Description
Delightful Hummingbird Cake celebrates Southern baking magic with ripe bananas, crushed pineapple, and warm spices. Rich cream cheese frosting crowns this classic dessert, promising pure comfort in each memorable slice you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium bananas)
- 1 cup canned crushed pineapple (drained)
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Flavoring and Frosting Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350F (175C) and thoroughly coat two round cake pans with cooking spray or butter.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and sugar in a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Create a smooth wet mixture by whisking vegetable oil, eggs, thoroughly mashed bananas, well-drained pineapple chunks, and vanilla extract until completely integrated.
- Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry mixture, stirring until just combined to maintain cake’s tender texture. Incorporate chopped pecans evenly throughout the batter.
- Distribute the cake batter equally between the prepared pans, using a spatula to spread smoothly and eliminate air pockets.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean with no raw batter.
- Remove cakes from oven and let rest in pans for 10 minutes to prevent structural breakdown during removal.
- Transfer cake layers to wire cooling racks, allowing complete temperature reduction before frosting.
- Prepare cream cheese frosting by whipping cream cheese and butter until light and airy, gradually blending in powdered sugar and vanilla until silky smooth.
- Generously spread frosting between cake layers and over entire surface, creating an even, luxurious coating.
Notes
- Adapt the cake for gluten-free diets by substituting all-purpose flour with a reliable gluten-free flour blend, ensuring the texture remains moist and tender.
- Control moisture by thoroughly draining pineapple chunks to prevent excess liquid from making the cake soggy or dense.
- Toast pecans before adding to the batter to enhance their nutty flavor and provide a deeper, more complex taste profile for the cake.
- Achieve the perfect cream cheese frosting consistency by ensuring cream cheese and butter are at room temperature, which helps create a smooth, spreadable texture without lumps.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 435
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 56 mg