Flourless chocolate cake (gf) and slovenly asset management
Based on my current posts, anyone would think that we currently existed solely on a diet of chocolate cake. Last week I scored a significant hit of carrots and beets from our neighbour, Yvette. Unfortunately the carrots disappeared within the hour; our asset management leaves a lot to be desired at the moment. Yesterday my husband drove off with his wallet and ID card on the roof of the car (both were later found in the track a kilometre from the house) and I had my Visa card confiscated by a very uppity machine (don’t let’s go there). Back to the disappearing carrots: Texas, the equine retiree with a highly inflated sense of entitlement, broke into the storage grange and scoffed the whole ‘hit’! To my further shame, he also chewed Yvette’s straw basket to bits. Anyway, he was about to move on to the beetroot when I discovered him. Luckily the beets were recovered, almost slobber-free, and I was able to whip up this cake.
Beetroot has plenty of health benefits: It lowers blood pressure, boosts stamina, fights inflammation, supports detoxification and helps prevent cancer. It is also fibre-rich and a very rich source of vitamin C, folic acid, potassium and manganese.
This is another adaptation from Amber Rose’s wonderful book ‘Love, Bake, Nourish’.
Ingredients (serves 8-10)
300g cooked beetroot, peeled and puréed.
4 large free-range eggs, beaten
4 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon organic cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch of salt
125g ground almonds
125g min. 70% cocoa solids chocolate
1 teaspoon of rum (optional)
4 tablespoons olive oil
Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease and prepare a 22cm cake tin. Mix the beetroot, eggs, honey, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt, beating well. Once the ingredients are well combined, fold in the ground almonds. Melt the chocolate in the rum over a low heat and add the oil. Stir the chocolate and oil into the existing mixture, combining well. Transfer to the cake tin and bake for 35 minutes, or until a fork inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool before serving, lightly dusted with cocoa powder.
14 Comments
apuginthekitchen
Have to laugh, that horse is smart. He knew exactly where to go and worked quickly for maximum consumption. I can see the hubby driving off with the wallet and ID on the roof of the car, if that were NYC it would be sold on the black market in no time at all. Your chocolate cake is divine, love beet in chocolate cake, it’s almost like health food!
The Healthy Epicurean
He is nothing if not smart, that’s for sure. My husband on the other hand… 😉 It’s so good we don’t live in the city – it would be the same thing in Paris as NYC. The cake was surprisingly good – you can’t taste the beet at all – it just gives it an ‘earthy’ flavour…
andreamynard
Sounds as if you were in dire need of chocolate cake. A very lovely healthy one too with all that beetroot and olive oil instead of butter – wonderful.
The Healthy Epicurean
I’m always in dire need of chocolate cake to be honest 😉 At least this one has the merit of being pretty healthy as you say!
Green Door Hospitality
Must be the week for flourless chocolate cake (I posted my recipe yesterday). I really like your use of honey. Will need to try that the next time I make it.
Jessica
The Healthy Epicurean
Yes the honey works quite well I think. I’ll have to come and check out your one…
annelifaiers
Lovely looking cake – dense and delicious no doubt. Nothing wrong with a diet based entirely around cake if they are as good as this one!
The Healthy Epicurean
Thanks Anneli! Exactly – absolutely nothing wrong with an all-cake diet 😉
Stacey Bender
So glad you posted this. I once had a slice of chocolate cake at the local natural market in Manzanita, Oregon and it was outstanding. When I found out it had been made using beets, I was intrigued. I have since meant to experiment with that but, alas, I rarely bake. Now I have (another) reason, and excuse.
The Healthy Epicurean
Do let me know what you think if you make it. Beets work surprisingly well in chocolate cake I think.
Lokness
Haha… Your horse is a smart little guy! Thank god that you saved your beets, so you could make this fabulous chocolate cake. Sounds very healthy and good.
The Healthy Epicurean
He is way too smart! Thank you – it was very tasty indeed 🙂
Sally
Classic – this post and the pic made me laugh out loud.
The Healthy Epicurean
🙂