Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake recipe is a nostalgic recipe, perfect for spring. This moist, fluffy cake is topped with pecans, and is a must-have at special occasions, from birthdays to baby showers.
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Why this Old-Fashioned Hummingbird Cake Recipe is a Keeper
This old fashioned hummingbird cake recipe is a classic southern recipe, just like banana bread and carrot cake. With banana and pineapple baked inside, this version of hummingbird cake is made with cream cheese icing instead of vanilla buttercream. Here are just a few reasons why we think you’ll love hummingbird cake with pecans and fresh fruit:
- Party Pleaser: This is a favorite cake for any occasion and will always leave your guests satisfied. It looks great on a cake stand, making it a wonderful centerpiece for your spread.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients for this layer cake can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Family Friendly: This hummingbird cake and cream cheese frosting recipe will be a hit with both kids and adults, making it perfect for all your family functions.
If you’re looking for more cake recipes, try these: Pig Pickin Cake, Butterfinger Cake, and Coconut Poke Cake.
Why is it Called Hummingbird Cake?
It’s not exactly certain why this spice cake with chopped pecans is called “hummingbird cake,” but some people suggest the name came from the Jamaican hummingbird, also called the “doctor bird,” so it’s also called doctor bird cake.
Others suggest the name of this banana cake came from the southern United States, due to its appearance in the Southern Living magazine. Either way, everyone agrees that it’s a sweet, delicious cake, so much so that it’s also called the “Nothing Left Cake” or the “Cake That Won’t Last”!
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Hummingbird Cake Ingredient Notes
- Pineapples: Mix a cup of fresh crushed pineapple into the cake batter for each cake layer to give the cake its sweet, fruity flavor.
- Bananas: Bananas are a key ingredient of this kind of cake. Mash 3 ripe bananas for the batter.
- Cream Cheese: This moist cake frosting has a cream cheese base.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Southern Hummingbird Layer Cake with Crushed Pineapple
- Spices: Use different spices in your cake, such as nutmeg and cinnamon.
- Coconut: Top the cake with coconut shavings or mix them into the batter.
Pro Tip
For the best results, make this cake with room temperature ingredients.
How to Make Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake Recipe
This southern cake made with fresh or canned pineapple and bananas is moist and flavorful. It’s a 3-layer cake frosted with cream cheese icing, so that everyone is sure to enjoy a slice. Just follow these steps to learn how to make this classic hummingbird cake recipe.
These are the basic steps for making banana hummingbird cake. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Prep
First, preheat oven to 350 F. Spray 3 9-inch cake pans with nonstick baking spray. You can also use three 8-inch cake pans for slightly smaller cakes.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powdered, salt, and cinnamon.
3. Make Cake Batter
In another bowl or stand mixer, cream together eggs, 1 cup of vegetable oil, vanilla extract, crushed pineapple, and mashed bananas. Then, pour the flour mixture into this bowl and stir until incorporated, or mix on medium speed until smooth.
4. Bake the 3 Layer Cakes and Make Frosting
Divide the batter evenly into 3 round cake pans. Bake at 350 F for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Meanwhile, combine all the frosting ingredients and mix until fluffy.
5. Frost the Cakes
Next, let cakes cool for about 25 minutes, then remove from the pans and set the cake on a wire rack to cool completely. Finally, stack each layer of the cake, frost the top and sides of the cake, and serve.
Pineapple and Banana Delicious Cake FAQs
Recipe Notes for Making Classic Hummingbird Cake
- Decorate: Decorate with icing, fruits, and nuts on the top of the cake. Like carrot cake.
- Line Pans: Line the cake pans with parchment paper to make it easier to remove the cakes after they bake.
- Cupcakes: Easily make this recipe into cupcakes by making it in a cupcake tin.
- Level: Use a cake leveler or a serrated knife to cut the “domed” tops of the cake layers so that you have nice, flat layers.
- Test: Use a knife or a cake tester inserted into the centers of the cakes to emerge clean.
What to Serve with Hummingbird Cake
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Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake
Ingredients
- 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 cups Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 3 Large Eggs
- 1 cup Vegetable Oil
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
- 8 oz Crushed Pineapple, can, undrained
- 3 Bananas, ripe, mashed
- 1 cup Pecans, roasted
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- 16 oz Cream Cheese, room temperature
- 1 Stick of Butter, room temperature
- 3 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons Vanilla
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Spray (3) 9-inch cake pans with baking spray. Set to the side for later.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powdered, salt, and cinnamon.
- In another bowl cream together eggs, oil, vanilla, crushed pineapple, and mashed bananas.
- Then pour the flour mixture into the wet and mix just until incorporated.
- Evenly pour batter into 3 cake pans. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Let cakes cool for about 25 minutes then remove from the pans and put on a cooling rack. Then let cakes cool completely before frosting.
- Once cakes are cool frost the cakes.
- Refrigerate the cake for up to 3 days.
Expert Tips
- Decorate: Decorate the cake with icing, fruits, and nuts.
- Line Pans: Line the cake pans with parchment paper to make it easier to remove the cakes after they bake.
- Cupcakes: Easily make this recipe into cupcakes by making it in a cupcake tin.