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Beetroot & Black Sesame Saffron Cake

The Beetroot & Black Sesame Saffron Cake is a standout in the world of cakes with unusual ingredients. This recipe blends earthy beetroot, crunchy black sesame, and the subtle warmth of saffron to create a dessert that is as visually stunning as it is delicious. Perfect for those who want to experiment with bold flavors and unique textures, this cake will leave a lasting impression.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 48 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Dessert
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 150g beetroot, cooked and pureed
  • 50g black sesame seeds
  • 1g saffron threads
  • 100ml olive oil
  • 200ml coconut milk
  • 250g all-purpose flour
  • 10g baking powder
  • 5g cinnamon
  • 5g nutmeg
  • 200g granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a 23cm (9-inch) round cake pan.
  2. Prepare the wet ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the beetroot puree, black sesame seeds, and olive oil. Add in coconut milk and mix until smooth.
  3. Mix dry ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, saffron threads, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  4. Combine mixtures: Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until everything is well combined. Stir in the sugar.
  5. Add eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.
  6. Pour and bake: Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and level it out. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Serve: Once cooled, you can frost as desired or serve plain.

Notes

Here are some creative variations for the Beetroot & Black Sesame Saffron Cake recipe that incorporate unusual ingredients while maintaining the essence of the original cake:
  1. Carrot & Ginger Cake with Turmeric Glaze
    • Replace beetroot with 200g of finely grated carrots.
    • Add 20g of freshly grated ginger to the batter for a spicy kick.
    • For the glaze, mix 30g of powdered sugar with 10ml of fresh lemon juice and a pinch of turmeric for color.
  2. Zucchini & Lime Cake with Coconut Frosting
    • Substitute beetroot with 200g of grated zucchini (squeeze out excess moisture).
    • Add zest from 2 limes to the batter for a refreshing flavor.
    • Top with a frosting made from 100g of cream cheese, 50g of coconut cream, and 20g of shredded coconut.
  3. Sweet Potato & Maple Cake with Pecan Topping
    • Replace beetroot with 200g of mashed sweet potato.
    • Substitute olive oil with 100ml of melted coconut oil and add 50ml of maple syrup to enhance sweetness.
    • Top the cake with chopped toasted pecans mixed with a drizzle of maple syrup.
  4. Pumpkin & Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Swirl
    • Use 200g of pumpkin puree instead of beetroot.
    • Add 5g each of ground cinnamon and nutmeg to the batter for a warm spice flavor.
    • Create a cream cheese swirl by mixing 100g cream cheese with 30g sugar and spooning it into the batter before baking.
  5. Avocado & Lime Cake with Matcha Frosting
    • Substitute beetroot with 150g of ripe avocado, pureed until smooth.
    • Add zest from 1 lime for brightness.
    • For frosting, mix 100g cream cheese with 20g matcha powder and a bit of honey for sweetness.
  6. Chocolate Beetroot & Chili Cake
    • Keep the beetroot but add 5g of chili powder or cayenne pepper to the batter for a spicy twist.
    • Mix in 50g of dark chocolate chunks for added richness.
  7. Coconut & Almond Flour Cake with Cardamom
    • Replace half the all-purpose flour (125g) with almond flour (125g).
    • Add 5g ground cardamom to the batter for an exotic flavor profile.
    • Top with toasted coconut flakes after baking.
  8. Lavender & Honey Cake
    • Replace saffron with 5g dried culinary lavender buds mixed into the batter.
    • Sweeten the cake by adding 50ml honey in place of some sugar.
These variations allow you to explore different flavors and textures while keeping the unique concept of incorporating unusual ingredients into your cake!
 
 
If you like recipes with unusual ingredients try this cookie recipe right here!!