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!
