Old Fashioned Fudge Cake

By mitzzy

Chocolate cake just got a lot healthier, thanks to an infusion of grated beets and Greek-style yogurt. Since beets amp up the moisture (while boosting your brain and fighting cancer!) you won’t want to wait for a special occasion to bake up this bit of sweet fudge.

Ingredients

• Ingredients:
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for coating the pan
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 1/4 cups low-fat buttermilk
• 1 cup plain non-fat Greek-style yogurt
• 4 egg whites from large eggs, or 3/4 cup liquid egg whites
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2/3 cup (loosely packed) finely grated beets
• Frosting
• 8 ounces (1 cup) reduced-fat cream cheese
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons nonfat milk

Details

Servings 16

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the center position. Coat a 10-inch round cake pan with pan spray and coat it lightly with flour, knocking out the excess.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, whisk the buttermilk, yogurt, egg whites, and olive oil together until the mixture is smooth.
3. Stir in the beets, then the flour mixture, just until incorporated. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake for about 40 minutes, until the cake is slightly domed in the center and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
4. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Then run a knife around the edge and invert the cake directly onto the rack; leave it for about 1 hour longer to cool completely.

To make the frosting:
1.Using a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium speed for about 1 minute, until the mixture is smooth.
2. Sift in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder and continue to mix, starting on low and increasing to medium speed as the sugar is incorporated, until the frosting is completely smooth. Add the vanilla and milk on low speed, mixing until incorporated. (Alternatively, use a handheld electric mixer.)
3. Use an offset spatula to frost the top of the cake first, starting at the center and pushing the frosting out to the sides. Frost the sides.
4. To serve, cut the cake into 16 wedges. Refrigerate any leftover cake, covered, for up to 2 days