All Natural Red Velvet Cupcakes

Delightful Desserts!

This healthier alternative to the conventional red velvet recipe uses actual beets for the signature vibrant red color (instead of food coloring)! By doing so, not only are you eliminating a useless ingredient, you’re adding one that’s high in potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron; vitamins A, B & C; beta-carotene, beta-cyanine and folic acid. If that wasn’t enough, beets also act as a blood purifier (helping to prevent cancer) and a natural energy booster! AND THEY TASTE AWESOME!!

3 medium beets
3/4 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup buttermilk
Juice of 1 large lemon
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups flour (sift before measuring)
3 tablespoons Dutch process cocoa powder
1 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
Light Cream cheese frosting

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Wash beets and wrap in aluminum foil. Bake until the tip of a knife slides easily into the largest beet, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool until beets can be handled, then peel.

Spray two 9-inch cake pans with non-stick spray. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment and spray again. In a food processor, chop beets to pieces about the size of finely diced onions. Measure 1 cup and set aside (remaining beets can be reserved for another purpose). Return cup of beets to the food processor. Purée with buttermilk, lemon juice, vinegar and vanilla until smooth. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Set aside.

In the bowl of a mixer, beat butter until soft. Slowly add sugar and beat until creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Alternate adding flour mixture and beet mixture to butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, and beating for 10 seconds after each addition. Scrape down the bowl after each addition of the wet ingredients.

Divide batter between prepared cake pans, smoothing the tops. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the cake comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Remove pans from oven and cool completely on a wire rack. (**CAN ALSO MAKE THESE INTO CUPCAKES OF ANY SIZE!) To assemble, remove one cake from its pan and peel away parchment. Place flat side down on a serving platter. Drop about 1 cup of icing onto cake and, using a flat spatula, spread evenly over top. Remove the second cake from its pan and remove parchment. Place flat side down on top of first layer. Use remaining frosting to cover top and sides of cake.