There is something truly magical about a dessert that not only tastes divine but also sneaks in nutritious ingredients without sacrificing flavor or texture. The Chocolate Beet Cake with Avocado Frosting Recipe is exactly that kind of treasure: moist, rich, and deeply chocolatey with a subtle earthiness from the beets, perfectly complemented by a creamy, luscious avocado frosting. Whether you are a seasoned baker or just looking to wow your friends with a unique, healthy dessert, this cake will quickly become a beloved favorite you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Don’t be intimidated by the list of ingredients here — every single one plays an important role in building the cake’s complex layers of flavor and giving it a delightfully tender crumb. From earthy beetroot adding moisture and a hint of natural sweetness, to buckwheat and almond meal creating hearty texture and nutty undertones, these simple yet thoughtful ingredients work together beautifully.
- Buckwheat flour: This gluten-free flour gives the cake a nice, slightly nutty flavor and light texture.
- Almond meal: Adds moistness and subtle nuttiness, enhancing the cake’s richness.
- Raw cacao powder: Provides deep chocolate flavor and a hint of natural bitterness to balance sweetness.
- Baking powder: Essential for the cake to rise and achieve a tender crumb; choose gluten-free to keep it allergen-friendly.
- Baking soda: Helps with leavening and balances acidity.
- Coarse sea salt: A little salt enhances all the flavors and cuts through sweetness.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Keeps the cake moist while adding a subtle fruity note.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, inviting aroma and depth to the batter.
- Pure maple syrup: Natural sweetener that provides rich sweetness without being overpowering.
- Grated beetroot: The star ingredient, giving the cake its striking color and moist texture.
- Fresh ginger: Adds a gentle zing that brightens the chocolate and beet flavors.
- Medjool dates: Natural sweetness with a caramel-like flavor and help bind the cake.
- Psyllium husks: Acts as a binding agent and contributes to a tender crumb.
- Coconut milk (full fat): Brings richness and velvety moisture to the batter.
- Avocado: The base of the frosting, making it creamy and full of healthy fats.
- Raw cacao powder (for frosting): Intensifies the chocolate flavor in the frosting.
- Pure maple syrup (for frosting): Sweetens the frosting naturally without added sugars.
- Coconut oil (melted): Helps the frosting set while keeping it smooth and glossy.
- Vanilla extract (for frosting): Rounds out the frosting’s flavor with warmth and sweetness.
- Coarse sea salt (for frosting): Just a pinch to bring all the flavors into perfect harmony.
How to Make Chocolate Beet Cake with Avocado Frosting Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pan
Start by preheating your oven to 180˚C. Lightly grease a 7½ inch spring-form cake tin, then dust it with cacao powder so your cake won’t stick. Don’t forget to line the bottom with baking paper for an easy release — this step is crucial for that perfect clean slice later.
Step 2: Soften Dates and Prepare Fresh Ingredients
Soak your pitted Medjool dates in hot water for at least 15 minutes. This softens them so they blend smoothly into your batter. While they’re soaking, grate your beetroot and press it gently between paper towels to remove extra juice—this keeps the texture just right. Peel and finely mince the fresh ginger to add a warming brightness to your cake.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
Sift together buckwheat flour, almond meal, cacao powder, baking powder, and baking soda directly into a food processor. This ensures even distribution, so your cake rises beautifully and has a consistent texture throughout.
Step 4: Add Flavor and Moisture Components
Next, add sea salt, vanilla extract, olive oil, maple syrup, grated beet, and minced ginger to the food processor. Each of these ingredients adds essential moisture, complex aroma, and flavor balance.
Step 5: Blend Psyllium Husks and Coconut Milk
In a blender, pulse the psyllium husks and full-fat coconut milk together for about ten seconds—no longer, just enough to mix them slightly. This combination acts as a natural binder and contributes to the cake’s softness. Pour this mixture into your food processor with the other ingredients.
Step 6: Blend the Batter Smoothly
Now, blend everything together while gradually adding the softened dates one at a time through the chute. The batter will have some texture from the beets, but should be evenly combined with no large lumps. This mixture is the foundation for the moist, rich cake you’re about to bake.
Step 7: Bake the Cake
Pour your batter into the prepared cake tin and bake for 40 minutes. Use a skewer to check doneness — it should come out clean when the cake is perfectly baked. Let the cake cool in the tin for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Only add the frosting when the cake is 100 percent cool to prevent melting.
Step 8: Make the Chocolate Avocado Frosting
For the frosting, add avocado, raw cacao powder, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt to a blender. Blend until thick, creamy, and smooth. This frosting doesn’t need chilling—use it immediately for the freshest flavor and texture. It will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for a few days.
How to Serve Chocolate Beet Cake with Avocado Frosting Recipe
Garnishes
To elevate this cake even further, consider garnishing with fresh berries like raspberries or strawberries, which add natural tartness and a pop of color. Toasted nuts such as chopped pistachios or almonds bring a lovely crunch, while a sprinkle of cacao nibs intensifies the chocolate experience.
Side Dishes
This cake pairs beautifully with a dollop of coconut whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for added indulgence. For a lighter option, serve alongside a refreshing mint tea or chilled fruit-infused water to balance the richness of the cake and frosting.
Creative Ways to Present
Slice the cake into neat wedges for effortless elegance or cut into petit fours for a charming party treat. For whimsical presentation, drizzle some melted dark chocolate over the frosting or dust with edible gold powder for that extra wow factor.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftover cake, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep both the cake and avocado frosting fresh. It should remain moist and delicious for up to four days—perfect for enjoying several days post-baking without losing quality.
Freezing
To freeze, wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Frozen cake slices can last up to three months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving for best texture.
Reheating
This cake is best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature rather than reheated, as warming can affect the delicate texture and cause the avocado frosting to soften too much. If you prefer warm cake, gently warm a plain slice without frosting for a few seconds but keep frosted pieces cool.
FAQs
Can I use regular flour instead of buckwheat flour?
Absolutely! While buckwheat flour adds a lovely earthy flavor and is gluten-free, you can substitute with all-purpose flour if preferred. Just keep in mind the texture and taste might differ slightly.
Is the frosting really healthy with avocado? Does it taste like avocado?
The avocado frosting is packed with healthy fats and creamy texture without a strong avocado flavor. The raw cacao and maple syrup balance its taste, making it taste more like rich chocolate than avocado.
Can I make this cake nut-free?
To make it nut-free, swap out almond meal for additional buckwheat flour or a seed meal like sunflower seed flour. Just be aware this may slightly change the cake’s texture.
What if I don’t have psyllium husks?
If you don’t have psyllium husks, you can try using ground flaxseed mixed with water as a binder, or an extra egg if you are not vegan. These alternatives help hold the cake together while keeping it moist.
How do I know when the cake is fully baked?
Check by inserting a skewer or toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, your cake is perfectly baked. Avoid opening the oven too early to prevent sinking.
Final Thoughts
This Chocolate Beet Cake with Avocado Frosting Recipe is truly a celebration of how nourishing ingredients and decadent flavors can come together effortlessly. From the vibrant color to the rich taste and creamy frosting, it’s a crowd-pleaser you’ll be proud to share. I urge you to give it a try—this cake will surprise you in the best possible way!
Print
Chocolate Beet Cake with Avocado Frosting Recipe
This Chocolate Beet Cake with Avocado Frosting is a moist, nutrient-rich dessert that combines the earthy sweetness of beetroot with rich raw cacao and creamy avocado frosting. It’s a gluten-free, naturally sweetened cake perfect for those seeking a healthier alternative without compromising on flavor.
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 1 cup buckwheat flour
- 1 cup almond meal
- 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder
- 1½ teaspoons gluten-free baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 200 g grated beetroot (about 2 cups – 2 medium beets)
- 2 inch piece ginger, peeled and finely minced
- ½ cup Medjool dates, pitted (100g)
- 2 scant tablespoons psyllium husks
- 1¾ cups full fat canned coconut milk
Frosting Ingredients
- ½ cup avocado
- ½ cup raw cacao powder
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 pinches coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 180˚C (350˚F). Lightly grease a 7½ inch spring-form cake tin and dust it with cacao powder to prevent sticking. Line the bottom with baking paper for easy removal.
- Soften Dates and Prep Veggies: Soak the pitted Medjool dates in hot water for at least 15 minutes to soften them. Drain well when ready. Grate the beetroot and press between paper towels to remove excess juice. Peel and finely mince the ginger.
- Sift Dry Ingredients: Into a food processor, sift together the buckwheat flour, almond meal, raw cacao powder, gluten-free baking powder, and baking soda to combine evenly.
- Add Wet Ingredients and Flavorings: Add the coarse sea salt, vanilla extract, extra virgin olive oil, pure maple syrup, grated beetroot, and minced ginger to the food processor with the dry ingredients.
- Blend Psyllium Husk and Coconut Milk: In a separate blender, pulse the psyllium husks with the full-fat coconut milk for about 10 seconds—just enough to combine without overblending.
- Combine Mixtures: Pour the psyllium-coconut milk mixture into the food processor and blend everything together. Add the soaked dates one at a time through the feed chute. The batter will be textured because of the beetroot.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin. Bake for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the Frosting: For the chocolate avocado frosting, place avocado, raw cacao powder, pure maple syrup, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and coarse sea salt into a blender. Blend until thick and creamy. There is no need to chill; it can be used immediately or stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days.
- Frost the Cake: Once the cake is completely cooled, spread the avocado frosting evenly over the top. Slice and serve.
Notes
- Ensure the beetroot is well grated and excess moisture pressed out to avoid a soggy batter.
- Using gluten-free baking powder is essential to keep this cake gluten free.
- The texture will be slightly dense and moist due to beetroot and psyllium husks.
- The frosting can be stored refrigerated for up to 3 days; stir before using if separated.
- If you don’t have buckwheat flour, you can substitute with oat or rice flour, but it may alter texture slightly.
- For a more intense chocolate flavor, adjust cacao powder amounts in the batter or frosting to taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Vegetarian
- Diet: Gluten Free
