Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake Recipe (2024)

If you love carrot cake and banana bread as much as I do, I know you’re going to love this Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake Recipe.It is the perfect combination of banana, spices and pineapple (yes…I said pineapple). I know you are going to love this cake recipe.

What is Hummingbird Cake:

Can you believe that I’m from Oklahoma and I didn’t have hummingbird cake until I was in my mid 30’s?

I first tried hummingbird cake at a church event a few years ago. My friend made some and offered me a piece. At first, I was hesitate as I had my eye on the carrot cake that was there too, but my friend assured me that if I love carrot cake (which I do!) that I would love this cake too.

So on her advice, I tried a slice of her hummingbird cake and let me tell you…she was right! I loved it and I hope you love it too!

After this event, I had to do my research on this cake. Where did it come from and why is it so amazing?

Essentially hummingbird cake is a spice cake infused with the delicious flavors of pineapple, bananas and pecans. The combinations of these flavors together make this cake delicious and irresistible!

Hummingbird cake kind of tastes like carrot cake and banana bread got married and had a baby and that is how this hummingbird cake was form!

Why is a hummingbird cake called a hummingbird cake?

This cake recipe was originally created in Jamaica and it is named after the national bird bird in Jamaica which is the hummingbird.

I love the name. It’s easy to remember and once you try this cake, you’ll never forget it!

Ok so now that we have learned about all the history and how I learned to love this cake, let’s continue with how to make this old fashioned hummingbird cake recipe.

What is the taste of hummingbird cake?

Hummingbird cake tastes like a cross between a banana bread and pineapple upside down cake.

The cake includes bananas that make it moist and delicious and the pineapple adds a tropical flavor to the cake as well.

Ingredients you need:

Here is what you’ll need for the cake portion of this recipe:

• Flour
• Salt
• Baking Soda
• Cinnamon
• Granulated Sugar
• Cooking Oil – I prefer Vegetable Oil or Canola Oil
• Eggs
• Crushed Pineapple
• Ripe Mashed Bananas
• Vanilla Extract
• Chopped Pecans

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting

• Cream Cheese
• Unsalted Butter
• Powdered Sugar
• Vanilla Extract

How to make hummingbird cake:

First I’ll walk you through how to make the cake portion of this recipe.

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F. Then make toasted pecans but placing the pecans on a baking sheet in an even layer. Bake the pecans for 8-10 minutes. Then remove from oven and set asides.

Now increase your oven heat to 350 degrees F. Then grease and flour 3 – 9 inch cake pans.

Next in a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon.

Then in a medium bowl, blend together the sugar and oil until smooth and well combined.

In a separate mixing bowls slightly beat eggs and then stir them into the sugar mixture.

After that, stir in the pineapple, bananas and vanilla to egg mixture until well combined and then fold in the toasted pecans.

After that add in the dry ingredients until combined and the mixture is smooth.

Next pour the batter evenly into cake pans. Bake these pans for approximately 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Gently remove the cakes from their pans and cool them completely on wire racks.

How to make cream cheese frosting for Hummingbird cake:

First in a large mixing bowl add cream cheese, and beat until smooth the cream cheese is smooth.Then add in the butter and continue to beat until this mixture is smooth.

Next gradually add in the powdered sugar, mixing in between each addition. I add it one cup at a time until it’s all mixed in. After all the powdered sugar has been added, beat until smooth.

Then beat in the vanilla extract until smooth as well.

Carefully frost the cake. I like to put a nice thick layer of frosting between each cake layer to ensure that there is cream cheese in every bite of cake!The frost the top and the sides of the cake as well.

The frosting really makes this cake in my opinion! I can’t resist cream cheese frosting and I’m sure you won’t have any remaining frosting after making this cake recipe.

Does hummingbird cake need to be refrigerated?

Even though this cake never last long in my house, I do store it in an air tight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to one week.

It can be left at room temperature for about a day but after that move it to the refrigerator since it’s top with the cream cheese frosting.

How long will it last?

Keep the cake covered to keep it from drying out. It will last 2 days at room temperature or up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

Print this Hummingbird Cake Recipe below:

Try some of our other easy cake recipes:

• Texas Sheet Cake Recipe
• Ding Dong Cake
• Easy Pound Cake Recipe
• Lazy Day Cinnamon Bundt Cake Recipe
• Zucchini Cake Recipe
• 7 Up Cake Recipe