Heavenly Healthy Chocolate Beetroot Cake

Don't we all love a good slice of chocolate cake? However, I don't know about you guys but who has a guilty feeling after eating a rich, decedent piece of chocolate cake? I know many of you here are looking for a healthier version for chocolate cake so do check out this fantastic, moist recipe for beetroot chocolate cake :)

Cake Ingredients

• 85 grams Chocolate (Dark or Milk)
• 3 medium Eggs
• 200 grams brown sugar
• 200 ml Olive Oil
• 300 grams Cooked Beetroots 
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (or 1tbsp vanilla essence)
• 30 grams Cocoa Powder
• 200 grams Almond Meal (or plain flour)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Method:

1. Pre heat oven to 180 degrees celsius.
2. To cook the beetroots, wash thoroughly and place in a pot full of cold water. Bring pot to the boil and cook the beets until soft when poked with a knife (approx 30 minutes though this depends on the size of the beets).
3. When cooked, run the beets under cold water in the sink and rub off the skins.
4.  Blend or mash the beetroots until slightly smooth with some ‘chunks’ remaining.
5. Melt the chocolate (85grams) over a double boiler (or place the chopped chocolate in a bowl, cover with cling film and microwave on low for approximately 1 minute until chocolate has just melted. When you remove from the microwave, stir quickly to melt any solid pieces).
6. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar and oil.
7. Slowly add the cooked beet puree , the melted chocolate and vanilla into the egg mixture.
8. Beat just until combined. Do not over mix.
9. Sift the cocoa. Add this and the almond meal (or plain flour), baking soda and salt to the beet batter.
10. Fold just until everything is combined. Don’t over mix the batter.
11.  Grease your baking pan and pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan.
12. Bake for approximately 40 minutes.
13. Cake is ready when a tooth pick or skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. Baking time may vary depending on the pan and oven you are using.
14. Remove from oven and leave to cool in the pan.

Ingredients for the cream cheese icing (optional)

• 1 cup cream/reduced fat cream/light cream
• 1 cup of  Cream Cheese/ reduced fat cream cheese 
• ½ cup Icing Sugar or honey
• Plain chocolate bar for chocolate shaving decorations

Method:

1. Place the cream in a bowl and whip to soft peaks.
2. Add the icing sugar and cream cheese and beat until combined (Add more or less sugar until the desired taste).
3. You can also use variations of this icing, by adding 1/2 cup cocoa or half a cooked blended beetroot.
4. Using a potato peeler, hold the chocolate bar in one hand and use the peeler to shave off curls of chocolate. Sprinkle these on top of the cake to decorate.

Happy Baking and do share your experience of baking this delicious cake with me!