These brownies look delicious in the picture above, don’t they? I bet you could just eat one right now! But how do you feel when you read the title of the recipe? Frankly, I was sceptical when I saw them in the recipe section of my mum’s Good Housekeeping magazine when I was in the UK a couple of weeks ago. I do like beetroot, but still mostly associate it with Sunday teatimes as a child when we would ‘catch’ it with a fork out of vinegar in a jar, splashing the table cloth and ourselves with a bright purple stain.
Don’t worry, I don’t do this (so often) now. I also now get that you can buy beetroot fresh and raw with the leaves still on, boil it or roast it yourself and it’ll become a wonderful bright addition to a salad or dip or soup. But adding beets to a cake? Specifically, to a brownie? Hmmm … I wasn’t so sure about that.
Before diving head first into the world of food blogging, I thought that a brownie was pretty much a brownie. There may have been fudgier ones and cakier ones, but they were still just brownies. I had never imagined that you could make them with avocado, or sweet potato, or black beans, or bacon. Yup, bacon. Most of us have heard of this trend of putting bacon in pretty much everything, including sweet cakes, so obviously it’s good but … bacon? And, apparently, according to my mum’s trusty magazine … beetroot!
If you think about it, though, putting beetroot in a cake really isn’t too far a deviation from the carrot cake we all know and love. Come on, you have to admit it. I’ve seen chocolate zucchini cakes hanging out on recipe sites and blogs, too, so why not beetroot brownies? Hello hidden veggies!
Like all veggie-additions to cakes, the beetroot keeps these brownies lovely and moist, as well as adding a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’. Apparently red velvet cake was originally coloured with beetroot, but as these brownies are so chocolaty they just come out of the oven a wonderful deep dark shade of brown.
If I was a little unsure after first seeing this recipe, if I’m totally honest with you I didn’t quite know what to make of the brownies after my first bite, either. It wasn’t that I didn’t like it but rather that it was a bit surprising. It’s a densely rich, fudgy and chocolaty brownie, but somehow still light and delicate as well, almost like a really stiff mousse. Then there’s the zingy and warm ginger hit and the slight earthy quality of the beetroot cutting through the intensity of the chocolate. After the first few cynical mouthfuls, I definitely began to warm up to the idea of a beetroot brownie. Yes, I definitely liked it! Especially warmed up a day later for a few seconds in the microwave and dolloped with a big spoonful of Greek yoghurt. The sour taste of the creamy yoghurt went perfectly with the dark dark chocolaty hit of the brownie.
If you aren’t the world’s biggest ginger fan, I think you could very happily leave it out of this recipe. You could add a few white chocolate chunks to the batter mixture instead or just leave the brownies ‘plain’ with just a little icing sugar sprinkled over the top after they’ve come out of the oven.
Finally … if I was worrying at all about my waistline here, which I’m not really (because they’re brownies!), then I’d say that these aren’t so bad. There’s a good amount of nutritious beetroot in there, of course, but I also used dark chocolate with 70% cocoa solids and raw cacao powder. Plus real butter, and only about half the amount that you put in a regular brownie. But hey, as I said, don’t think too much about this. Just eat and enjoy!
Oh, and by the way, I’m interested … what’s the strangest ingredient you’ve ever put into a sweet treat?
Beetroot & ginger brownies
Ingredients
For the brownies
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 ounces good quality plain chocolate (I used 70% cocoa solids)
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup light or dark brown sugar (I used dark)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup self-raising flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder (I used raw cacao powder)
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 9 ounces vacuum-packed cooked beetroot, drained well and grated
- 2 ounces stem ginger from a jar finely chopped (I used 2 ½ of the little balls of preserved ginger but you can use about 2 ½ tablespoons of chopped candied ginger instead if this is all you can find)
For the ginger drizzle (optional)
- 1/4 cup icing sugar
- 3 or 4 tablespoons stem ginger syrup from the jar, or water
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/355 degrees F and line and lightly butter an 8x8 inch baking pan.
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Melt the butter and the chocolate together on a low heat in a large pan. Stir together well, then take off the heat and set aside.
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Using either a handheld electric whisk or a food processor, whisk together the eggs, sugar and vanilla until they are pale and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Sift the flour, cocoa and bicarb of soda into the egg and sugar mixture in a large bowl and fold in carefully with a metal spoon. Then fold in the ginger, beetroot and melted chocolate and butter mixture. Don’t over-mix so that the mixture stays light and moussey.
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Pour into the tin and bake for about 35 minutes or until set, but take care not to overcook. Then leave to cool completely in the tin.
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Mix the ginger syrup or water into the icing sugar, if making, then drizzle roughly over the brownies. Leave them to set before cutting them into about 16 squares. Eat cold or heat for 20 to 30 seconds in the microwave and serve with a tablespoon or two of creamy Greek yoghurt. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Barely adapted from the March 2014 edition of UK Good Housekeeping magazine.
I hope you enjoyed this post! You can find more from Scrummy Lane on Facebook and Pinterest and you can also follow me on Bloglovin! Thanks so much for reading! It really makes my day!
Kaylee @ Lemons and Basil says
23 Feb 14 at 3:35 amWhat a unique combination, pictures are beautiful!
Helen says
23 Feb 14 at 4:15 amThank you, Kaylee! I really enjoyed creating this post!
em says
23 Feb 14 at 6:24 amThese look divine! I am torn between making cookies or brownies right now…gotta make this saturday night worth it!
Helen says
23 Feb 14 at 1:45 pmThank you! In the end I put them in the freezer to stop me eating them! Make brownies! Make these!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
23 Feb 14 at 7:15 pmI wasn’t put off by the title-much the opposite really! The strangest thing I’ve ever put into a cake is a tin of tomato soup-yes really! 😀
Helen says
24 Feb 14 at 1:45 amOh my goodness, I’m laughing my head off right now, Lorraine! What kind of cake did you put tomato soup in? That’s classic!
Trisha says
23 Feb 14 at 7:53 pmsounds like a great combination. I love ginger! x
Helen says
24 Feb 14 at 1:44 amThank you, Trisha, and thanks for visiting the blog, too!
cheri says
23 Feb 14 at 9:18 pmHi Helen, I made something like this before but with zucchini. Have to try this, just pinned. Happy week-end!
Helen says
24 Feb 14 at 1:43 amI’d really like to try making a cake with zucchini, Cheri … I’ve heard that it’s really good too, especially with chocolate. Thanks so much for pinning and I hope you have a great weekend, too!
Chrissy says
23 Feb 14 at 10:50 pmI add weird stuff to baked goods all the time. My favorite butter substitute is pureed white beans. I even subbed it for half of the butter in a rich chocolate frosting and not one person could tell the difference!
Helen says
24 Feb 14 at 1:39 amOh wow! I have certainly never heard of white beans as a butter substitute … that’s just wonderful! I love the idea of adding these healthier ingredients to a frosting, too. As you did, you can just replace half of the ‘bad things’ like butter just to make it slightly less naughty. Brilliant!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
24 Feb 14 at 1:11 amOoohh these have really caught my attention. Beet brownies?? Now, this sounds interesting! They look so rich and fudgy that I can’t wait to try them.
Hope you’re having a lovely weekend! xx
Helen says
24 Feb 14 at 1:33 amAw, thank you Consuelo! Thank you for taking the time to check out my post. Do let me know if you do give these a try and what you think of them … they are VERY fudgy! I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend, too!
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg says
24 Feb 14 at 1:32 amI’ve heard of beet cake before so this wasn’t too weird to me. I bet it’s delicious.
Helen says
24 Feb 14 at 1:48 amThanks, Norma … the brownies were very good, if you like really really chocolaty, fudgy brownies that is!
Judit & Corina @WineDineDaily says
24 Feb 14 at 7:01 amOh my, never would have guessed that you have beetroot in these delicious brownies! Now we are inspired to try it sometime soon:)
Cheers,
J+C
Helen says
24 Feb 14 at 1:38 pmHello, Judit & Corina … and thank you for popping by! I hope you do try it. Let me know if you do!
Ashley says
24 Feb 14 at 9:45 amThese brownies are so different! I’m really intrigued by them! I would have never thought to use beetroot in a brownie! But they sure are gorgeous!
Helen says
24 Feb 14 at 1:37 pmI know, my thoughts at first exactly … but it does work!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
24 Feb 14 at 10:54 amI love vegetables in brownies so I’m all over these! Love that rich color!
Helen says
24 Feb 14 at 1:37 pmThanks, Pamela! Weird, but nice! 🙂
Kate says
24 Feb 14 at 2:58 pmYou know, I can’t tolerate raw beets, but I’d like to try them in a baked good. I’m so intrigued by this recipe!
Helen says
25 Feb 14 at 1:34 amThanks for passing by, Kate! Your blog is one of my very favourites! I think you would like the brownies as like many ‘substitute’ ingredients you really don’t taste the beets as such. They just make the brownies taste slightly ‘earthy’, which sounds awful, but it’s subtle and works, surprisingly!
Mariana @ The Candid Kitchen says
24 Feb 14 at 9:40 pmI had heard of adding beetroots to chocolate cake…apparently it makes it healthier because you don’t need to add as much sugar, but bacon……….I am not convinced just yet 😉
Helen says
25 Feb 14 at 1:29 amI know, me neither, Mariana! I think I need to try the bacon in a cake thing to decide for myself!
Sarah & Arkadi says
25 Feb 14 at 12:52 amvery creative! excellent brownies!
Helen says
25 Feb 14 at 1:28 amThank you! 🙂
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
25 Feb 14 at 1:31 amOh my goodness, Helen! This brownie recipe of yours with beets in the batter reminds me of those vintage Red Velvet Cake recipes. This is fabulous! By the way, I adore the English word “scrummy”. The first time I read it, it just tickled me. So, I’m crushing on your cute blog name. 🙂 Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week!
Helen says
25 Feb 14 at 1:55 amHey, thanks Stacy! Your comment has definitely made my day! I actually didn’t realise that you guys over in North America don’t use that word when I chose my blog name! But if I can ‘tickle’ other bloggers with it then I’m happy! Glad you liked the beet brownies … definitely weird but strangely wonderful!
Zainab @ Blahnik Baker says
25 Feb 14 at 5:14 amWhat a creative and unique combination of flavors. I love the ginger drizzle and I feel like I will just drink it alone.
Helen says
25 Feb 14 at 1:45 pmThanks, Zainab. I enjoyed the ginger drizzle, but mainly because of the way it dripped down the brownies!
cupcakegirl says
25 Feb 14 at 5:24 ami had re read the tilte to make sure, but the pictures swayed me they look awesome.may have to buy some beetroot when i’m next at the shops.
Helen says
25 Feb 14 at 1:42 pmHello and thanks for visiting the blog! Yes, I really did put beetroot in them! I really do hope you try making them, and please let me know if you do!
Jess says
25 Feb 14 at 10:53 pmThese look amazing, Helen!
Helen says
26 Feb 14 at 4:10 amThank you, Jess!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
26 Feb 14 at 2:31 amWow I would have never thought of putting beet root in brownies!! Such a great idea though… and like you said, totally not as weird as we all first thought considering the whole carrot cake thing. And I’m really intrigued by the addition of ginger. Totally need to try!
Helen says
26 Feb 14 at 4:10 amGlad you like the idea, Chris. I’m really pleased that I finally managed to try cakes with ‘something weird’ in them. Next I think I really need to try bacon or beans in brownies – or maybe both together, now there’s an idea! Let me know if you do try these!
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
26 Feb 14 at 3:43 amI would have never guessed that these brownies have beetroot in them! They look delicious and I’d definitely be willing to try it. 🙂 Yum!
Helen says
26 Feb 14 at 4:07 amThanks for visiting the blog, Tina! Are you Greek? Glad you like the look of the brownies. They were wonderfully fudgy and I’m very happy that I still have some in the freezer waiting to be scoffed!
The Hungry Mum says
26 Feb 14 at 5:42 pmI adore beetroot but have never tried it in a brownie! Looks divine.
Helen says
27 Feb 14 at 12:17 amThanks so much for passing by and glad you like the brownies! 🙂
Medeja says
27 Feb 14 at 6:38 amWow this brownie looks amazing! So chocolaty, moist.. Will have to try it 🙂 Thanks
Helen says
27 Feb 14 at 12:15 pmYou’re welcome! Glad you like the brownies and thanks for passing by!
Liz says
27 Feb 14 at 10:56 amOooh, these look irresistible! And the ginger sounds like a wonderful addition 🙂
Helen says
27 Feb 14 at 12:14 pmThank you, Liz! If you’re a ginger lover then the combination is great!
✽. aimée .✽ / WallflowerGirl.co.uk says
05 Mar 14 at 1:00 pmI’m a big fan of chocolate and beetroot together in cakes and bakes – the combination is unexpectedly delicious. The idea of adding ginger makes this even more appealing!
Helen says
05 Mar 14 at 6:33 pmHello, Aimee, and thank you! It was really good with the ginger, but I think you have to be a ginger fan to appreciate it.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
10 Mar 14 at 2:34 amFantastic brownies!
Helen says
10 Mar 14 at 6:39 amThank you, Jocelyn!