I went to the Auckland Food Show this year and saw Dr Libby and Chef Cynthia's demo. They made this raw beetroot chocolate mud cake - turned out well. They also showed how quickly it is to make proper raw chocolate with cacao butter, cacao, nibs and peppermint oil so I'm gonna try that soon too.
I'm entering this into August's Sweet New Zealand, hosted by Sweets and Brains.


For the cake:

• 2 cups Brazil nuts
• 4 fresh medjool dates, pitted and coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup currants
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 3 medium beetroots (beets), peeled and finely grated
• 2 cups desiccated coconut
• 1/2 cup cacao powder
• 2 Tbsp psyllium husks, ground

For the icing:

• 100g (3 1/2 oz) cocoa butter, melted
• 1 cup raw unsalted cashew nuts
• 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp tamari

For the cake mixture

Grind the Brazil nuts in a food processor then set them aside in a bowl.
Combine the dates, currants and maple syrup in the bowl of the food processor and pulse until smooth. Blend the date mixture with the ground nuts and the grated beetroots in a large bowl.

Add the coconut, cacao powder and psyllium husks to the bowl and stir them in until blended with the date and nut mixtures.

Scrape the blended mixture back into the bowl of the food processor and pulse until the ingredients are well combined and finely textured.
Line a cake tin with baking paper and spread the batter evenly over the bottom. Refrigerate for about 15 min or until firm to the touch.

For the icing

Gently melt the cocoa butter in a small saucepan then allow it to cool.
Combine the cashews, cacao powder, maple syrup, lemon juice and tamari in the bowl of a food processor or Vita-mix blender and process until the nuts are well ground.

With the motor running, pour in the melted cocoa butter and blend until the mixture is smooth. Spoon the icing over the cake and refrigerate until the icing is set, about 15 min.