This delicious Hummingbird cake is a super moist cake filled with bananas, pineapple, pecans, and a sprinkle of cinnamon frosted in a homemade cream cheese frosting.

slice of hummingbird cake being removed from a full cake


 

We describe hummingbird cake as a tropical carrot cake. No carrots are involved but it has the super moist texture and a rich flavor from the combination of cinnamon, pineapple, banana, and vanilla and a delicious cream cheese frosting that brings it all together.

It’s also similar to banana bread, only even more moist thanks to the pineapples.

It rounds out our collection of southern style baked goods which includes coconut cake, sock it to me cake, southern pecan pie, and sour cream pound cake

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close up of a slice of three layer hummingbird cake

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need for the cake:

  • All-purpose flour – You could try this with a gluten-free blend, but we have not tested it.
  • Sugar – Regular granulated sugar is all you need.
  • Salt – We used iodized table salt for this recipe. 
  • Baking Soda – No great substitute for this.
  • Ground cinnamon – You could grind your own stick or use previously ground cinnamon.
  • Eggs – Beat them together before using them.
  • Vegetable Oil – You can use any light tasting oil.
  • Vanilla extract – We prefer to use real vanilla extract.
  • Crushed pineapple – Don’t drain the pineapple juice! That’s right we’re pouring the whole can into the batter. In a pinch, you could pulse chunked pineapple through a blender. 
  • Pecans – You can skip if you are allergic to nuts. You can also substitute with walnuts.
  • Banana – Use a nice ripe banana so you get lots of extra flavor. This also helps make the cake a bit more moist.

For the cream cheese frosting, you’ll need:

  • Cream cheese – This forms the base of the frosting.
  • Butter – You can use either salted or unsalted.
  • Powdered sugar – Don’t use granulated, it will create a gritty texture.
  • Vanilla extract – Again, we prefer pure vanilla extra.
top down view of slice of hummingbird cake being removed from a full cake

Instructions

Step 1 – Prepare oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2 – Prepare cake pans. Prepare the 9-inch round cake pans by greasing the inside with butter and lightly coating with flour. Place a piece of parchment paper in the bottom of each pan. 

dry ingredients for hummingbird cake

Step 3 – Dry Ingredients. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the large bowl of a mixer.

adding eggs to the cake batter

Step 4 – Eggs & oil. Next, add in the eggs and vegetable oil mixing into the flour mixture on medium speed until moistened.

adding fruit to the cake batter

Step 5 – Fruit & Nuts. Once moistened, add the vanilla extract, crushed pineapple, 1 cup of chopped pecans, and mashed bananas and continue to mix until the batter fully comes together.

Note: This make a very wet batter. Don’t worry! It cooks up into a perfectly moist cake 🙂 .

hummingbird cake batter in 3 round cake pans

Step 6 – Bake the cake. Spoon the batter into each cake pan. The batter should fill the pan approximately 1/2 way.

Place the cake pans in the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean.

Cool the cakes for 10 minutes and then remove from the pans and place on a wire rack to let them cool to room temperature.

frosting baked hummingbird cake

Step 7 – Frost. Place one layer of cake on your cake plate and frost the top. Place the next layer of cake on that and add another layer of frosting. Place the last layer of cake on top of that and use the remaining frosting to cover the entire cake.

Take the remaining pecans and press them into the sides of your cake, or on top of your cake. You can chop the pecans or use pecan halves. It’s all up to you!

close up of hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting and crush pecans on the sides of the cake

Cream Cheese Frosting

When it has finished baking let it cool completely while you make the cream cheese frosting. 

Cream cheese frosting is probably our favorite frosting! It has that little bit of tang in it from the cream cheese and it goes so well with the sweet pineapple and banana flavor of the cake.

Step 1 – Whip the cream cheese. Place Cream Cheese and butter in the bowl of a mixer and whip together until smooth.

Step 2 – Add sugar and vanilla. Add powdered sugar and whip until fully incorporated. Add vanilla extract and continue to whip until fully mixed in.

Tips for the Best Results

  • Use ripe or slightly overripe bananas for the cake batter. This will give the cake a stronger banana flavor and add moisture.
  • Pecans are a Southern nut so it is the classic choice for this cake BUT if you don’t like pecans you can substitute walnuts.
  • Use the whisk attachment when making the cream cheese frosting. This whips the frosting and makes it a little lighter and creamier.
  • Have fun with the outside of your cake. You can use pecan halves or chop the pecans whatever you like best!
hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting and crush pecans on the sides of the cake
What is Hummingbird Cake? 

Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina submitted the recipe to Southern Living in 1978. This recipe for Hummingbird Cake remains their most popular southern cake recipe today! 

It is a super moist cake that stands out for using oil instead of butter, as well as a can of crushed pineapples (juice included!) and chopped bananas. It makes a very wet batter. But it bakes into a delicious, moist cake. 

The pecans add texture to batter and provide garnish on the outside too.

Why Do They Call it Hummingbird Cake? 

The name is a mystery, but my grandma always told me that it is called Hummingbird Cake because hummingbirds eat sweet nectar. And this cake certainly is sweet enough to attract hummingbirds!

How Long Do You Bake Hummingbird Cake? 

Hummingbird Cake bakes at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean.

Does Hummingbird Cake Contain Coconut?

No, while some recipes have been modified to add coconut to the cake the original recipe does not include coconut.

Does Hummingbird Cake Need to be Refrigerated?

The unfrosted cake can be tightly covered and stored at room temperature for 2-3 days. A frosted cake using cream cheese frosting should be refrigerated until ready to serve to avoid the dairy in the cream cheese from spoiling.

slice of cake on a plate with full cake in background

How to Make Cupcakes or a Bundt Cake Version

Here are two easy variations of this recipe:

Hummingbird Cupcakes – All you need to do is place cupcake liners in muffin tin and then fill each liner ¾ of the way full. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. This recipe makes approximately 30 cupcakes. 

Hummingbird Bundt Cake – First, grease the bundt pan with butter and then lightly flour it. Next, fill the bundt pan with batter no more than ¾ of the way full. Because this recipe is for a 3 layer cake, you will have extra batter. You can make cupcakes with the excess following the instructions above if you like. Bake the bundt pan for 55 to 65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

What Does it Taste Like? 

The pineapples and bananas used in the Hummingbird Cake give it a very strong flavor that can’t be missed. The cake smells amazing as it bakes in the oven and has a taste similar to banana bread but with the texture of a cake once it has baked.

How to Make it Ahead of Time 

You can make this cake up to 1 month ahead of time and store in the freezer, but we recommend assembling and frosting it no more than 2 days before you’re going to serve it. 

To store, bake layers and let cool completely. Wrap each layer tightly in plastic wrap and then wrap tightly in a layer of aluminum foil. You don’t want any air getting to your cake while it’s in the freezer. Store in the freezer for up to 1 month. 

When ready to use, make the frosting and then assemble the cake using the frozen layers. Finish frosting the cake and then store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before serving. 

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Servings: 16
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Assembly: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Hummingbird Cake

This delicious Hummingbird Cake recipe is a classic southern cake originally found in Southern Living magazine that is filled with bananas, pineapple, and pecans, and frosted with an amazing cream cheese frosting.
slice of hummingbird cake being removed from a full cake
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Ingredients

Hummingbird Cake

  • 3 cups All-purpose Flour
  • 2 cups Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
  • 3 Eggs, beaten
  • 1 ½ cup vegetable Oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces Crushed pineapple, undrained
  • 4 cups Pecans, divided
  • 3 cups Mashed banana

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 8 ounces Cream cheese
  • 1 cup Butter
  • 16 ounces Powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract

Instructions

Hummingbird Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Combine dry ingredients in the bowl of your mixer.
    dry ingredients for hummingbird cake
  • Add eggs and vegetable oil mixing on medium speed until moistened.
    adding eggs to the cake batter
  • Add vanilla extract, crushed pineapple, 1 cup of chopped pecans, and mashed bananas and continue to mix until the batter fully comes together.
    adding fruit to the cake batter
  • Spoon batter into 3 well greased and floured 9 inch cake pans. Dividing it evenly between the pans.
    hummingbird cake batter in 3 round cake pans
  • Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool cakes for 10 minutes then remove from the pans.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • Place Cream Cheese and butter in the bowl of a mixer and whip together until smooth.
  • Add powdered sugar and whip until fully incorporated.
  • Add vanilla extract and continue to whip until fully mixed in.

Assembly:

  • Place one layer of cake on your cake plate and frost the top. Place the next layer of cake on that and add another layer of frosting. Place the last layer of cake on top of that and use the remaining frosting to cover the entire cake.
    frosting baked hummingbird cake
  • Take the remaining pecans and press them into the sides of your cake, or on top of your cake. You can chop the pecans or use pecan halves. It’s all up to you!
    hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting and crush pecans on the sides of the cake

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 692kcal, Carbohydrates: 87g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 37g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 76mg, Sodium: 374mg, Potassium: 329mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 61g, Vitamin A: 635IU, Vitamin C: 5.3mg, Calcium: 48mg, Iron: 2.1mg
Nutrition Disclaimer: We are not certified nutritionists. Nutrition facts are an estimate and are provided as a courtesy. They are generated by an online API which recognizes ingredient names and amounts and makes calculations based on the serving size. Results may vary.
Author: Kat Jeter & Melinda Caldwell
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: hummingbird cake recipe, southern living hummingbird cake
Handwritten signature for Kat & Melinda