked at our rapidly growing beetroot in the garden) that I must make beetroot cake this year! This sounds like a perfect recipe! x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
It's a fab colour isn't it - so cheerful. And to think it's all courtesy of the beetroot! Ooh wow, fresh homegrown beetroot sounds amazing Kate. I seem to recall trying to grow some from seed a few yrs ago but they were so tiny - I don't think I was patient enough before I pulled them from the ground - oops! 😉
If you try it Kate I hope you enjoy it as much as we have,
Angela xx
Jo Allison says
I so love these! I've baked chocolate beetroot cake before and loved it but it's been a while. You've inspired me again and will be giving these a go! Pinned for later! x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Aw thankyou Jo 🙂 Seen as you've not visited beetroot and chocolate cake for a while, I think you definitely should revisit it, it's such a winner. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have and thanks for pinning too,
Angela x
TurksWhoEat says
I've never tried this combination but it sounds great! The color of that frosting is amazing!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Isn't it just amazing! And to think that there's no food colouring in it either! I'd definitely recomend trying the beetroot and choc combo, it works so well together.
Angela x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
Ooooh Angela these look so good! We all love beetroot so they would definitely go down a treat here! x #BakeoftheWeek
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Thankyou so much Kirsty 🙂
Angela x
Mandy Mazliah says
Wow Angela these look stunning. I particularly love the colour of the icing. So gorgeous. I am adding these to my must-make list
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Aw thabkyou Mandy, I hope you enjoy them as much as we have 🙂 It's amazing that Mr E was even happy to eat them too despite them containing beetroot.
Thanks for your lovely comment Mandy,
Angela
Monika Dabrowski says
What's not to like about these cupcakes? Anything beetroot gets my vote and I absolutely love that there is beetroot in the cupcakes and in the icing too! And you've used buckwheat flour, which must be gorgeous with the chocolate and the beetroot. And have I mentioned these cupcakes look amazing? They do. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare:)
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Aw thankyou Monika 🙂 I think i've been a little late joining the beetroot & chocolate party, but I'm completely sold on it. it's amazing how well they go together, and of course how versitile the humble beet is! Thanks for your lovely comment,
Angela x
Rebecca Beesley says
Beetroot and chocolate is such an awesome combination! I love that you've used beetroot puree to get that fab pink colour too! xxx
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
It really is fab isn't it rebecca, I can't believe I've been missing out on it for so long! And yes, I love how vibrant the frosting turned out 🙂
Angela x