Beets and Beer Red Velvet Bundt Cake with boozy cream cheese frosting is as brilliant in taste as it is in colour and is my first #BundtBakers cake for 2016.
Beets and Beer Red Velvet Bundt Cake! WHAT?
“Strange but good—weird flavour combinations that actually work” is the theme of this month's Bundt Bakers challenge. Being someone who loves experimenting with flavours, this theme set my mind on a serious sprint around the creativity track. The combination of many ideas and little time for recipe testing, brought me back to familiar territory - the land of beets.
I Sugar Coat It is no stranger to this jewel of a vegetable - I've baked it into cupcakes, mini cakes, big cakes, whipped it into smoothies and brownie toppings and even experimented with macarons. It imparts an earthy flavour and brilliant colour, without compromising the taste and yields perfectly moist, tender textured baked goods every time.
So yeah, beets and I are pretty tight, so we thought we would invite beer to the 'weird flavour combinations' party.
A cold, tall glass of beer is great on its own. Add it to baked goods and it acts as a mild leavening agent that produces tender, perfectly crumbed cake like my Six-Layer Guinness Cake.
In choosing your beer, there are a number of things to consider - flavour, bitterness - you want your choice to complement the dessert, not compete. For instance, stouts work extremely well with chocolate, while a lighter beer with citrus notes would be better suited for similar-flavoured desserts. Think summery sorbets and such.
It all really comes down to taste and preference, so I'll leave the choices up to you. Some folks can get real sensitive about their beer.
This Beets and Beer Red Velvet Bundt Cake went over way better than expected. I love the reactions I received when I revealed the ingredients. One colleague said that it was basically like eating a delicious salad with a creamy dressing. HA!
With Valentine's Day just around the bend, this Beets and Beer Red Velvet Bundt Cake would be perfect baked into mini cakes for sharing.
Update: If you previously saved, printed or downloaded this recipe, please note that it has been updated to include baking soda which was omitted in error.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 230 grams unsalted butter
- 30 grams water
- 18 grams unsweetened cocoa
- 3 eggs + 1 egg yolk
- 125 grams buttermilk
- 125 grams beer
- 2-3 medium beets cooked and pureed
- 298 grams unbleached all-purpose flour
- 10 grams beet powder plus a little for dusting the top of the finished cake
- 7.5 grams baking powder
- 4 grams baking soda
- 288 grams granulated sugar
Glaze:
- 60 grams cream cheese softened
- 57 grams unsalted butter softened
- 6 grams vanilla extract
- 260 grams powdered sugar
- pinch salt
- 2-4 tbsps light beer
Instructions
Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- Place the butter, water and cocoa in a small saucepan and heat gently, without boiling, stirring until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Add the cooked beets to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. If it gets too thick for your machine to process, add a couple teaspoons of beer.
- Beat together the eggs, buttermilk, beer, baking soda and pureed beet until frothy. Beat in the butter mixture.
- Sift together the flour, beet powder and baking powder, then stir into the mixture with the superfine sugar.
- Pour batter into Bundt pan and bake at 350ºF for 55-60 minutes, or until risen and firm to the touch.
- Place on a wire rack to cool for 10-15 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack.
- Once completely cooled, decorate with glaze.
- Divide into generous servings and enjoy!
Glaze:
- Add cream cheese and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the flat blade and beat until light and airy.
- Add the vanilla and beat to combine.
- Gradually add the sugar until fully incorporated. Add salt.
- Stir in the beer, a little at a time until desired consistency is achieved.
- Pour over completely cooled cake and sprinkle with beet powder.
Notes
A big thanks to our host June from How To Philosophize with Cake for this weird and delicious theme. Check out more deliciously weird creations from my fellow #BundtBakers:
- Banana Bacon Bundt Cake by Liv For Cake
- Beet and Blood Orange Bundt Cake by Brooklyn Homemaker
- Black Pepper and Red Wine Bundt Cake by Passion Kneaded
- Caramelized Pineapple Blue Cheese Corncake Bundt by Food Lust People Love
- Chocolate Banana Bacon Bundt Cake by The Freshman Cook
- Chocolate Lemon Bundt Cake by I Bake He Shoots
- Chocolate Liquorice Bundt Cake by Baking in Pyjamas
- Chocolate Potato Bundt Cake with Strawberry Glaze by Magnolia Days
- Chocolate Tomato Soup Bundt Cake by SpiceRoots
- Coconut and Rose Syrup Bundt Cake by I Camp In My Kitchen
- Coconut, Cardamom, and Orange Cake by Baking Yummies
- Dark Chocolate Beet Cake by All That's Left Are The Crumbs
- Dark Chocolate Stout Bundt by Living the Gourmet
- Junk Food Bundt Cake by Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Lemon Rosemary Bundt by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Lovely Fields Bundt Cake by Los Chatos Chefs
- Mini Mayonnaise and Chocolate Bundt Cakes by I Love Bundt Cakes
- Olive Oil Rosemary Bundt Cake by Tartacadabra
- Orange Bourbon Rosemary Bundt Cake by The Spiced Life
- Peanut Butter Sour Cream Bundt Cake by Basic N Delicious
- Six Flavor Bundt by Making Miracles
- Sweet Potato and Marshmallow Bundt by Jane's Adventures in Dinner
- Triple Rum Black Pepper Bundt Cake by How to Philosophize with Cake
#BundtBakers is a group of Bundt loving Bakers who get together once a month to bake Bundts with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all of our lovely Bundts by following our Pinterest Board. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme or ingredient. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about BundtBakers can be found on our homepage.
Renee says
Oh my! What a pretty cake and perfect for Valentine's Day.
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks and YES!
Tux | Brooklyn Homemaker says
What a gorgeous cake! I'm so jealous that your beet color stayed so vibrant. I tried my recipe a few times and lost the color each one. I wonder if the beet powder might help?
Either way, this cake sounds absolutely delicious! Well done!
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks, Tux! I have cocoa in mine, so that helps to deepen the red. Beets and chocolate work so wonderfully well together. The beet powder also help deepen the colour. A little credit goes to the editing process, as well. 🙂
bakingyummies says
Wow, the cake has a beautiful crumb! the icing looks lovely as well.
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thank you!
Tania @ COOKTORIA says
Wow! This cake looks incredible! I am craving for sweets now! Pinned!
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks on both counts, Tania!
Priya srinivasan says
ohh my i love that bundt, it is so so gorgeous, what a color you have got here, pretty in pink! Superb!!! 🙂
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks, Priya!
Ansh says
I agree, Some people can be very iffy about their beer but who would say no to such a gorgeous cake even if their favorite beer wasn't in it? Absolutely stunning crumb and that color is phenomenal . Like Tux, I am wondering if it's the beet powder?
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks for your delicious comments! The powder helps to deepen the red for sure.
Jane's Adventures in Dinner says
This is so stunning!
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks, Jane!
Paula says
I love your collegue's description of the cake. It's a very pretty looking dessert. Adding the frosting into just the "creases" made by that beautiful bundt pan was the perfect way to frost this cake.
I Sugar Coat It! says
I got that look on the second cake...the first was a blob of a mess. I had not factored in the very thick glaze would need a little guidance. 🙂
Lara Tartacadabra says
What a spectacular color has your Bundt cake! Very Valentine!
I Sugar Coat It! says
Yes, perfect for Valentine's! Thank you!
Mary says
Great flavors, and very beautiful pictures. Congratullations!!!
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks, Mary!
Tammy says
Hello gorgeous! I love red velvet beet cake but the addition of beer is sheer brilliance. This sounds amazing and it is a showstopper. Such vibrant, beautiful shots 😀
Toodles,
Tammy<3
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks, Tammy!
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm says
I have never heard of beet powder. Do you get it at the grocers? I imagine that is how the cake stays so vibrant and lovely
I Sugar Coat It! says
You can make your own, or find it online at nut dot com.
Teri@The Freshman Cook says
What a gorgeous cake, and you are right, it is just perfect for Valentine's Day! Great combination of flavors too!
I Sugar Coat It! says
Veggie and liquor...who knew?! 😉
June @ How to Philosophize with Cake says
What a gorgeous cake! I love this combination, especially the use of beets--they always work wonderfully in cakes 🙂 The cream cheese glaze sounds delish too!
I Sugar Coat It! says
Hi June - it all came together quite nicely! Thanks!
Laura@Baking in Pyjamas says
Hands down you win for the best weird flavour combo, I can't even begin to imagine what this must taste like. I must say though it's a stunner of a cake.
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks, Laura.
Felice says
I love where you went with your bundt, and your photos are great too. I will have to see if I can find beet powder here but I suspect it is something I would have to order online. This flavor combo is intriguing and I'd love to try it with a flavored beer.
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks, Felice! You can make your own beet powder, but you can also get it at nuts dot com.
Mondo | I bake he shoots says
Hey Tux,
I commend you for baking with beets. I've never done so. I find the task a bit daunting. perhaps, I'll get there some day. you make it look easy with that beautiful bundt. but can we talk about the black tablecloth on black plates? good lord! that's gorgeous and classy. good on you!
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks Mondo - black tablecloth, plates, cake and photos are mine, but I'm not Tux...
Mondo | I bake he shoots says
you and Tux both baked with beets. I just realized my mistake. sorry about that. 🙁
I Sugar Coat It! says
I figured as much, but could not resist a poke. 🙂
Olivia @ livforcake says
I have yet to bake with beets, or beer. Apparently I need to get on that! Thanks for the beer-choosing tips! This cake looks so stunning, and I am loving the color contrast. Gorgeous!
I Sugar Coat It! says
They both gave the cake a great texture and kept it perfectly moist. Speaking of beets - as I type this, I am snacking on beet hummus!
Wieteke says
Hi! This Cake looks lush! I was attempting to make it, but I can't find the amount of Cornstarch in the recipe?
Thanks for your help!
I Sugar Coat It! says
So sorry about that. I used cornstarch in a previous RV recipe, upon which this is based. I forgot to replace the cornstarch with the beet powder here. I've fixed it now. Happy baking!!
Wieteke says
No problem. Thank you very much for your quick reply and your delicious recipe!
Eva says
I made this cake for an important event, after laboriously translating into cup/ tsp measures; but it didn't include the baking soda that has been added to this recipe. However, the directions #5 still does not mention the soda. It did not rise properly and if I'd been thinking I would have added soda b/c the buttermilk requires it to rise properly.
jacquee | i sugar coat it! says
I am terribly sorry, Eva. When I switched my recipe app, a number of my recipes disappeared and others were missing information. I've been painstakingly going through my blog to correct the issues. I also added a conversion feature, but disabled as the conversions were questionable. If you are ever unsure about any instructions, please do not hesitate to contact me.