Ingredients

The following ingredients have 11 Servings
  • 2 large beets (unpeeled but trimmed of their greens)
  • 6 ounces 3/4 cup salted butter, softened, plus more for greasing the pans
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 TB instant coffee granules (decaf is fine)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting the pans)
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon table salt
  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup salted butter (softened)
  • 8 ounces 1 brick cream cheese, softened
  • 2 1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons finely grated roasted beets (mashed with a fork)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • pinch of salt

Instruction

  • Roast the beets ahead of time: Place a rack in the center and upper third of the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Wrap beets individually in foil. Place on a baking sheet and roast until beets are tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Open the foil and allow beets to cool completely. Peel when cool. Grate the roasted beets on the finest grating plane. Measure 3/4 cup of grated beets for the cake and 2 tablespoons for the frosting. Set aside.
  • Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Generously butter two 8 or 9-inch round baking pans. Trace parchment paper to fit bottom of the cake pans. Press parchment paper circles into bottom of pan and butter the parchment paper. Flour the bottoms and sides of pans and shake out the excess. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars. Beat on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in coffee granules and vanilla and mix until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Once eggs are incorporated, beat in beets until combined.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  • Add half of the dry ingredients to the butter and egg mixture. Beating on Low, slowly add the buttermilk. Once just incorporated, add the other half of the dry ingredients. Beat on Low until ingredients are almost incorporated. Do not overmix the batter. Remove bowl from stand and use rubber spatula to gently fold ingredients to finish incorporating. Cake batter will be thick.
  • Divide the batter between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes (for a 9-inch pan) or 30-32 minutes (for an 8-inch pan). Cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few tender crumbs attached (not completely clean.) Set cakes on wire rack and cool completely in pans. Invert cakes onto serving platter before frosting and assembling the cake.