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Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake

A moist and tender Southern classic cake with tropical fruit, nuts, and warm spices, layered with tangy cream cheese frosting.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 33 minutes
Total Time 53 minutes
Servings: 14 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Southern American
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple with juice one 20-ounce can, undrained
  • 1 cup mashed banana about 2 ripe bananas
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Equipment

  • Two 9-inch round cake pans
  • Parchment paper or cake pan spray
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer or whisk
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • wooden spoon or rubber spatula
  • Wire cooling racks
  • Offset spatula or butter knife
  • Cake leveler or serrated knife (optional)

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the bottoms of two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and lightly spray the sides with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well combined and there are no lumps.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar and vegetable oil until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking after each addition until incorporated. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. Fold the crushed pineapple with its juice, mashed banana, and chopped pecans into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until just combined.
  5. Pour the fruit mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and fold gently with a rubber spatula until just barely combined.
  6. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula.
  7. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
  8. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then run a thin knife around the edges, invert onto wire cooling racks, and cool completely before frosting, at least 1 to 2 hours.
  9. Beat the softened butter and cream cheese together in a clean bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar gradually, beating on low speed, then increase to medium speed and beat until smooth and creamy.
  10. Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake board. Spread about 1/2 cup of frosting over the top.
  11. Set the second layer on top and frost the top and sides with the remaining frosting.

Notes

Use ripe bananas with brown spots for better sweetness and texture. Toast pecans lightly before chopping for deeper flavor. Cool cakes completely before frosting to prevent melting. Measure flour by spooning and leveling for best texture. Store frosted cake in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.