Beetroot chocolate cake with cream cheese icing recipe
 Brighten up a special occasion, or cake sale, with Mary's rich beetroot and chocolate cake recipe decorated with heart-shaped candied beetroot! For this recipe you will need a food processor. 250g/9oz self-raising flour4 tbsp cocoa powder2 tsp baking powder250g/9oz cooked beetroot in natural juices3 tbsp white wine vinegar160ml/5½fl oz buttermilk160g/5½oz butter, softened230g/8oz caster sugar3 large free-range eggs 250g/9oz self-raising flour 4 tbsp cocoa powder 2 tsp baking powder 250g/9oz cooked beetroot in natural juices 3 tbsp white wine vinegar 160ml/5½fl oz buttermilk 160g/5½oz butter, softened 230g/8oz caster sugar 3 large free-range eggs 280g/10oz cream cheese50g/1¾oz unsalted butter, softened50g/1¾oz icing sugar, sifted½ tsp vanilla extract 280g/10oz cream cheese 50g/1¾oz unsalted butter, softened 50g/1¾oz icing sugar, sifted ½ tsp vanilla extract 2 x raw beetroots200g/7oz caster sugar 2 x raw beetroots 200g/7oz caster sugar Method Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Grease and line a 30x20cm/12x8in traybake tin.Mix together the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder in a bowl.Blend the beetroot in a food processor until you have a rough purée. Put the purée in a bowl, add the vinegar and buttermilk. Mix to combine.Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, followed by half the dry mixture and half the beetroot mixture. Continue to mix gently, adding the rest of the dry ingredients and the remaining beetroot. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 40-50 minutes. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning it out of the tin and leaving it to cool completely.Meanwhile make the icing. Beat together the cream cheese and butter until soft. Beat in the icing sugar and vanilla extract until they are combined, then spread the icing onto the cooled cake. For the beetroot hearts, thinly slice the beetroot, and cut into 12 heart shapes.Boil the sugar in 200ml/7fl oz water until the sugar has dissolved, then add the beetroot hearts and simmer for about 10 minutes until soft and translucent. Using a fork, carefully remove the beetroot hearts from the hot sugar syrup and carefully lay them on paper towel to soak up any excess syrup.Slice the cake into 12 even squares, and then decorate each square with a beetroot heart. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Grease and line a 30x20cm/12x8in traybake tin. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Grease and line a 30x20cm/12x8in traybake tin. Mix together the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder in a bowl. Mix together the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder in a bowl. Blend the beetroot in a food processor until you have a rough purée. Put the purée in a bowl, add the vinegar and buttermilk. Mix to combine. Blend the beetroot in a food processor until you have a rough purée. Put the purée in a bowl, add the vinegar and buttermilk. Mix to combine. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, followed by half the dry mixture and half the beetroot mixture. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, followed by half the dry mixture and half the beetroot mixture. Continue to mix gently, adding the rest of the dry ingredients and the remaining beetroot. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 40-50 minutes. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning it out of the tin and leaving it to cool completely. Continue to mix gently, adding the rest of the dry ingredients and the remaining beetroot. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 40-50 minutes. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning it out of the tin and leaving it to cool completely. Meanwhile make the icing. Beat together the cream cheese and butter until soft. Beat in the icing sugar and vanilla extract until they are combined, then spread the icing onto the cooled cake. Meanwhile make the icing. Beat together the cream cheese and butter until soft. Beat in the icing sugar and vanilla extract until they are combined, then spread the icing onto the cooled cake. For the beetroot hearts, thinly slice the beetroot, and cut into 12 heart shapes. For the beetroot hearts, thinly slice the beetroot, and cut into 12 heart shapes. Boil the sugar in 200ml/7fl oz water until the sugar has dissolved, then add the beetroot hearts and simmer for about 10 minutes until soft and translucent. Using a fork, carefully remove the beetroot hearts from the hot sugar syrup and carefully lay them on paper towel to soak up any excess syrup. Boil the sugar in 200ml/7fl oz water until the sugar has dissolved, then add the beetroot hearts and simmer for about 10 minutes until soft and translucent. Using a fork, carefully remove the beetroot hearts from the hot sugar syrup and carefully lay them on paper towel to soak up any excess syrup. Slice the cake into 12 even squares, and then decorate each square with a beetroot heart. Slice the cake into 12 even squares, and then decorate each square with a beetroot heart.