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You are here: Home / Recipes / Cakes and Cupcakes / Chocolate Beetroot Cake with Cardamom Rose Swiss Meringue Buttercream and Pistachios

Chocolate Beetroot Cake with Cardamom Rose Swiss Meringue Buttercream and Pistachios

March 14, 2015 Updated October 30, 2020 13 Comments

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I decided when I get asked how old I am (which is rude) my response is going to be at least 10 years older than I really am.  It’s obvious I’m no long 29.  I could probably pass for 30, but definitely NOT 29.  So from now on I’m 60ish. People will be amazed at how good I look for my age.
 
This past week another year was added.  I celebrate (ha) by making my own birthday cake.  I generally lean towards a rich carrot cake, but this year I decided to make just a tiny cake, le petit gâteau, with some of my favorite flavors.
 
 
 
I’m obsessed with beets right now especially their color.  The red color of a juiced or roasted beet is glorious.  Oh, don’t get me going on how beautiful golden beets are juiced.  The gold is almost neon. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.
 
I remember my grandmother telling me that they used to use beets in cakes to help make them moist. So I decided to add some pureed cooked beets to a chocolate cake batter.  I’m becoming more anti-artificial color, so I decided to use that glorious beet juice to give a hint of pink to my rose buttercream.
 
Happy Birthday to me.
 
Don’t let all the steps and photos scare you.  I like to be precise with my instructions.  Follow them and you will have a beautiful little cake.  Worth the time.
 
I somehow deleted the photo of all of the ingredients, but I’m pretty sure you can visualize these simple ingredients.
 
 
 
For the chocolate beetroot cake you will need:
 
2 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup oil (I used light flavored olive oil)
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup pureed cooked red beets
3/4 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon vanilla
 
2 (6-inch x 3-inches high) round cake pans or 2 8-inch will work as well.
 

I’m using 6-inch round cake pans because I want one small cake, but there will be enough batter to make 2 of the 6-inch cakes.  I’ll just freeze the other one for future use.

Butter cake pans.

Coat with sifted cocoa powder.

 
Set aside.
 

Luckily I had some leftover cooked beets, which saves a lot of time.

This is how I like to roast my beets.  You can boil them as well.

Scrub 2-3 beets.

Wrap tightly in heavy duty aluminum foil.  Place in a 350 degree oven and bake for about 30-40 minutes.  This can be done a few days ahead of time.

Remove from oven and poke beets with a fork to make sure they are soft and tender.

I like to reserve this beet juice to color the icing.

Gorgeous red.

Peel the beets.  The skins generally just rub right off.

Place the beets in a blender.

 

Puree.  Set aside.
 

Mix together 2 1/2 cup flour, 1 tsp. salt, 2 tsp. baking soda,

 

and 1/2 cup cocoa.

 

Sift together and set aside.

 

In a large bowl add  2 cups sugar.

 

Add 2 eggs.

Beat until light yellow.

While beating slowly add 1 cup oil.

Add 1 cup buttermilk alternately with flour mixture.

Mix until smooth, but don’t over mix.

Add the reserved beet puree and blend just until mixed in.

Slowly mix in  1 cup boiling water.

Add 1 tsp. vanilla

The batter will look a little funky in color almost a purple.  No worries it will bake up to be a beautiful dark chocolate color.

Divide batter into prepared pans.

Place in a 350 degree F oven and bake for about 40-45 minutes for a 3-inch deep pan.  If your pan is only 2-inches deep then bake for 30-35 minutes.  Test by poking a toothpick into the cake center.  If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done.

 

Allow to cool in pan to 5 minutes.

Remove from pan and place on a cooking rack to cool completely.

Once the cake is cooled it can be wrapped in plastic wrap then in heavy duty aluminum foil and placed in the freezer for 2-3 weeks.

 
 
Prepare icing:
 

 

For the Cardamom Rose Swiss Meringue Buttercream you will need:

2/3 cup (150 g) egg whites
1 1/4 cup (250 g) sugar
1 1/2 cups (340 g) or 3 cubes unsalted butter
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 – 1 teaspoon rose water
1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon beet juice or a few drops of red food color
tiny pinch of cardamom

Slice each cube of butter into 8 equal slices or 1 tablespoon slices or cubes.

I like to arrange them on a plate to soften.  Important note:  You do NOT want your butter to be a room temperature.  You want to softened, but still cool.

Pour 2/3 cup egg whites into the bowl of an electric mixer.  Make sure the bowl is very clean and free from fat or grease.

Add 1 1/4 cups sugar.

Whisk together.

Place the bowl on top of a pan of simmering water.  Do not let the bowl touch the water.

Stir constantly until the temperature reaches 160 degrees F and the sugar should be dissolved.

Remove from heat.

Rub a small amount of the mixture between your fingers to make sure the sugar has dissolved.

Using a whisk attachment, whip the mixture.

Beat until a stiff meringue forms and the bottom of of the bowl is cool to the touch.  I’ll repeat that, the bottom of the bowl should be cool to the touch.  If the bowl is still warm, continue beating until it is cool.

Remove the whisk and attach the paddle attachment.

Take the softened butter and add it to the meringue mixture.

Turn the mixer on and add butter one tablespoon at a time until incorporated.

Repeat.

You will notice that the meringue will slightly deflate.  DO NOT PANIC.

Wait for it…

Continue to add the butter while mixing.

Wait for it…

As the last tablespoon of butter is added the buttercream will finally come together.  It is complete!

Add the salt and a pinch of salt.

Add 1/2 teaspoon rose water.  You can add more to taste.  I just wanted a subtle hint of rose.

Add just a small smidgen of cardamom.

Last but not least the BEET JUICE!.  I’m adding about 1/4 teaspoon because I wanted a very light pale pink.  By all means add more if you want a vibrant pink.  I promise you will not taste the beet juice at all.

The recipe makes quite a bit.  If you decorate the cake as follows, you will have leftover icing.  It freezes well OR you can just eat the remaining icing with a spoon.

I turned my cake over so I could have a flat surface to work on.

I’m sure you remember that I’m slightly “piping” challenged.

 

I filled a large pastry bag with a large round tip to create my little mounds of buttercream.

I made a few practice mounds.  Eh good enough.

Sprinkle with a few chopped pistachio’s.

Mon petit gâteau.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My little birthday cake almost tasted as good as the chocolate cake with sprinkles that my grandkids made for me.  That was a cake to behold.

5 from 2 votes
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Chocolate Beetroot Cake with Cardamom Rose Swiss Meringue Buttercream

This makes a sweet little cake that is perfect for parties. Beets up the nutrition and lend a beautiful color.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword chocolate beet cake, chocolate beet cake recipe, swiss meringue buttercream recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 24 servings
Calories 284 kcal
Author Janet Barton

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

  • 2 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup oil I used light flavored olive oil
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup pureed cooked red beets
  • 3/4 cup boiling water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Meringue:

  • 2/3 cup egg whites 150 g
  • 1 1/4 cup sugar 250 g
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter 340 g or 3 cubes
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon rose water
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon beet juice or a few drops of red food color
  • tiny pinch of cardamom
  • Chopped pistachios if desired

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt together.  Set mixture aside.  In a large mixing bowl beat sugar and eggs until light yellow.  With mixer running slowly drizzle in oil.  Mix until smooth.  Add buttermilk alternately with flour mixture. Add beet puree. Mix.  Slowly add 1 cup boiling water until batter is smooth.  Mix in vanilla.  Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes for a 6 x 3-inch deep pan.  Or until cake springs back with lightly pressed or when a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  2. 9 x 13 or 9-inch rounds bake 25-30 minutes
  3. Cupcakes bake for 18-20 minutes.
  4. In a very clean bowl of an electric mixer, add egg whites and sugar.  Place over a simmering pot of water, stirring constantly until temperature reaches 160 degrees F.  Rub a small amount of the mixture between two fingers to make sure the sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat.  Using the whisk attachment, beat until the mixture is a thick meringue and the bottom of the bowl is cool to the touch.  The bowl must be cool before adding the butter.
  5. Replace the whisk with the paddle attachment.  With the mixture on medium-low speed add butter once slice at a time until all of the butter has been incorporated.  The mixture should be silky smooth and thick.  The mixture may begin to look curdled, keep mixing until it is smooth.  This can take 10 minutes or so.  Mix in salt, vanilla, rose water, cardamom and beet juice.  Beat to combine.
  6. Mixture may be refrigerated but will have to be re-whipped using the paddle attachment before using to make it silky smooth again.

  7. Mixture may, also, be frozen for up to a month.  Thaw on at room temperature overnight and re-whip with the paddle attachment until smooth before using.

Recipe Notes

Makes 24 cupcakes OR one 9 x 13-inch cake OR two 9-inch round.

Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Beetroot Cake with Cardamom Rose Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Amount Per Serving
Calories 284 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 7g35%
Cholesterol 45mg15%
Sodium 222mg9%
Potassium 92mg3%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 28g31%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 390IU8%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 23mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Filed Under: Cakes and Cupcakes, Dessert

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Comments

  1. Amalia Perez says

    February 8, 2025 at 9:52 pm

    hI JANET, IM EXCITED TO TRY AND MAKE THIS. i HAVE NEVER MADE ICING/FROSTING LIKE THIS EVER. I DO WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT FLOUR TYPE DID YOU USE?. i DONT WANT TO HAVE ANY MISSHAPS, YOU CAN TELL IM NOT AN EXPERIENCED CAKE MAKER, MY APOLAGIES IN ADVANCE, THANK YOU

    Reply
  2. Elizabeth Downie says

    March 25, 2015 at 1:01 pm

    So did you trim the top off your cake to make it even, then flip the cake upside down? I have a really hard time getting a straight cut on a cake!!

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      March 27, 2015 at 5:15 pm

      Yes, Elizabeth, I did trim off the top then turn the cake upside down for a nice flat surface. Because I too have trouble getting a nice straight edge. As hard as I try it's never level. Sometimes I like the domed look and I'll just leave it, because I like a homemade cake look.

      Reply
  3. Tami Burgess says

    March 16, 2015 at 4:38 pm

    Seriously you are an amazing, talented cook. GREAT recipe. Thank you. Happy Birthday!

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      March 16, 2015 at 5:20 pm

      You just made my day and someday I hope to live up to your comment. Thank you so much

      Reply
  4. Liz says

    March 16, 2015 at 5:36 am

    Happy Birthday! That looks delicious!

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      March 16, 2015 at 5:20 pm

      Merci.

      Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    March 15, 2015 at 8:11 pm

    Happy Birthday, Janet! Thanks for sharing your birthday cake recipe. I have a birthday coming up, too, and I might have to try this!

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      March 16, 2015 at 5:20 pm

      Oh my goodness. I put the whole thing in the freezer and we ate it yesterday. It was so moist and delicious. I hope you try it. Happy birthday to YOU!

      Reply
  6. Irmina Dรญaz-Frois Martรญn says

    March 15, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    Delicioso cake, me gusta.
    Un saludo.

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      March 16, 2015 at 5:19 pm

      Thank you so much ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  7. Maureen Wyatt says

    March 15, 2015 at 5:17 am

    Love the idea of adding the beets to the cake and I have lots of roasted beets in my freezer. I'm pinning this to give it a try. Thanks for sharing and Happy Birthday!
    ps – I've had some of those interesting grandkid cakes. lol

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      March 16, 2015 at 5:18 pm

      Freezing your beets is a great idea. Love it! Thank you so much for your comment. Grandkids are the best.

      Reply
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About Me

Janet Barton

Hi I'm Janet and this is where I share my delicious made-from-scratch seasonal recipes that I make at home for my family every day.

I believe cooking from scratch, using unprocessed and whole foods is an important part of healthy eating. My goal is to help you create amazing recipes by providing easy step-by-step photos and instructions.

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