Hummingbird Cake Recipe (2024)

Hummingbird Cake is a delicious classic Southern cake recipe. Made with bananas, pineapple, and pecans and topped with a cream cheese frosting!

Are you looking for more delicious cake recipes? I think you’ll love my Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Best Chocolate Cake, Coconut Cake, and Best White Cake.

Hummingbird Cake Recipe (1)

Hummingbird Cake is a favorite cake recipe of my family. My grandmother would make it for special occasions, especially around Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, or spring birthdays. It was always front and center at any family gatherings or church socials. Topped with delicious Cream Cheese Frosting and full of banana, pineapple, and roasted pecans, Hummingbird Cake is a Southern classic cake recipe.

Table of Contents

  • Hummingbird Cake Recipe
  • How to Make Hummingbird Cake
  • Role of Oil in Cakes
  • How Long Does Hummingbird Cake Last?
  • Hummingbird Cake Recipe

Hummingbird Cake Recipe

Hummingbird Cake Recipe (2)

How to Make Hummingbird Cake

Ingredients for Hummingbird Cake

To make this favorite cake, you’ll need these ingredients:

  • All-purpose flour – Use a light all-purpose flour. You can also substitute it with cake flour.
  • Granulated sugar – I use granulated white or raw cane sugar. Use your favorite sugar replacement for baking.
  • Baking soda and Baking powder – both are used in this cake recipe.
  • Salt – I use Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt. If you substitute with Morton’s Kosher salt, fine sea salt, or table salt, you will only need half the amount of the salt called for in the recipe.
  • Ground cinnamon – adds a warm cozy flavor to the cake.
  • Eggs – Use room temperature eggs as they incorporate the best into the cake batter.
  • Vegetable oil – makes for a moist, tender cake. You can substitute with melted coconut oil, avocado oil, or even melted and cooled butter.
  • Vanilla extract – Use your favorite store-bought pure vanilla extract or homemade.
  • Bananas – Fresh bananas are mashed and incorporated into the cake batter. They add richness and moisture to the cake.
  • Crushed pineapple – The pineapple adds so much fresh flavor to the cake.
  • Roasted pecans – the toasted pecans add texture and flavor to the cake. However, I generally omit if serving where there could be a nut allergy or sensitivity.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prep. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare three 9-inch cake pans by spraying with baking spray or buttering and lightly flouring.
  2. Whisk Dry Ingredients. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon in a large bowl and set aside.
  3. Mix Wet Ingredients. Cream the eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, pineapple, mashed bananas, and finely chopped roasted pecans in another large bowl.
  4. Stir. Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture until just combined.
  5. Bake. Then, divide the batter evenly between the three prepared cake pans and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick or skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. You can follow my tips forhow to tell when your cake is done.
  6. Cool the cake layers. Remove from oven once done and cool in the cake pans for about 10 minutes. Then, turn the cakes onto a wire rack to allow the cakes to cool completely.
  7. Frost and serve. Once the cakes are completely cool, frost them with Cream Cheese Frosting. I usually make my frosting while my cake is in the oven. Then serve and enjoy!

Origins of Hummingbird Cake

As far as the original maker of the hummingbird cake, it was submitted to Southern Living magazine for the February 1978 issue by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina. Even though she provided her lovely recipe, she did not include the story behind it or its name. Some would say that is a loss, but I think Mrs. Wiggins did us a great favor by allowing our imaginations to conjure up stories as sweet as her delicious cake.

Hummingbird Cake Recipe (3)

Be sure to add this cake recipe to your must-make list for your next get together. It is sure to delight as well as quickly disappear. Remember to cut the slices thinly as it is rich and as sweet as southern sweet tea.

Role of Oil in Cakes

Cakes using oil in the recipe tend to bake higher, stay moist and tender longer, and result in a cake with an even, open crumb and a coarser texture than those using butter.

How Long Does Hummingbird Cake Last?

I prefer to store this cake in the refrigerator since it contains fruit and is topped with cream cheese frosting. In the fridge, it will last up to a week.

Hummingbird Cake Recipe (4)

Here’s the Hummingbird Cake recipe my family has used for years. It differs slightly from Mrs. Wiggins’ original, but I love the changes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 24

Ingredients

  • 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (396 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (6 g) baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon (4 g) baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon (2.8 g) kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons (3.9 g) ground cinnamon
  • 3 large (150 g) eggs
  • 1 cup (198 g) vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons (9.4 g) vanilla extract
  • 1 (8-ounce) can (249 g) crushed pineapple,, undrained
  • 3 (454 g) bananas, ripe, mashed (about 2 cups)
  • 1 cup (114 g) roasted pecans, finely chopped
  • Cream Cheese Frosting

Instructions

  • Prep. Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare three 9-inch cake pans by spraying with baking spray or buttering and lightly flouring.

  • Whisk Dry Ingredients. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon in a large bowl. Set aside.

  • Cream Wet Ingredients. Cream together the eggs, oil, vanilla extract, pineapple, mashed bananas, and finely chopped pecans in another large bowl. Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture until just combined.

  • Bake and cool. Evenly divide the batter between the three prepared pans and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick or skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Turn cakes onto a wire rack and allow to cool completely.

  • Frost. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

  • Store. Store in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap or a cake dome for up to a week.

Notes

Nutritional information is for cake only without frosting.

Nutrition

Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 152mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 46IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

From the Add a Pinch recipe archives. Originally published in 2011.

Categorized as:All Recipes, Cake, Cooking, Dessert Recipes, Easter Recipes, Holiday and Occasion Recipes, Mother’s Day Recipes, Recipes, Shower Recipes, Southern Favorites, Valentine’s Day Recipes

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

Read more about Robyn

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Hummingbird Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a hummingbird cake made of? ›

If you're not familiar, hummingbird cake is a spiced pineapple-banana cake topped with cream cheese frosting and pecans. Maybe it's the pecans that lure me in or the way the taste fools me into thinking I might just be eating a fancy piece of banana bread with a little cream cheese. Good for you, right?

Why do they call it hummingbird cake? ›

The name is thought to come from the fact that the cake is sweet enough to attract hummingbirds seeking nectar.

Does hummingbird cake contain coconut? ›

If you are a fan of banana bread, you'll adore this cake! It's packed full of flavor and texture with pecans, coconut, and pineapple!

Why is my hummingbird cake dry? ›

If there's simply too much flour and not enough butter, a cake will taste dry. On the other hand, if there's too much milk and not enough flour, a cake will taste too wet. Finding the right balance between wet and dry ingredients is key.

What is Elvis Presley cake? ›

An Elvis Presley cake is a single-layer classic yellow cake that's topped with a pineapple glaze. Much like a poke cake, the syrup and juices of the pineapple will seep into the cake through fork holes, resulting in a decadent, ultra-moist cake.

What is in a frog cake? ›

Composition. The frog cake is a small dessert shaped to resemble a frog with its mouth open, consisting of a sponge base with a jam centre, topped in artificial cream and covered with a thick layer of fondant icing. The recipe today remains identical to the one employed when the cake was first produced in the 1920s.

What is a Lady Baltimore cake made of? ›

A Lady Baltimore Cake is made with a fluffy white cake with a hint of sweetness, intensified by a rum-scented filling made with dried dates and raisins, all coated with a billowy, meringue-like frosting. Overall, it's a very unique cake.

Why is it called wife cake? ›

Another story tells of a dim sum chef's wife creating a pastry with wintermelon paste influenced by a recipe from her mother's family. The new pastry was found to taste better than the dim sums that were being sold in teahouses, and the chef proudly told everyone it was made by his wife, hence it was named "Wife Cake".

Where is hummingbird cake popular? ›

Hummingbird cake is a banana-pineapple spice cake originating in Jamaica and a popular dessert in the southern United States since the 1970s. Ingredients include flour, sugar, salt, vegetable oil, ripe banana, pineapple, cinnamon, pecans, vanilla extract, eggs, and leavening agent.

Why is my hummingbird cake dense? ›

Cold eggs result in a dry, denser cake. Quickly bring eggs to room temperature: To quickly bring eggs to room temperature, fill a bowl with warm water (not hot) and add eggs and let sit 10-20 minutes. Drain pineapple well: the pineapple needs to drained well or the Hummingbird Cake will be too wet.

What is Princess cake made of? ›

Swedish Princess Cake (Prinsesstårta) is a classic Scandinavian torte with layers of sponge cake, raspberry jam, vanilla custard, and whipped cream. It is traditionally dome-shaped and covered with a layer of sweet marzipan tinted green. Princess Cake has been on my baking bucket list for ages.

What are zebra cakes made of? ›

These zainy treats are made with delicious fluffy yellow cake with irresistible creme filling covered in white icing with fudgey stripes. The Little Debbie® Vending Zebra Cake is individually wrapped, labeled with calories displayed on the front of the wrap and packed in retail-ready cartons.

Why did my hummingbird cake fall apart? ›

Extra sugar or leavening will cause a cake to fall; too much flour makes it dry.

What is a secret ingredient for cake? ›

When it comes to baking moist and delicious cakes, you might be surprised to learn that mayonnaise can be a secret ingredient worth considering. Made up of eggs and oil, mayonnaise acts as an emulsifier, adding creaminess and moisture to your cake.

What do you put on a cake to keep it moist? ›

Pastry chefs often soak cakes in a simple syrup made of equal parts granulated sugar and water after the cakes come out of the oven. This step can add sweetness and moisten the cake. In addition to simple syrup, you can also use coconut milk, evaporated milk, or flavored liqueur.

Why is it called hummingbird? ›

Hummingbirds get their name from the humming sound their wings make when in flight or hovering – the noise is often compared to the sound of a bee or mosquito. A hummingbird can flap its wings up to 80 times a second, or as many as 200 times in a dive.

Why are they called hummingbird cupcakes? ›

Hummingbird Cupcakes are filled with bananas, crushed pineapple, spices, and pecans — or walnuts if you're not in the South — and then topped with a cream cheese frosting. Most people say it's called “hummingbird” cake because everyone hums in happiness like the tiny bird when they eat it!

How long will a hummingbird cake last? ›

Hummingbird Cake should be stored in an airtight container or well-covered with plastic wrap to protect it from drying out. It can be stored at room temperature (if less than 70 degrees F) for two days or will last in the refrigerator for up to one week.

What is horse cake made of? ›

Mix the honey and sweet feed or oats together in a large bowl. When fully mixed, place the mixture on a plate and shape into the form of a birthday cake. Use the carrots as candles and the apple slices as decorations.

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