Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
Red velvet without artificial red dye? Genius! And no one will know they contain beets, so your secret is safe with us. Try this yummy recipe!
Red velvet without the artificial dye? This is it! Using garden or farmers’ market beets to color these cupcakes makes a world of difference in moistness and flavor. And no one will know they contain beets, so your secret is safe with us!
Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 10 oz red beets, (scrubbed)
- 2 tbs fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 cup canola oil
- 3/4 cup whole buttermilk
- 4 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 tbs unsweetened cocoa
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tps fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 8 oz. package softened cream cheese
- 1/4 cup softened unsalted butter
- 1 16 oz package powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup toasted pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Wrap beets in parchment paper. Microwave on high until tender, 8-10 min.
- Cool beets wrapped in paper until just warm to the touch.
- Peel beets, and coarsely chop. Process chopped beets and lemon juice in a food processor until finely chopped, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Add oil and buttermilk. Process until smooth.
- Add eggs. Process until completely combined.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add beet mixture and whisk just until combined.
- Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with baking liners.
- Using an ice-cream scoop, a spoon, or a liquid measuring cup, fill liners two- thirds full with batter.
- Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 15 to 18 minutes.
- Cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes. Remove from pans to racks, and cool completely.
- Beat cream cheese and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment or with a handheld mixer on medium speed until very smooth.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low speed until blended and light and fluffy.
- Beat in vanilla.
- Spread frosting on cupcakes with spatula, spoon, or ziplock freezer bag (cut 1 corner of bag to make small hole and pipe frosting on cupcakes).
- Sprinkle with pecans, if desired.
Beet Tips
Choose beets that are small and firm with deep maroon coloring, unblemished skin, and bright green leaves with no sign of wilting.
To store beets, trim the greens 1-2 inches from the root as soon as you get them home. The leaves will sap the moisture from the beetroot.
Store the greens in a separate plastic bag and use them within two days. The root bulbs should also be bagged separately and can be stored in the refrigerator crisper drawer for 7 to 10 days. More ways to store your root veggies here!
Fresh cooked beets may also be frozen for up to ten months. Be sure to peel before freezing in airtight containers or plastic bags, leaving no air in the container.
Looking for more beet recipes? These can’t be beat!
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- Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
- Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
- Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
- Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
How many cupcakes does this recipe make?
Hi Conny, it makes 12 cupcakes.
shouldn’t red velvet cake have cocoa in it?
Hi Angela, this is a recipe without cocoa. There are a few out there!