Indulge Guilt-Free: The Ultimate Healthy Dark Chocolate Beet Cake with Rich Ganache
Prepare to surprise your taste buds and impress your guests with a dessert that defies expectations: a truly decadent dark chocolate cake infused with the goodness of beets, all slathered in a luxurious chocolate ganache. This isn’t just any chocolate cake; it’s a celebration of rich flavor, incredible moisture, and hidden nutritional benefits. Forget bland health foods – this is where indulgence meets wellness in the most delicious way possible.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Paisley Farms, but the opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting the companies and products that make An Affair from the Heart possible.
The Unexpected Star: Why Beets in Chocolate Cake?
Putting vegetables in dessert might sound a little… unconventional. “Crazy right??” you might think. But if you’ve followed my culinary adventures, you’ll know I’ve always been one to experiment with surprising ingredients. Many of you thought I was truly nuts when I first shared my sauerkraut chocolate cake recipe, and yet, countless readers have tried it and absolutely loved it! This Chocolate Beet Cake, however, offers a completely different and equally delightful experience.
This dark chocolate cake is incredibly moist, boasting a tender, springy crumb that reminds one of a gourmet snack cake. Once it’s generously topped with a thick, velvety layer of homemade chocolate ganache and chilled to perfection, it becomes an irresistible treat that’s hard to believe contains a root vegetable. The secret lies in how beets effortlessly blend into the chocolate matrix, enhancing texture and depth without overtly announcing their presence.
Unlocking the Nutritional Powerhouse of Beets
The concept of adding beets to desserts isn’t a new phenomenon in the world of baking. For centuries, various cultures have incorporated vegetables into sweet dishes, not only for their flavor and texture but also for their nutritional value. With beets, you’re introducing a whole new dimension of health benefits to your dessert. Imagine a chocolate cake that’s not just a treat for your palate but also a boost for your body, packed with nutrients and antioxidants. Yes, a “healthy” chocolate cake is entirely possible!
Let’s delve into why beets are such a fantastic addition, beyond just the culinary aspect. As detailed by www.whfoods.com:
“Beets are unique in their rich combination of betalain pigments. … Beets are also an excellent source of folate and a very good source of manganese, potassium and copper. They are also a good source of dietary fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin C, iron and vitamin B6.”
This impressive nutritional profile means every slice of this cake contributes to your well-being. Folate is essential for cell function and tissue growth, manganese plays a role in bone health and metabolism, while potassium is crucial for heart health. Copper and Vitamin C are powerful antioxidants, and dietary fiber aids digestion. By cleverly incorporating pureed beets, we elevate this simple dessert into something truly special – a guilt-free pleasure packed with valuable vitamins and minerals.
Dispelling Flavor Myths: A Match Made in Chocolate Heaven
Understandably, some people, myself included before I first tried it, might assume that adding a root vegetable like beets would drastically alter the cake’s flavor, imparting an earthy or savory note. After all, putting beets into something sweet has to change the flavor, right? The surprising truth is: it doesn’t – at least not in an undesirable way. In fact, using beets in chocolate-flavored desserts makes perfect culinary sense.
As www.thekitchn.com aptly explains:
“Beets are most commonly used in chocolate desserts because they add moisture, yet the cocoa powder and chocolate mask any possible subtle earthy flavor.”
This masking effect is key. The robust flavor of dark chocolate and cocoa powder expertly camouflages any discernible “beet” taste, leaving behind only the benefits: an incredibly moist, deeply colored cake with a delicate crumb. The beets act as a natural humectant, locking in moisture and ensuring the cake remains fresh and tender for days. They also contribute to the cake’s rich, deep red-brown hue, making it visually stunning without any artificial coloring. It’s a win-win, offering a delightful texture and a subtle, unidentifiable sweetness that complements the chocolate beautifully.
Crafting the Perfect Recipe with Paisley Farms Sweet Pickled Beets
When my wonderful friends at Paisley Farms approached me to develop some new recipes featuring their delicious Sweet Pickled Beets, I was absolutely thrilled and jumped at the opportunity! I knew that for years, many home bakers and professional chefs alike had been incorporating beets into dessert recipes. And what could be more fitting for the holiday season, or truly any time you crave a rich, satisfying dessert, than a dark chocolate cake?
We can all save the salads for January, right? During the colder months, especially, a warm, comforting slice of chocolate cake feels like a much-needed indulgence. And with the added nutritional boost from beets, this cake fits perfectly into a desire for both comfort and conscious eating.
My recipe development process began with extensive research. I scoured countless recipes for beet cakes, noticing that most of them called for roasting fresh beets from scratch. While roasting beets can be a rewarding culinary experience, it’s also time-consuming. This is where Paisley Farms Sweet Pickled Beets truly shine, offering unparalleled convenience without sacrificing quality or flavor. Instead of hours of roasting, peeling, and pureeing, I simply opened a jar of Paisley Farms Sweet Pickled Beets and blended them into a smooth puree.
Paisley Farms Sweet Pickled Beets have been a household favorite for generations, and for good reason. They offer a delightful balance of sweet and tangy, with just the right hint of cinnamon that adds a subtle warmth. While they’re irresistible straight out of the jar as a side dish or a colorful addition to salads, their versatility extends far beyond. They are perfect for integrating into unexpected dishes, like this show-stopping chocolate cake, proving that quality ingredients can elevate even the most adventurous recipes.
The Final Touch: Rich Chocolate Ganache
During my recipe investigation, I observed that many beet cake recipes opted for a simple dusting of powdered sugar as a finishing touch. While elegant, I felt this particular cake deserved something more decadent, something that would truly complement its rich dark chocolate flavor and moist texture.
So, I decided to elevate this already amazing cake by slathering it in my absolute favorite homemade Chocolate Ganache. This ganache isn’t just a frosting; it’s a glossy, intensely chocolatey crown that takes the cake from delicious to absolutely divine. The smooth, creamy texture of the ganache provides a beautiful contrast to the cake’s tender crumb, and its deep chocolate flavor harmonizes perfectly with the subtle complexities introduced by the beets.
Imagine the richness of a dark chocolate snack cake, but with an added layer of sophistication and a wonderfully moist, dense consistency. This is what you get when you combine the velvety cake with the luxurious ganache. The slight bitterness of dark cocoa in the cake is perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the ganache, creating a symphony of flavors that will leave you wanting another slice.
Once chilled, the ganache sets to a firm, yet still yielding, consistency that makes each bite an experience. So, go ahead, grab a fork, maybe a cold glass of milk, and dig in. You won’t believe how incredibly good this healthy-ish chocolate cake tastes!
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Print Recipe
Chocolate Beet Cake
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 6 Tablespoons dark chocolate cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil + 2 Tablespoons
- 1 1/2 cups pureed Paisley Farms Sweet Pickled Beets about half of a 35.5 ounce jar drain before pureeing.
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla
- For the Chocolate Ganache:
- 8 ounces of semi sweet chocolate (I have used squares and chips)
- 1/2 cup of cream
- 1 teaspoon of instant coffee or 1 Tablespoon of rum or whiskey
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
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Sift together flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.
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Puree drained beets. Set aside
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In the bowl of a mixer, combine together oil, sugar and eggs. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
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Add in vanilla and pureed beets. Mix to incorporate.
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Gradually add in dry ingredients, mixing to combine.
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Pour into prepared pan.
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Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cake tests done in the center with a toothpick.
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Cool in pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit over night before adding chocolate ganache.
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To prepare ganache: In a saucepan over low heat, add chocolate and cream. Stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat, add in rum or whiskey with a whisk. Pour over cake, spread and place in the fridge to chill.
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We served it cold.
Notes
Nutrition
Discover More from Paisley Farms!
My collaboration with Paisley Farms for this delicious Chocolate Beet Cake highlights just how versatile and high-quality their products are. We truly love the organic foods from Paisley Farms, not just for their taste but also for their convenience and consistency.
If you’re looking for another fantastic recipe that showcases their products, you absolutely must try my Five Bean Chicken Chili Recipe, which I also developed for Paisley Farms. It uses their delightful Five Bean Salad to create a hearty and flavorful meal perfect for any time of year.
I encourage you to explore all the wonderful offerings from Paisley Farms! Visit their website for an extensive collection of inspiring recipes, a full catalog of their high-quality products, and a convenient store locator to find them near you.
Stay connected and get even more culinary inspiration by following Paisley Farms on their social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. You’ll find a community of food lovers and plenty of creative ideas for incorporating their delicious products into your everyday cooking and baking.