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.

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Hummingbird Cake Recipe (9)

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Hummingbird Cake Recipe

Robyn Stone

4.94 from 30 votes

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

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

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 a hummingbird cake? ›

The name is thought to come from the fact that the cake is sweet enough to attract hummingbirds seeking nectar. This dessert recipe comes from the Carribean country of Jamaica, originating in the 1960's. It's a banana cake similar to my traditional version, but with the addition of sweet pineapple and pecans.

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!

Does hummingbird cake need to be refrigerated? ›

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 Elvis Presley cake? ›

You don't have to be Young and Beautiful to appreciate the Elvis Presley Cake. After one bite, you'll be saying that you Can't Help Falling in Love with how easy it is to make this fruity cake, which has a pineapple topping and creamy, decadent cream cheese frosting.

What is in a frog cake? ›

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.

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".

Why is it called Robert Redford cake? ›

It had been a very long time since I had an icebox cake. In the book, Dylan calls it the Robert Redford Cake and it comes from the chapter that features recipes from the 1970s. Apparently the cake is named after Redford because its as tasty as he is sexy.

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.

What is the Tom Cruise coconut cake? ›

Karen Doan first created the cake when she opened Doan's Bakery in 1984. The family-owned and -operated bakery describes the Cruise Cake as a coconut bundt cake with chunks of white chocolate, covered in a layer of cream cheese frosting and a mountain of shredded coconut.

What does a hummingbird cake taste like? ›

The Hummingbird Cake is a Southern gem that boasts three incredibly moist layers flavored with canned pineapple and bananas.

What is the story behind the hummingbird cake? ›

In the late '60s, the Jamaica Tourist Board used the fruits of the island—namely banana and pineapple—in a recipe distributed to Jamaican newspapers that sought to spread the word about the flavors of the island's produce, and the hummingbird cake was born.

Why not put cake in the fridge? ›

Keep Your Cakes at Room Temperature

This is because refrigeration can cause some types of cakes to dry out or become too firm, particularly those with buttercream frosting. To keep your cake fresh, cover it with plastic wrap or a cake dome.

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.

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.

What is hummingbird food made of? ›

Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water (for example, 1 cup of sugar with 4 cups of water) until the sugar is dissolved. Do not add red dye. Fill your hummingbird feeders with the sugar water and place outside. Extra sugar water can be stored in a refrigerator.

Why is it called a Texas sheet cake? ›

The origins of this cake are murky. Some sources say it may have first shown up in a Texas newspaper, which is why it's called "Texas" sheet cake, while others claim the name comes from the fact that it's the size of Texas. Regardless of its origins, this cake is truly a crowd-pleaser.

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