Naturally sweet from bananas and pineapple, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, this Classic Hummingbird Cake is as sweet as spring feels.
Why a Classic Hummingbird Cake?
Hummingbird cake is a delightful, flavorful, and visually appealing dessert that’s perfect for various occasions.
1. Unique Flavor Profile
- Combination of Ingredients: Hummingbird cake features a unique combination of bananas, pineapple, and pecans, creating a moist, fruity, and nutty flavor that sets it apart from other cakes.
- Spices: The addition of spices like cinnamon enhances the flavor, making it a warm and comforting dessert.
2. Moist and Tender Texture
- Natural Moisture: The bananas and pineapple add natural moisture to the cake, resulting in a tender, moist crumb that stays fresh for days.
- Oil-Based: Unlike butter-based cakes, hummingbird cake uses oil, which contributes to its moist texture.
3. Cream Cheese Frosting
- Tangy Sweetness: The classic cream cheese frosting pairs perfectly with the sweet and fruity cake layers, adding a tangy contrast that balances the flavors.
- Versatility: Cream cheese frosting is easy to work with, making it great for both simple and elaborate cake decorations.
4. Crowd-Pleaser
- Appealing to Many Tastes: The combination of fruits, nuts, and spices appeals to a wide range of palates, making it a popular choice for gatherings and parties.
- Festive Appearance: With its layers and frosting, hummingbird cake looks impressive and festive, perfect for special occasions like birthdays, holidays, and celebrations.
5. Ease of Preparation
- Simple Method: Despite its complex flavor, hummingbird cake is relatively simple to make. It doesn’t require special techniques or equipment, making it accessible for home bakers of all skill levels.
- Eliminate Potential Waste: The recipe often calls for overripe bananas, making it a great way to use up bananas that might otherwise go to waste.
6. Versatility in Serving
- Layer Cake: Traditionally served as a layer cake, it can be decorated beautifully for formal events.
- Sheet Cake or Cupcakes: The recipe can be adapted into a sheet cake or cupcakes for more casual gatherings or ease of serving.
7. Nutritious Ingredients
- Fruit Content: The inclusion of bananas and pineapple provides some nutritional benefits, adding vitamins and fiber to the cake.
- Nuts: Pecans add healthy fats and protein, making the cake a bit more wholesome than typical desserts.
8. Great for Gifting
- Homemade Touch: A homemade hummingbird cake makes a thoughtful and delicious gift for friends, family, or neighbors.
- Impressive Presentation: Its impressive appearance and delicious taste make it a memorable gift that shows care and effort.
9. Perfect for Any Season
- Versatile Flavor: The tropical flavors of pineapple and banana make it suitable for summer, while the warmth of the spices makes it equally fitting for fall and winter gatherings.
This Classic Hummingbird Cake is Sure to Please
Making a hummingbird cake is a fantastic choice due to its unique flavor, moist texture, ease of preparation, and versatility. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion, a casual get-together, or simply to enjoy a delicious homemade treat, hummingbird cake is sure to impress and delight.
Classic Hummingbird Cake
Naturally sweet from bananas and pineapple, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, this Classic Hummingbird Cake is as sweet as spring feels.
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 900kcal
Ingredients
- 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 1/4 Cups Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
- 3 lg Eggs lightly beaten
- 1 1/3 Cups Vegetable Oil
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 8 oz Canned Crushed Pineapple In juice, undrained
- 2 cups Ripe Banana mashed, about 3 medium ripe bananas
- 1 1/4 Cups Pecans chopped, plus more for garnish
Frosting
- 16 oz Cream Cheese softened (2 8 oz packages)
- 1/2 Cup Butter Unsalted
- 4 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar
- 1 oz Dried Coconut for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease three 8- or 9-inch round cake pans, or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Beat in eggs, vanilla and oil until blended.
- Fold in pinepple with juice, bananas and pecans until evenly distributed.
- Divide batter into pans and bake for 23-25 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comese out clean and cakes start to pull away from sides of pan. Transfer to wire racks and cool for 10 minutes, then turn cakes out to cool completely.
Frosting
- In medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy.
- Add sugar and beat until smooth.
- To frost, place one cake layer on serving plate and spread a layer of frosting on top. Set second layer on top and frost the top. Set the third layer and frost the top and sides of the cake. Garnish with pecans and coconut, if desired.
