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!
Chocolate Beet Cupcakes with Chocolate Mascarpone Frosting
Ingredients
- 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
- 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.
- Preheat oven to 375˚.
- In a double boiler, melt ¼ cup of butter with the semi-sweet chocolate. Let cool slightly.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!)
Ruth says
I can't wait to make all kinds of flour!!
Melissa says
I'd make either almond or oat flour.
Emily says
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!
Megan A says
I would make some wheat flour that I'd use for homemade bread...mmm!
Lora says
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 🙂
Mary @ The Kitchen Paper says
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!
Andy says
This looks so exciting! I've been wanting to make my own flours at home!
Shannon says
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).
Tina | Mademoiselle Gourmande says
Wow, those cupcakes look amazing and they are great to start this series! Congrats on being on the Amazon list!! 🙂
Carolyn says
Love your photos! I would probably grind quinoa first since I have some in my cupboard right now.
Ellie @ Homemade Hearts says
Yummy! Beets and chocolate together 🙂 What an amazing combination. And your cookbook looks awesome! Can't wait to get my copy 🙂
debbie says
I'd love to try it to make quinoa flour.
Shelley says
Congrats on your book and this flour mill looks awesome!
Thea says
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!
Alyssa says
I would make oat or buckwheat flour!
Margarita says
Congratulations on the book Erin! I would love to win this flour mill and start grinding my own flours!
Katie @ Whole Nourishment says
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!
krystal says
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!
Heather says
Barley for our homebrewing!
Librarian Lavender says
Those cupcakes are looking so delicious! I'm really curious to see your cookbook!
Mary says
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.
Tiffany says
I have no idea what flour I would start with first, but it seems the possibilities are endless.
cheri says
I'd love to be making flour after reading your cookbook. Very nice giveaway. Thank you.
Auntiepatch says
Almond flour! So many recipes call for almond flour.
shaunie says
We are big coffee lovers in our house so ,I would first grind coffee beans.
Rebecca @ it's a nourishing thing says
Those cupcakes looks fantastic!! Congrats on the book. I can't wait to get my own copy!
Rachel Tilly says
Looks delicious!! Wish I could try one of those cupcakes right now! Your cookbook sounds amazing as well--so informative.
Jorin Hawley says
I am obsessed with baking wild cultured sourdough bread lately and would love to try baking them with fresh ground ancient grains like einkhorn!
laura s says
Congrats!
jan says
I'd start by grind up some almonds for almond flour
millie l Add A Little says
These cupcakes look so gorgeous! Loving the sound of adding beets 🙂
http://youtube.com/addalittlefood
Annie says
I'd love to start off with quinoa and almond flour!
Elizabeth says
So awesome!! Hope you're having lots of success with the cookbook!
Leigh Anne Borders says
I would make homemade bread! I have always wanted to do that.
Lauren M says
I'd make some almond flour. 🙂
Jen says
I'd make whole wheat pastry flour to use for these cupcakes!
Donna F. says
I would try to make oat flour!
Madeline says
I'd like to make oat flour and cashew flour!
Katherine says
Almond flour!!!!
Janet says
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!
Rebecca says
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.
Abby says
I'd definitely start with something hard to come by, like quinoa flour!
Adele says
I'd love to make my own almond flour!
Ben Roberts says
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.
Maria Balcazar says
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!
Denae says
Can't wait to see all your delicious ideas in the cookbook. Grains rule!
Hillary says
I would grind fresh wheat berries for some sourdough bread!
mysweetiepiepie says
I think I'd make some ground flax seeds.
Sandy Kay says
I would love to make some flour! My favorite is oat flour.
Madeline Jacks says
I love baking with oat flour, so I would choose that first...after that the options are endless! 🙂
Talia B says
I would love to buy my own wheat berries to grind
Kylie Steenbergh says
Oat flour and these look fantastic!
Stacey says
Quinoa...it's sooooo expensive to buy as flour!
Kasey says
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
Dandi D says
I would definitely do wheat first as I'd love to make my own whole wheat flour!
dina says
these look great!
Tara says
Einkorn flour for a yummy bread.
karen says
I'd grind corn for polenta
Sylvie Morgan Brown says
flour power... for sure!
Eri H says
I'd try some almonds or some barley!
Chelsea says
Wow, there are so many possibilities I could make! I'd probably start with almond flour!
Allison says
I would like to try grinding buckwheat, or oats! Your book is wonderful and very inspiring- thank you for all that you do.
Jenny says
I'd grind almonds!
coral says
oat flour or almond flour!
Alice // Hip Foodie Mom says
oat, almond or buckwheat flour!
Joyce says
I would probably try making some sort of gluten free flour first.
Marina says
This is so cool - how did I never think of this?!
Kimber s says
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!
Loretta says
Oats, for sure!
mary says
shut. the. freak. up.
pick me!
Karen says
I'd make almond flour!
Julie says
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 : )
An says
black rice flour would be interesting!
Tierney says
I would love to try making my own rye flour from sprouted grains
Qingyi says
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 🙂
Dee says
Love to have both the cookbook and mill!
Jolene says
I've been wanting to try my hand at making some new types of flours. THis would be perfect!
Elizabeth says
I would grind some sprouted buckwheat!
katie says
I can't wait to grind flax seeds for my cereal and muffins!
Mollie says
I cant wait to grind my own plain old wheat to the coarseness I desire!
Elizabeth K says
I would grind some nuts!
Haley says
Yum! Those look soooo good.
Heather Taylor says
Flour to soak!
Yoojin says
i have a huge bag of almonds in the freezer right now... so i'd make almond flour!!
Laura says
I have no idea what I'd make first, but I know I'd have a ton of fun figuring it out!
Jennifer C. says
I have no idea! I need your cookbook!
Lisa Cohen // Life is in the Details says
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!!
Elizabeth / In the Loop says
I'd make oat flour!! My favorite thing to bake with, and it perishes quickly, so I'd want to make some fresh. YUM recipe!
Emily says
I'd make fresh oat flour!
Jen says
This would be great to learn how to make those expensive gluten free flours at home!
Christina says
I would make chickpea flour for pancakes!
Cate says
nut flours! or oat flour! or quinoa flour! or! or! or!
Krista says
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)
Danielle says
I would make these cupcakes! Delish!
Meghan says
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!
Melissa says
wheat 🙂 local wheatberries are everywhere
Kallie says
I would grind black beans to make flour to make... black-bean tofu!!! can't have that soy 🙂
maria tadic says
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!
Sondi Hardy says
I would grind chickpeas to make bessan flour
cassie says
I'd love to try the recipe you posted for black bean or chickpea tofu! so interesting
Eliza says
so intrigued by the black bean flower!
Stephanie K says
I would love to grind my own flour. I would probably make rye flour first.
Dana says
I would make almond flour!
Alyson K says
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!
Caroljean says
The first thing I would grind is my own Cashew flour for making cookies
Lauren says
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!
Abby says
Beets in baking is just the best! This is an excellent addition to my collection including chocolate beet brownie!
Angel says
I would try oat flour first and then these cupcakes !!
Div says
I would love to mill oat, almond and corn flour! Gotta make cupcakes, pancakes and cookies!!!
Randa Wells says
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!
Auntie M says
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.
erin says
Updated! I measured out 2 cups after I pureed the beets with the water.
jacquie says
i'm not sure where i would begin but probably something basic like oat flour.
Terry Covington says
I would definitely start with oat flour, as well, and make pancakes.
Peggy says
I feel lucky!
Joanne says
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!
Tammela says
Yum! I've got a somewhat similar chocolate beet cake recipe but I may have to try your cupcakes and that frosting... http://taplatt.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/recipe-chocolate-beet-cake/
Emma says
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
Margarita says
Can't wait to make these! Thanks for sharing !
★★★★★