Chocolate Beetroot Cake

I have tried various chocolate cake recipes, this recipe is a keeper. I love the expression on peoples face when I tell them that is has beetroot.


250g plain chocolate, broken up
3 large eggs
200g muscovado sugar
100ml sunflower oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g self-raising flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp baking powde50g ground almonds
250g raw beetroot

For Icing


150g plain chocolate
50g sour cream

Preheat oven to 180ºC/fan160ºC/gas 4. Grease a 22cm round, loose bottomed cake tin with a little butter and line the base with baking paper.

Place the plain chocolate to melt in a bowl and set over a pan of gently simmering water. Allow the chocolate to melt slowly until smooth, then set aside to cool.

Place the eggs, sugar and sunflower oil in a large mixing bowl and whisk together, using an electric hand whisk, for about 3 minutes until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in vanilla extract, then sift over self-raising flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and gently fold in, together with the ground almonds.

Peel and grate the beetroot, fold the beetroot into the mixture with the cooled chocolate, until thoroughly mixed.

Pour into prepared tin and bake for 50minutes to 1 hour.

For the icing melt the chocolate with the sour cream over a pan of simmering water. Spread it over the top let it fall by the sides of the cooled cake and serve.