Hummingbird Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (Printable)

A moist Southern classic made with ripe bananas, crushed pineapple, and toasted pecans, finished with rich cream cheese frosting.

# Ingredient List:

→ For the Cake

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - ½ teaspoon salt
06 - 3 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 cup vegetable oil
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
09 - 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped, plus extra for garnish
10 - 2 cups ripe bananas, mashed (about 3 medium)
11 - 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, undrained

→ For the Cream Cheese Frosting

12 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
13 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
14 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
15 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
16 - Pinch of salt

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans, or line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
03 - In another bowl, beat eggs, oil, and vanilla until well combined.
04 - Stir in mashed bananas, crushed pineapple with juice, and chopped pecans into the wet mixture.
05 - Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
06 - Divide batter evenly among the prepared pans.
07 - Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool completely on wire racks.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
10 - Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, beating until fluffy and spreadable.
11 - Spread frosting between layers and over the top and sides of the cake.
12 - Garnish with extra toasted pecans.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The texture is impossibly moist, thanks to the combination of crushed pineapple and mashed bananas that keep every forkful tender
  • It is one of those rare cakes that actually tastes better the next day, making it perfect for make-ahead entertaining
  • The cream cheese frosting strikes that perfect balance between tangy and sweet, cutting through the richness just right
02 -
  • This batter is thick and might feel wrong, but resist the urge to add more liquid because the fruit releases moisture as it bakes
  • The cakes will look quite domed when they come out of the oven, but they settle as they cool and frost beautifully
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable here because cold ingredients can cause the oil to separate and create pockets in your cake
03 -
  • When toasting pecans, watch them carefully because they go from perfectly golden to burnt in seconds, and burnt pecans will ruin the entire cake
  • If your bananas are not quite ripe enough, you can microwave them for 30 seconds to soften them and release more natural sweetness before mashing
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