In a Christmas cake I'm sure the beetroot was good too. It's not something you often use, or even think to use in a cake. But for the color it's a great addition, and the taste is great too. Besides great color and taste is is very healthy indeed. And in my opinion the natural coloring is always best to choose instead of the food coloring you can buy. Unless they make it from natural ingredients, but then ... I don't see why I would buy expensive food coloring if I can do it myself with one cheap beetroot.