4 oz Unsweetened chocolate,
-chopped
1 cn (8 1/4-ounce) beets
2 1/4 c Allpurpose flour
1/3 c Cocoa powder
2 ts Baking soda
1/2 ts Salt
1 1/2 Sticks unsalted butter,
-softened
1 1/4 c Firmly-packed light brown
-sugar
1 c Granulated sugar
3 lg Eggs
2 ts Vanilla
2/3 c Buttermilk
2 ts Cider vinegar
FROSTING
2 1/4 c Granulated sugar
1 ts Cream of tartar
1 pn Salt
6 lg Egg whites
1/4 c Cold water
2 tb Vanilla
This recipe was demonstrated on TVFN yesterday. He explained that the red
color in chocolate cake was an acid baxe reaction with the chocolate, but
in this recipe he added beets to enhance the red.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9x2inch cake pans. Melt
chocolate in double boiler and set aside to cool. Drain beets and pure in a
blender or food processor; you should have 1 cup. Sift together flour,
cocoa, baking soda and salt. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat butter,
sugars, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in
chocolate. With mixer on low alternately beat in flour mixture (in fourths)
and buttermilk mixed with vinegar (in thirds), beginning and ending with
flour. Beat until incorporated. Add pured beets and mix on medium until
blended. Divide the batter between the pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or
until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean and top of cake
springs back when lightly pressed. Cool cakes in pans on wire racks for 10
minutes and invert onto racks to cool completely. Make frosting: In a bowl
set over a large saucepan of simmering water beat sugar, cream of tartar,
salt, egg whites and water with mixer for 5 to 7 minutes, or until mixture
holds stiff peaks. Remove bowl from pan and beat icing for 3 minutes more.
Beat in vanilla. To assemble cake: On serving plate spread one cake layer
with a third of frosting and top with second layer. Spread remaining
frosting over top and sides. Yield: 9-inch Layer Cake, 8 to 10 servings
Yields
1 Servings