Chocolate Orange Beet Cake

Chocolate Orange Beet Cake....Sounds funny doesn't it?  But so does carrot cake and zucchini bread when you think about it.

I've been on a liquid diet for the last few days.  P. Fisher had his wisdom teeth taken out (finally) and I've been partaking in the soft foods.  Yesterday I made homemade vanilla pudding, Jell-o ice cream, and beer cheese soup.  Today I decided I was going to make something soft, but solid.  No more liquid or gelatinous textures for me.

A couple weeks ago, I saw Joy the Baker's chocolate beet cake.  I'm sure it was delicious.  But as I've mentioned before, I am incapable of following a recipe.  I don't love chocolate.  (I know that makes me a bit odd.)  But, I do like orange and chocolate together.  I love beets and orange together as well.  So orange chocolate beet cake it is.  And, our grocery store has started carrying golden beets which are a bit sweeter and even more delicious than the traditional red beets, so it all worked out so well.

Chocolate Orange Beet Cake
Adapted some from Joy the Baker.

2 medium beets roasted with a bit of olive oil in the oven for 1 hour.  After cool, peel and grate.

Cake:
1 cup shredded beet for the cake
1 1/2 sticks of butter
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
zest from one orange
Juice squeezed from one orange
2 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk

Icing:
1 stick butter, softened
8 ounces (1 brick) cream cheese, softened
4 powdered sugar
1/4 c. grated beets
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 c. orange juice
A little bit of milk if needed to get a thinner consistency
pinch of salt



Grease and flour two 9 inch round baking pans.  Preheat oven to 350.


Mix butter and both sugars.  Add eggs one at a time.  Add beets, orange zest, vanilla, and orange juice and beat on medium speed until fully mixed.

Mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  On a low speed mix the dry ingredients alternating with the buttermilk until just mixed together.  Pour into two 9 inch round pans and bake 26-30 minutes.


For the frosting, mix all ingredients together until you get to that spreadable consistency.  Spread on your cake and enjoy!