BEETROOT BROWNIES: A PLANET FRIENDLY BAKING BOOK RECIPE

Beetroot, with its earthy flavour and dark colour, doesn’t necessarily make you think of sweet treats but trust us when we say it is an excellent paired with chocolate.

These brownies, from our cookbook ‘Planet Friendly Baking’, are packed full of lovely beetroot, which, seeing as they are a superfood must mean they are almost healthy…

BEETROOT BROWNIES

Struggling to get your kids to eat beetroot? Overrun with beets on your veg patch and all out of pickling jars? Give these scrumptious brownies a go, we are sure you will love them!

Makes: 12 slices

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Oven temp: 160c fan

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Grease a 30x20cm baking tin and dust with cocoa powder. Weigh out any excess cocoa to use in the brownie.
Cut the tops and tails off the beetroot (you can eat the greens – they are similar to spinach). Chop the beetroot into chunks and place in a microwavable bowl – you may want to wear gloves to prevent staining your hands! Add a little water and microwave on high for 10-12 minutes until tender.
When cooked, drain the excess water before transferring the beetroot to a bowl with the butter, dark chocolate and vanilla. Blend with a stick blender (or in a food processor); the heat of the beetroot will melt the butter and chocolate and the ingredients will gradually combine.
In a separate bowl, whisk the sugar and eggs with an electric hand whisk for a few minutes until pale and foamy. Add the beetroot mix to the eggs and fold through with a spoon, taking care not to lose too much air.
Sift in the flour and cocoa powder (sifting incorporates more air and stops the brownie being too heavy) then fold into the batter until well combined.
Pour the brownie batter into the tin and bake for 25-30 minutes until it has risen all over.
When cooked, the brownie will have a crust and a very slight ripple in the centre when the tin is lightly shaken.
Cool completely in the tin before removing and cutting into squares.

PLANET FRIENDLY BAKING BOOK

Planet Friendly Baking combines a love for scrumptious recipes and a passion for our planet. With over 50 stunning bakes and insightful chapters on Food Impact and Food Waste, readers can stay conscious as they snack their way through the seasons. Focusing on inspiration rather than guilt, it’s the perfect companion for sweet-toothed readers looking for a more mindful approach to their afternoon tea.