Chocolate, beetroot, and orange cake

Method

• Step 1

  Roughly chop the chocolate into pieces, cut the butter into cubes and place both in a bowl over a pan of simmering water to melt.

• Step 2

  When the chocolate and butter have melted, put into a food processor or blender with the grated beetroot and vanilla and pulse until the ingredients have combined.

• Step 3

  Put the sugar and eggs into a large bowl and beat with a whisk for 1 minute.

• Step 4

  Use a large metal spoon to fold the beetroot mix into the whisked egg mixture. Try to conserve as much air in the mixture as you can.

• Step 5

  Sift in the flour and cocoa powder, add the orange zest and then gently fold these in to make a smooth batter.

• Step 6

  Grease a square cake tin and line it with greaseproof parchment.

• Step 7

  Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 25 minutes, or until risen all over.

• Step 8

  Cool completely in the tin before cutting into squares.