Guess what else is in these brownies?
Think healthy. Heart healthy.
Yes, there's chocolate. Dark, so we get those antioxidants.
There's sugar and butter yes, but at least its genuine cane sugar.
But guess... something strange but good.
Its good for your blood, circulation, body, healthy.. .general well-being. And most people HATED it until the health food kick and its amazing pairings with goat cheese or citrus.
BEETS.
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Yes. Some wonder, why would I put beets in brownies? I eat them separately (or not at all.) But beets have such a natural amount of sweetness when roasted that I just couldn't resist seeing what would become of it. And since beets + orange = good and chocolate + orange = good , I figured the trifecta would result in delicious!
There's a lot going on with these, they taste even better on day 2. They taste fudgyy, like those really thick brownies, not cake-like and crumbly. I recommend refrigerating them too after they cool from baking.
RECIPE adapted from Tasting Table
- 3 small beets, green tops removed
- 1 stick of butter
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 9 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1¼ cups cane sugar (or regular sugar)
- 3 large eggs
- Zest of 1 orange plus 3 tablespoons orange juice
- 1¼ cups self-rising flour
1. Wrap beets in foil. Roast in 400 degree oven for 1 hour. Once cool, peel off skins. Place beets in a food processor and process until chopped. Set aside.
(Now if you want some extra chocolate flavor, I would toss these in 1/2 cup of cocoa powder. It makes the beets taste like chocolate chips, if you're into that sort of thing.)
2. Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
3. Melt butter and oil together in a microwave bowl until liquid. Add in dark chocolate and stir to combine.
4. In a bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the sugar and eggs on medium speed until combined. Increase the speed to high and whip until the eggs are thick and pale yellow, 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Stir in the melted chocolate-butter mixture, the orange zest and juice, and the chopped beets.
6. Sift the flour in a sifter, then add into the chocolate-egg mixture. Use a rubber spatula to fold the flour into the batter until no dry streaks remain.
7. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20-30 minutes, until edges are cracked and toothpick comes out clean. Transfer the brownies to a wire rack to cool.
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
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