Hummingbird Cake

ByBluebonnet Baker
56 Comments

Hummingbird Cake is one of those recipes that's uniquely Southern, and found nearly every springtime at someone's baby shower, wedding, or barbecue.

Rumor has it the cake's name comes from its over-the-top sweetness - so sweet that there's no way a hummingbird could resist it's sugary lure.

Personally, it reminds me a lot of carrot cake, but instead of getting its sweetness from carrots, it gets it from fresh pineapple, ripe bananas, and warmly roasted walnuts. They're each equal stars of this show.

James loved the cake for its denseness, and it's cream cheese frosting. I loved it for all the fresh fruit and walnuts - both of which are incredibly good for you. That makes it healthy, right?!

If you've never had a Hummingbird Cake, take my advice and add it to your Springtime celebrations menu. Everyone could use a little Southern hospitality in their lives, don't you think?

 

Hummingbird Cake

adapted from Walnuts.org

3 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
3 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup fresh pineapple, crushed
4 large ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup chopped roasted California walnuts

For the frosting:
1 ½ sticks chilled butter
3 8 oz bars of chilled cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups sifted confectioners’ (powdered) sugar

1 ½ cups chopped roasted walnuts

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 3 round cake pans with baking spray for baking. Line with parchment paper if desired.

In a medium bowl combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. In a large mixing bowl, add sugar, brown sugar, and eggs. Mix on high until well combined and light and fluffy. Add vegetable oil and vanilla extract and mix again.

Add crushed pineapple and mashed bananas, and mix again. Add the chopped roasted walnuts by hand.

Divide batter equally between the 3 pans. Tap each pan lightly against the countertop to remove any air bubbles. Place in the oven and bake 25-30 minutes in the center of the oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Allow to cool for several hours or overnight, removing to a cooling rack after the pan comes to a handle-able temperature.

When cakes are completely cool, make frosting. In a mixing bowl, mix cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Add in powdered sugar a ¼ cup at a time, mixing after each addiction until completely incorporated and fluffy.

Apply a crumb coat to each layer of the cake, applying it thicker between each layer. Then refrigerate for an hour or more. When crumb coat has hardened, add walnuts to the rest of the icing and re-frost so that the cake is completely covered and there are no "bald" spots.

Refrigerate for another hour so the frosting will set, then the cake is ready to serve. Enjoy with a glass of Southern iced tea or lemonade.

[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Hummingbird Cake - - - [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]

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56 Comments

  1. I have never seen a cake like this before! I love the story about how it got its name!

    1. It's super good, Michelle. Maybe you could tweak it to make it a little healthier, or maybe just let the kids indulge once a year?

  4. MMM....I'm starving right now and would push an old lady out of the way for a slice of that!!

    That cake would make any Arkansas after church potluck crowd proud!!

    1. LOL! Best comment ever. I can just see you shoving that nice little old lady out of the way for a slice.

  5. What a beautiful cake! I had never heard of it, but now that I have seen it, I will be baking it!

  6. That is a fantastic looking cake! I think my mom (and I) would love this so I might make it for her soon. Thanks for the recipe.

  7. I love hummingbird cake. It reminds me a lot of carrot cake as well. Very southern, reminds me of my grandma.

    1. Same here, Melissa. I'm glad I brought your grandma to mind. Grandmas are great 🙂

  8. I've never heard of this cake! But I would like to get to know it better. I think New Englanders need to know about this one. Beautiful pictures!!

    1. Thanks, Jen! I think you'd love this cake a lot. It's fruity and creamy and perfect.

    1. Amy, I love to take it to any potluck. It's always such a crowd pleaser and goes far because it's so dense.

  11. I don't think I've ever had this cake. It looks yum, as all things southern ultimately are! It doesn't look like you frosted between the layers if the cake, just stacked and did tour crumb coat. Is this true?

    1. Danielle, I did frost between the layers, but I was nervous about doing a ton of frosting in the layers because I never seem to have enough to do the final coat if I do that. But I definitely did add a fair amount between each layer too, when I did the crumb coat. Thanks for checking!

  12. Gorgeous photos!

    Love love love hummingbird cake! Been tryin' to scale it down to serve 2 for ages. Someday! 🙂

  14. I could always use a little extra cake in my day and I would gladly welcome some Southern hospitality to go with it. Politeness is hard to come by in some areas around here. In fact, I think I'll start carrying slices of this cake around with me...

    1. Now *that's* a great idea. Maybe it'd make these New Jersians a little nicer on the roads around here.

  15. The epitome of church dinners. All of the old ladies around here still get all riled up about a good hummingbird cake. I am so glad to see it carrying on. If you asked me on a normal day, I'd never pick this cake but anytme it shows up its always an unexpected treat. Great choice 🙂

    1. I'd agree with you. It was definitely an unexpected treat around here too 🙂

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