Beetroot and Chocolate Cupcakes

Made these cupcakes for my daughter, who after wishing her cousin a Happy Birthday on a long distance call, wanted to know "Cake kahaan hai" [ Where is the Cake]. There were some beetroots lying in the fridge and I searched for a recipe for cupcakes using them. This recipe had the most positive comments , so decided to make these.  And it turned out really moist and utterly delicious. These cupcakes are not pink or red, but dark chocolate colour.

Recipe for cake is from  here . It makes about 20-22 regular sized cupcakes. These taste best after cooling for few hours or kept overnight refrigerated covered..

Ingredients

• 250g well-drained, cooked beetroots, pureed
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 300g caster sugar
• 250ml vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 225g plain flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Method 

1. Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas 4. Grease and flour one 20x30cm (9x13 in) or similar sized baking tin.
2. In a large bowl, combine pureed beetroots, eggs, vanilla, oil and sugar. Mix with an electric mixer on low speed until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and cocoa. Add to the creamed mixture, beating together well. Pour batter into prepared tin.
4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until done. Cool and frost with your favourite icing. 

I have frosted with chocolate ganache.