Beetroot Chocolate Cake
Healthier Cake / Gluten-free / Anti-Oxidant Rich
I’m writing the intro for this as my cake sits cooking in the oven. Cakes or anything with precise measures tend to stress me out as I basically can’t be slap dash and have to be accurate. However the preparation from start to oven seems to have passed me by unnoticed. It’s an extremely easy recipe to follow. I’ve cut out wheat so this recipe is gluten-free (as long as the baking powder you buy is also gluten-free). Ground almonds act as the binding agent to bring together this beautifully rich, moist cake.
If you are looking for a healthy alternative to your average cake, then with 300g beetroot packed into this flourless, no “added” sugar, gluten-free cake- I think we have a winner.
This cake has many anti-oxidant properties gained from the ingredients within it. Beetroot, almonds, dark chocolate, and honey all have healthy heart benefits to them as well, so why not make this healthy cake for someone you love.
BEETROOT– Beetroot are high in potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin A, B6, C, folic acid and anti-oxidants. (SOURCE http://www.webmd.boots.com/healthy-eating/guide/beetroot-benefits ) The nitrates in beetroot help lower blood pressure and may help heart disease. Also, beets contain boron which is good for sexual stamina and all-round energy levels! (SOURCE http://www.undergroundhealth.com/12-healthiest-foods-on-earth/ )
ALMONDS – Naturally low in saturated fats, and high in vitamin E, almonds make a great anti-oxidant. Clinical studies actually conducted that a handful of almonds a day alongside a healthy diet, helps to lower cholesterol and promote a healthy heart. (SOURCE: http://www.theguardian.com/california-almonds/introduction )
DARK CHOCOLATE – Nutritious. Yes it is, in moderation. You wouldn’t want to eat it in one sitting obviously, but just to show you, based on 70-85% cocoa; 100g dark chocolate contains the following percentages of your recommended daily intake; 67% iron, 58% magnesium, 89% copper (great for immune system), 98% manganese, along with potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and selenium. A sensible size slice of this cake along with a healthy diet could be helping you get all your essential minerals. Dark chocolate could also improve blood flow / lower blood pressure, and even improve risk factors for heart disease. (SOURCE; http://authoritynutrition.com/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate/ )
HONEY – Honey contains flavanoids / anti- oxidants which help reduce the risk of certain cancers, and heart disease. Honey actually helps the body regulate its blood sugar levels too. (SOURCE; http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-health-benefits-of-honey.html?page=2 )
Ingredient
300g cooked beetroot in natural juices, pureed
4 large free-range eggs
4 tbsp honey
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp cocoa powder, and a little extra for dusting
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp gluten-free baking powder
125g ground almonds
125g dark chocolate (I used 85% cocoa)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 180c / 160c (fan) / Gas Mark 4
- Grease and line a round loose-bottomed cake tin, I used a 22cm.
- In a large bowl, combine the beetroot with the eggs, vanilla extract, honey, cocoa and baking powder. I do this by hand so I can justify a larger piece of cake at the end of it! You can of course use an electric whisker if you want.
- Once combined, fold in the ground almonds.
- Using a heatproof bowl, place on top of a small saucepan that has a little boiling water in it, and place the chocolate in the bowl. Make sure the bowl isn’t actually touching the boiling water beneath it.
- Once all the chocolate is melted you can stir in the olive oil.
- Add the chocolate now to the cake mix and stir slowly to combine.
- Tip the cake mix out into your cake tin, levelling out with a spatula, and bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes. You will know the cake is ready when inserting a skewer into it’s centre and it comes out clean. Cake mix clinging to your skewer means it is not ready!
- Leave the cake to cool in its tin and then transfer to a wire rack.
- Dust with cocoa powder by tapping it through a sieve and serve. This cake does go rather well with a dollop of organic coconut Greek yoghurt, a healthier option than cream.
