Chocolate Beet Cupcakes with Chocolate Mascarpone Frosting

06.1.14
Hello! You've landed on an older recipe. Sometimes the older recipes aren't written as clearly as they should be or something might need to be clarified. If something seems confusing or a question arises, send me an email and I'll help!
Chocolate Beet Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
Chocolate Beet Cupcakes with Chocolate Mascarpone Frosting
Red Beets
Beet Puree
Chocolate Beet Cupcakes with Chocolate Mascarpone Frosting | Naturally Ella
Chocolate Beet Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting | Naturally Ella

I felt like there should be celebratory cupcakes as the first recipe of "The Homemade Flour Cookbook" month (especially since Amazon named the book as one of their cookbooks of the month!) These cupcakes are nearly too much- so rich and delicious. I love the moisture the cooked beets add to the cake and I promise it doesn't taste like beets. Add the mascarpone frosting and it's a real treat (and also makes one awesome birthday cake!)

On a separate note,seriously, thank you for the all the notes/comments/tweets/messages about the book! I know I haven't gotten back to all of you, but just know I read and appreciate each and every one. It's crazy to work so hard on something and then have it released! If you want to know a bit more, be sure to check out the cookbook promo video!

Print

Chocolate Beet Cupcakes with Chocolate Mascarpone Frosting

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

  • Author: Erin Alderson

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3-4 large beets
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1½ cup muscovado sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoons salt
  • 1 recipe for cocoa mascarpone frosting

Instructions

  1. Peel beets and cut into cubes. Place in a pot and cover with water, 1" over the tops. Bring to a boil and cook until beets are soft. Drain, reserving ½ cup of the beet water. Combine the ½ cup water with the beets in a blender and puree until smooth. Measure out 2 cups, set side and let cool.
  2. Preheat oven to 375˚.
  3. In a double boiler, melt ¼ cup of butter with the semi-sweet chocolate. Let cool slightly.
  4. In a mixer with paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and sugar together. Add the egg and vanilla, scraping down the sides. Stir the melted chocolate and beet mixture into the butter mixture. Mix until everything is thoroughly mixed.
  5. In a separate bowl, combine pastry flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to the mixer and beat until the batter is thick and most lumps are gone.
  6. Divide batter into 18 cupcake liners. Bake for 25-28 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted. Let cool in the pan for five minutes then remove to a cooling rack to finish.
  7. Once cupcakes are cooled, make mascarpone frosting and frost cupcakes. Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

{Looking for the giveaway? It's over! But, congratulations to Jen Dronsfield for winning a copy of my book and a new grain mill!)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

120 comments on “Chocolate Beet Cupcakes with Chocolate Mascarpone Frosting”

  1. When I watched your cookbook promo this morning I found myself desperately wanting a grain mill! I'm sure I would want to make just about everything into flour, but it would be fun to start with rice. Congrats on your cookbook!

  2. Ever since first reading your blog, I have always wanted to make my own flour like you do, but I still don't have my own mill! I would love to have one to make wonderful almond flour + share it with my apartment mates at college 🙂

  3. I know literally nothing about making my own flour (clearly I need your book), so I don't even know what my choices are! I'd probably choose something with which I could make a chocolatey treat — like these cupcakes!

  4. Thank you for the chance to win! I would probably start with quinoa (since quinoa flour is outrageously expensive here) and whole wheat (since I've never tried it fresh).

  5. Love your photos! I would probably grind quinoa first since I have some in my cupboard right now.

  6. I am such a nut for nuts so I would probably grind some pecans. I made the pecan crusted green tomato sandwiches for lunch yesterday with some pecan meal I purchased and it was super scrumptious!

  7. Congratulations on the release! And these cupcakes look like the perfect way to celebrate. I've been wanting to bake with beets and still haven't gotten around to it, so this will be top of my list when beets come back in season here in Switzerland!

  8. I'd be interested in making flour from different grains I eat to see what happens. I imagine it's cheaper than buying them as flour!

  9. I'd use it to make organic rye and oat flour, which isn't easy to find. I have made small amounts of whole wheat flour in my Vita-Mix, but the speed and heat concern me. It would be great to have a mill.

  10. I'd love to be making flour after reading your cookbook. Very nice giveaway. Thank you.

  11. We are big coffee lovers in our house so ,I would first grind coffee beans.

  12. Looks delicious!! Wish I could try one of those cupcakes right now! Your cookbook sounds amazing as well--so informative.

  13. I am obsessed with baking wild cultured sourdough bread lately and would love to try baking them with fresh ground ancient grains like einkhorn!

  14. I made your rhubarb bread doing the oats in my mini food processor. I'd love to try that with a new Wonder Mill! 🙂 The recipe was awesome, so much better than any other rhubarb bread I've made in the past. Thank you!

  15. I have some wheat berries in the cupboard that would love to be in homemade bread. I also would like to try to make chickpea flour.

  16. i remember when I tried making true Red Velvet with beet Juice... It was worth it, just not so red. Mmm but some nice home-ground grains and I might shaft my attention to some new unique whole grain breads! There's a great grain share in my area i've wanted to try out.

  17. Can't wait to make these... Also, thank you for the beauty and love you put into this website. Excited to share these with friends and fam!

  18. Omg is this the recipe you used to make the cake last weekend? That mascarpone frosting!!! These are beautiful. The book is a beauty, Erin. I made the berry crisp last night and it is out of this world. Can't wait to share it with our readers. xo

  19. I would definitely do wheat first as I'd love to make my own whole wheat flour!

  20. Wow, there are so many possibilities I could make! I'd probably start with almond flour!

  21. I would like to try grinding buckwheat, or oats! Your book is wonderful and very inspiring- thank you for all that you do.

  22. I was searching for a way to use my CSA box beets and have been craving a fudge chocolate cupcake when I stumbled on your blog. I can't wait to try this recipe! Such a good use for beets. I love the idea of a grain mill since I've been trying to make flour with my food processor. Making spelt, quinoa, flax flour at home would be awesome!

  23. Hi Erin, the cupcakes look yummy. Thanks for the opportunity to win the mill. I'd love to grind some spelt to make your wonderful spelt pancakes. Looks like your hard work is paying off - the cook book is a hit- congrats : )

  24. I've always wanted to try making my own flours and experimenting with them for gluten-free baking! It's so hard to do that without a flour mill - so it'd be so amazing if I won this beauty 🙂

  25. I've been wanting to try my hand at making some new types of flours. THis would be perfect!

  26. i have a huge bag of almonds in the freezer right now... so i'd make almond flour!!

  27. I have no idea what I'd make first, but I know I'd have a ton of fun figuring it out!

  28. Congratulations on the Amazon honor! That's huge!

    As for what I would grind if I won the grain mill.... sunflower seeds, chickpeas, black beans and red lentils! Beets and celeriac are the few things on my "I don't eat list" but these cupcakes are making me want to rethink that list! These look AMAZING!!

  29. First of all, congratulations!!! I'm excited to check out the amazing photography and of course delicious recipes in your book! I have no idea what the first flour would be... I'm tempted to say almond but I have a feeling that your cookbook may inspire something completely different! :o)

  30. I'd love to start with almond flour! I just discovered the bulk bins at a nearby grocery and stood in front of them dreaming about ways to use all the nuts. Congrats on the cookbook- it's on my must-read list!

  31. I would grind black beans to make flour to make... black-bean tofu!!! can't have that soy 🙂

  32. I've always wanted a grain mill! I dont use flour so often and buying the big bags is a waste! This would be perfect to make just the amount you need!

  33. I'd love to try the recipe you posted for black bean or chickpea tofu! so interesting

  34. I would love to grind my own flour. I would probably make rye flour first.

  35. I've just come from your next entry, on black bean tofu, and that would definitely be the first thing I would try out with the new grain mill. Even if I don't win this one, I'm thinking I might have to go out and get one anyway!

  36. Congratulations! I can't wait to start trying these flours! I think my first thing to make would be a spelt flour just like we used back in Germany! Then the black bean flour you posted about today—too clever!

  37. Beets in baking is just the best! This is an excellent addition to my collection including chocolate beet brownie!

  38. I would love to mill oat, almond and corn flour! Gotta make cupcakes, pancakes and cookies!!!

  39. I would love to mill quinoa flour, my husband is diabetic and I try to find new ways to increase protein and decrease glucose response....he has come along way from a "meat and 3" guy, but I need more tricks!

  40. Bought the beets last night to try in the cupcakes...but do you have a measurement for the puree? the cupcakes look Delish!
    I've always loved to bake and still do breads, biscuits, and the occasion cake or muffins. Living in the Northeast is not exactly "Grainbelt" but I've found a few local farmers who grow non-GMO, organic, Heritage grains and beans. I'm excited to support my local farmers and grind my own flours.

  41. i'm not sure where i would begin but probably something basic like oat flour.

  42. I would definitely start with oat flour, as well, and make pancakes.

  43. Those look SO CRAZY CHOCOLATEY. I can't get over the fact that they are also veggie-stuffed!!

    Also, I think I might be adding a flour mill to my registry. You've convinced me!

  44. Hi,

    Thank you for this great recipe! I baked your cupcakes twice already for my coworkers, both times as mini cupcakes, and they always came out great. It got me around 100 cupcakes - a lot to decorate - but totally worth it! And nobody would have ever guessed there were beets in it!

    Emma

hi. 

Welcome to my little internet nook. On this site you'll find over a thousand vegetarian recipes, pantry knowledge, and more. I'm ever obsessed with food from gardening, cooking, and preserving. I hope you'll find endless inspiration on these pages and visit often. 

Virtual hugs, Erin (aka: e.l.l.a.)
A NATURALLY NEWSLETTER

a few good grain recipes

Do away with ads, get access to the back issues of casual, be the first to know about upcoming events, and more.
become a member

beans. beans. beans.

Have a nerdy food question, need a recipe recommendation, or just want to share something exciting you've made?
magnifiercross linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram