This Beetroot Chocolate Cake is made in a slow cooker! Slow cooking the cake gives it a rich, fudgy texture, that perfectly matches the decadent cake with earthy beets.
Slow Cooker Cake
Slow cookers certainly aren't just for meat.
Vegetarians can absolutely make great use of them as well, from chilli and curry to soups and beans.
I'm a huge fan of veggie stews, particularly at this time of year when the leaves blow through the air, but this time I wanted to get back to my veggie desserts roots and slow cook a cake.
A chocolate beetroot cake.
Slow Cooker Beetroot Chocolate Cake
Beets and chocolate are such a wonderful combination. Now almost as ubiquitous as the humble carrot cake, this vegetable cake is no longer considered strange, which pleases me very much.
Slow cooking this chocolate beet cake gives it a rich, fudgy texture that matches the earthiness of the root vegetable hidden within.
I've kept the cake fairly low in sugar so that I could top it with this whipped vanilla cream, made pink with beetroot juice.
The very subtle flavour of the beet juice tastes lovely with the vanilla and the lightness of the cream lifts the intense cocoa flavour of the cake.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple pantry ingredients for this tasty, moist beetroot chocolate cake - and a slow cooker!
Cooked beets
Butter
Sugar
Vanilla
Eggs
Flour
Cocoa Powder
Baking Powder
Salt
For the beetroot vanilla topping:
Heavy cream (double cream)
Beetroot juice (reserved from the beets used in the cake)
Vanilla
Caster sugar
Get the recipe:
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out for you!
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Beetroot Chocolate Cake with Beetroot Vanilla Topping
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 oz (150g) cooked beetroot (reserve any juice for the topping)
- ½ cup (115g) butter melted and allowed to cool slightly
- ¾ cup (160g) sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 eggs
- 1 ¼ cups (140g) all-purpose flour (plain flour)
- 1 cup (100g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- cooking oil spray
For the beetroot vanilla topping
- ½ cup (150g) heavy cream (double cream, whipping cream)
- 2 teaspoon caster sugar
- 1 tablespoon beetroot juice reserved from cooking the beetroot, or from the packaging if using vacuum-packed
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
To decorate:
- Chocolate
Instructions
- Line the bottom and sides of the 3.5L slow cooker insert with baking paper and spray with the cooking oil.
- Puree the beetroot, then, in a large bowl, stir together the pureed beetroot, melted butter, sugar and vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, and stir each one in well.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
- Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and gently stir to combine, being careful not to over-mix.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared slow cooker insert. Using a wet spoon, spread the batter to the edges and level evenly.
- Put the lid on the slow cooker and set to low for 2 ½ hours.
- When cooked, let the cake cool slightly in the insert, then carefully remove and allow the cake to cool fully on a wire rack. Top with the beetroot vanilla topping and grated chocolate.
For the beetroot and vanilla topping
- Whip the cream and sugar together until thick. Add the vanilla and beetroot juice and whip again until all combined.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Debbie Ward
Made up cake exactly as Per recipe. I needed to cover inside lid with tea towel after 2hours and cake felt cooked after 2.25hrs. I left it cooking for the full 2.5hrs and although the cake was not overcooked, it was slightly firm all around the edges. Now making another cake and will take cake out after 2.25hrs. The only other thing i will do is dip a large spoon in hot water to smooth the top of the cake before cooking as it doesn’t level out as it would if cooked in a conventional oven. Cake loved by all family members so will become one of my regular bakes. Thank you for this very straightforward and foolproof recipe. XX
Zeldha
Hi! This may seem like an obtuse question, but is there another method of cooking the cake? I have neither slow-cooker nor oven, and was wondering whether there was a stove-top solution...
Thanks!
Constance Smith
WOW!!! This recipe looks amazing. I am definitely saving this to try with the beets we are growing in the garden this year.
Mary Lou Bethune
I used chocolate made by a friend of mine. It's made from organic raw cacao and very rich with hawthorn berries and rose hips-- all organic. I didn't make the icing but topped it with local lemon ice cream. It was so delicious. I think you are a genius. I am trying the nettle cake next.
Beverly Frendak
You mentioned a cake insert to bake the cake in. where can you get the insert?
Kate Hackworthy
Hi, it's just the insert/bowl that comes with the slow cooker. Where you'd put any ingredients. Does that make sense? So hard to describe in words! Hope that helps and happy baking ?
Janice @FarmersgirlCook
This is a gorgeous cake, I'm a huge fan of beetroot and your cake is perfect, especially the pink icing. Thanks for joining us for the Slow Cooked Challenge.
knattster
I am so impressed by the cake - not only does it look beautiful and rich, but the cream is so pretty tinted pink! Thanks for entering into #WeShouldCocoa
Sarah Fawcett
I think my slow cooker is too big 🙁 I can't imagine it's the right size for sure - now I need a new slow cooker OMG lol!!!! I wonder if I can cook it in the oven for now? Is that possible Kate?
I just love the pink icing so so pretty 🙂
Kate Hackworthy
Hi Sarah,
I used a 3.5L slow cooker for this. Just stick the batter in the oven and check it frequently. I hope it still works. It should, really, as it's just a cake batter. It may turn out more like brownies in the oven? Fingers crossed!
Erika
This cake looks amazing! I love chocolate cake, and I can tell from the photos that this one would be sooo moist. Yum!
Jan @GlugofOil
Oh my - you are amazing! That cake looks delicious; I've never tried to make a cake in a slow cooker and will have to give it a go. Thanks for the link, I've linked to this in my post too 🙂
Dominic Franks (@belleaukitchen)
wow, that's a stunning looking chocolate cake! I think beetroot chocolate cake is by far my most favourite chocolate cake. I have been looking for a decent crockpot cake for ages but didn't think of beetroot and chocolate - such a great idea. I will be making this! Thanks so much for the link to Simply Eggcellent x
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
I have never done a slow cooker cake before, but I actually pinned loads yesterday to try, so this is being added to the list too. I need to try a beetroot cake too.
Ceri @Natural Kitchen Adventures
I would never think about cooking a cake in a slow cooker - what a fab idea. Hoping I will have an excuse to try this out soon. I love chocolate and beetroot together!
Sarah Trivuncic, Maison Cupcake
I did some beetroot fudge years ago but never tried a cake. Love the pink icing!
Foodie Quine (@foodiequine)
I really need to try making a cake in my slow cooker. Everyone seems to be doing it but me! #Crocktober would be the perfect time for me to experiment
Lucy @ BakingQueen74
Right now I'm back with my #SlowCookedChallenge hat on! Thanks for joining in with your delicious recipe 🙂
Rachelle Strauss
we LOVE beetroot cake and to make it in a slow cooker? Well that sounds fantastic. I've added it to my 'one day recipes' list - thanks so much for sharing!
Lucy @ BakingQueen74
Your cake sounds delicious, I always slow cook mine on high to get them to rise but may have to try on low! Loving the beetroot in there.
Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla
That looks amazing!! I have always wanted to make cake in the slow cooker but never got a chance, yet... and I love beetroot chocolate cakes so this recipe is just perfect for me.
familyfriendsfoodblog
That looks so pretty with the pale pink cream next to the intense dark chocolate cake. I've never slow-cooked a cake but it looks like they come out wonderfully.
Kevin Chambers-Paston
Ooh, that cake looks delicious and I just know that being slow cooked it will be all moist and wonderful inside. I have never baked a chocolate cake with beetroot, but this recipe looks like a great one to start with!
fashionmommywm
It sounds a little strange to be putting beetroot in a cake, but then you mention carrot cake which I adore, so maybe should give it a try - it certainly looks delicious.
Rhian Westbury
I have never thought of using beetroot in a cake. I might have to give it a go at some point. x