Martha Mondays: Chocolate Beet Cake
Posted by in Food
This week’s project was chosen by yours truly: Chocolate Beet Cake (from November Living, not online yet). Wow! The gold standard for chocolate cake in my house is my grandmother’s Miracle Whip cake and this was just as good. It was incredibly moist and you would never know there were beets in it. It just tasted like a delicious, very moist chocolate cake – it looked just like a chocolate cake too.
I don’t know how often I would make this though, because beets are just a pain 
to work with! You have to peel them, then cut into pieces then boil then puree. I have an off-white Corian sink and was totally paranoid about it getting stained. I was able to find a pair of medical gloves to wear so I didn’t stain my hands. I peeled the beets on top of newspaper. I drained them out in the yard to avoid the sink issue entirely.
Other than the beets, the cake was easy to make and had an easy chocolate glaze, only one layer which I appreciated. It was so good I sent it away with Mr. 
MarthaAndMe this morning – can’t have that in the house AND the Halloween candy!
As you can see, I took it out of the oven a smidge too early – the very center didn’t quite cook all the way. I took it out with5 minutes remaining because it seemed done. I should have tested it with a cake tester.
I’m wondering if this would work with roasted beets (where you roast them whole, then just rub the skin off with a paper towel), or even canned beets so you wouldn’t have to cook them yourself at all.
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This was a really fantastic pick Brette. I love it, my mum loves it and so does my friend at work who got a piece this morning! We all love it! It is incredibly moist, and takes on a fudgy consistency the next day.
I cooked the beets and then peeled them and cut them up. I oiled my hands when peeling and touching them and this helps a bit (but not a great deal).
Thanks for a great pick. My post is up: http://www.perfectingpru.wordpress.com
I’m glad you liked it. I was surprised at how good it was.
I am one of Mr. Martha’s co-workers and I have to say I would have never guessed the secret ingredient. It was moist, delicious; very chocolatey and a full serving of vegetables in every slice! (just kidding).
It went great with a cup of coffee…thanks very much! Doug
Hi Doug. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I’m so behind in my Martha Monday trials. I really want to make this and am hoping to get to it this week. With Halloween I just haven’t been able to get it together! Excuses. Excuses. I know.
Don’t worry about it! Things get busy.
I seem to have misplaced my copy of Living this month. Could you email me the recipe?
Hmm, I just don’t know. I loathe beats. I think I would know they were there.
No, I promise, you absolutely would never, ever know in a million years. Mr. MarthaAndMe took it to work and told them it had a surprise ingredient and no one could figure it out until they came here to read the post.
Very late, I know, but I posted my beet cake results this Monday instead. Not sure if I can handle homemade peanut butter cups. I’m kind of tired of chocolate after Halloween and this!
http://sassysuppers.blogspot.com/2011/11/martha-monday-chocolate-beet-cake.html
I am too, but that didn’t stop me from being a pig over those. Sigh.