Chocolate Beetroot Cake

We visited the Farmer's Market in Winchester today and a cake caught my eye: Chocolate beetroot cake. So instead of buying a slice for £2.50, I went to the next stand, bought 3 beetroot for £1.10 and made my own (20 slices) at home. I have to say the beetroot is more in the background, like an after taste and it is rather refreshing and delicate. I guess the beetroot's main point is rather the texture than the taste, as the purée made the sponge really moist and tender. This recipe is from the BBC food website.

Chocolate Beetroot Cake

Ingredients

75 g coca powder 

180 g plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

250 g caster sugar

250 g cooked beetroot

3 large eggs

200ml corn oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

icing sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 180C. Line a deep rectangle baking tin (17X23cm) or a 12mould muffin tin with baking paper.

Shift the cocoa powder, flour and baking powder into a bowl. Mix in the sugar and set aside.

Purée the beetroot in a food processor. Add the eggs, on at the time, then add the vanilla and oil and blend until smooth.

Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, add the beetroot mixture and lightly mix. Pour into the muffin cases or the baking tin.

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the top if firm when pressed with a finger or the insterted wooden skewer comes out clean.

Cool on a wire rack and dust with icing sugar to serve.