Description
Southern Hummingbird Cake brings tropical banana and pineapple sweetness to your dessert table with a creamy cream cheese frosting that perfectly balances the dense, fruity cake layers.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 8 cups powdered sugar
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Garnish:
- Chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Position the oven rack in the center and heat to 350F. Coat three 9-inch round cake pans thoroughly with cooking spray and dust with flour.
- Combine 3 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon salt in a mixing bowl.
- Pour 1 cup vegetable oil, 4 beaten eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla into the dry ingredients. Blend on low speed until just incorporated.
- Gently fold in 8 ounces crushed pineapple, 1 cup mashed bananas, and 1 cup chopped pecans. Ensure ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Distribute batter equally among the prepared cake pans, smoothing the surfaces with a spatula.
- Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a wooden skewer into the cake’s center – it should emerge clean.
- Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese and 2 sticks butter until silky and smooth.
- Gradually incorporate 8 cups powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Mix thoroughly after each addition.
- Stir 1 teaspoon vanilla into the frosting. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
- Place first cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a thick layer of cream cheese frosting.
- Add second cake layer and repeat frosting process.
- Position final cake layer on top. Frost entire cake, covering sides and top completely.
- Sprinkle ½ cup chopped pecans around cake’s edges for decorative garnish.
- Refrigerate cake for minimum 30 minutes before serving to set frosting.
Notes
- Ensure ingredients like bananas and pineapple are ripe but not overripe for the best texture and flavor balance.
- Folding nuts and fruit gently prevents overmixing, which can make the cake dense and tough.
- Room temperature eggs and cream cheese blend more smoothly and create a more even cake and frosting consistency.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute regular flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend, keeping all other measurements the same.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 553 kcal
- Sugar: 44 g
- Sodium: 209 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Fiber: 2.3 g
- Protein: 5.4 g
- Cholesterol: 67 mg