The BEST Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting (2024)

By: Krista

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Rating★★★★★ 5 from 8 votes

The Best Hummingbird Cake Recipe you’ll ever make, slathered with a light Cream Cheese Frosting. This twist on a classic homemade cake is filled with pineapple, bananas and cinnamon. Light, moist and beyond flavorful – it’s a must make for Easter or Mothers Day!

The BEST Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting (1)

Table of Contents

  • The Best Hummingbird Cake
  • What is Hummingbird Cake?
  • What ingredients are in Hummingbird Cake?
  • How to decorate Hummingbird Cake:
  • How to store Hummingbird Cake:
  • Get the Recipe

The Best Hummingbird Cake

Hummingbird Cake! Have you had it before? It is hands down one of my favorite cakes!

There’s a restaurant that Mike and I love to go to for brunch Sunday mornings. I absolutely love their gourmet coffee drinks and their Pico de Gallo Eggs Benedict. Even though I’m obsessed with their breakfast menu, I’m even more obsessed with their Hummingbird Cake. I usually end up making Mike buy me a slice so we can take it home and I can indulge later on in the afternoon. I just can’t pass up that amazing cake! I have major self control problems when it comes to this cake! You’ll see why when you try it! It’s like tropical goodness!

The BEST Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting (2)

What is Hummingbird Cake?

Hummingbird Cake is a pineapple banana infused spice cake with cinnamon and nutmeg. It is extremely moist and has a slight tropical taste. Typically layered with cream cheese frosting or vanilla buttercream. This cake was originated in Jamaica!

What ingredients are in Hummingbird Cake?

Hummingbird Cake contains crushed pineapple, banana, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, flour, eggs, sugar, an oil, salt, a leavening agent and pecans. Because of the fruits used in this cake it is a little dense and very moist!

The BEST Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting (3)

How to decorate Hummingbird Cake:

Honestly, it’s up to you. I made this a 3 layer cake but decided not to frost the edges to keep the calorie count down a little but also thought it looks beautiful because you could see the layers. Top it with raw pecans pieces and fresh flowers to really make it pop.

How to store Hummingbird Cake:

Because Hummingbird Cake is topped with a Cream Cheese Frosting it needs to be stored in the refrigerator, as well as any other cake that has cream cheese frosting on it. You want to take it out of the refrigerator about 1-2 hours before serving.

Hands down this Hummingbird Cake is my favorite cake dessert, even over chocolate! And that’s saying something because I’m a chocolate addict.

The BEST Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting (4)

Now, truth be told. This cake while delicious can be a little heavy on the tummy if you know what I’m saying! As a way to lighten it up a bit I used coconut sugar and the fruits as sweeteners. It’s also made in 6″ round cake pan for a much smaller cake = a much smaller slice.

To lighten up the cream cheese frosting, I used a small amount of cream cheese and cut it with plain greek yogurt to thicken it up. For the sweetener I added maple syrup and vanilla because you’ve gotta have that key vanilla note. I also didn’t frost the entire cake. I only put frosting on the tops of each layer and added the pecans to the top instead of to the batter or to each layer.

The BEST Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting (5)

You will absolutely love the Cream Cheese Frosting on this cake! It’s straight up addicting and gives a nice tart taste that pairs perfectly with the cake! It’s actually my sons favorite part. “More frosting mommy.”

Hummingbird Cake is totally one of my guilty pleasures but no more guilt with this version. I can’t wait to make this again for Easter!

Not only is it gorgeous to look at but seriously delicious, especially with a cup of coffee!

I hope you enjoy! Bon Appetit friends and happy weekend!

The BEST Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting (6)

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The BEST Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting (7)

The BEST Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Light Cream Cheese Frosting

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 8 reviews

  • Author: Krista
  • Prep Time: 25 mins
  • Cook Time: 35 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr
  • Yield: 10 slices 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

The Best Hummingbird Cake Recipe you’ll ever make, slathered with a light Cream Cheese Frosting. This twist on a classic homemade cake is filled with pineapple, bananas and cinnamon – extremely moist and light.

Ingredients

Scale

Hummingbird Bird:

  • 2 cup of all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 3/4 cup of coconut sugar
  • 1/2 cup of crushed pineapple
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 3 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/3 cup of coconut oil, melted

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 4 oz. of cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 teaspoons of pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup of chopped pecans

Instructions

For the Hummingbird Cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Grease and flour three 6″ round cake pans.
  3. In a large bowl add flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
  4. In a stand mixer add egg, egg yolk, and coconut sugar. Mix until creamy and smooth.
  5. Add in mashed banana, coconut oil, crushed pineapple, and vanilla extract mix until combined.
  6. Slowly add flour mixture into wet mixture in two batches. Make sure it is fully combined.
  7. Separate batter into the three prepared cake pans.
  8. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  9. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

  1. In a medium bowl add cream cheese, greek yogurt, vanilla extract, and maple syrup.
  2. Using a hand mixture, mix until there are no more clumps and the frosting is smooth.
  3. Assemble the cake in this order, cake round, cream cheese frosting and repeat until finished. Garnish with pecans. (do not frost the sides)

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 329
  • Sugar: 24 g
  • Sodium: 299 mg
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Saturated Fat: 9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 46 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 50 mg

Filed Under:

  • Cake/Pie/Crisp
  • Dessert
  • Holidays
  • Kid Friendly

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The BEST Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting (13)

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The BEST Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting (2024)

FAQs

Why is my hummingbird cake dry? ›

Extra sugar or leavening will cause a cake to fall; too much flour makes it dry.

Why is my hummingbird cake crumbly? ›

Using too much flour is a surefire way to end up with dry, crumbly hummingbird cake. The best and most accurate way to measure flour is to weigh it with a kitchen scale. If you don't have one, fluff up the flour in its container and spoon it into your measuring cup, using a knife to level off the top.

What does a hummingbird cake taste like? ›

FLAVOR AND TEXTURE

This Southern classic Hummingbird Cake tastes like a tropical cross between banana bread and pineapple-upside down cake with a texture reminiscent of carrot cake with bursts of pineapple and pecans– sans carrots.

What is another name for hummingbird cake? ›

Created in Jamaica where the dessert is called the doctor bird cake (or Dr. Bird cake), it is named after the island's national bird, the scissors-tail hummingbird (locally known as the doctor bird).

How do I make my cake more moist? ›

10 WAYS TO MAKE CAKE MOIST
  1. USE THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE AND BAKING TIME. Consider lowering your oven temperature slightly when baking a cake. ...
  2. USE VEGETABLE OIL. ...
  3. USE BUTTERMILK INSTEAD OF MILK. ...
  4. ADD INSTANT PUDDING MIX. ...
  5. ADD MAYONNAISE. ...
  6. USE SIMPLE SYRUP OR GLAZE. ...
  7. USE CAKE FLOUR. ...
  8. DON'T OVERMIX.

Why is my hummingbird cake so dense? ›

There's a big chance your butter and sugar will over-cream, meaning the butter will trap more air than it should. As the batter bakes, that extra air will deflate and leave you with an overly dense cake. It's all science! For best results, cream butter and sugar together for about 1-2 minutes.

How long will a hummingbird cake last? ›

Hummingbird cake is best stored in the refrigerator and will keep for up to 5 days there, just make sure to keep it tightly covered in an airtight container. It's such a moist cake the cool refrigerator doesn't do much damage to its tender crumb.

How do I make my cake less crumbly? ›

6 Things You Can Do To Avoid Making Crumbly Cakes
  1. USE THE RIGHT TYPE OF FLOUR. Different types of flour have different levels of protein, which can affect the texture of your cake. ...
  2. DON'T OVERMIX THE BATTER. ...
  3. USE BUTTERMILK OR YOGURT. ...
  4. ADD FRUIT PUREE. ...
  5. BAKE AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE. ...
  6. DON'T OVERBAKE THE CAKE.
Dec 26, 2022

What is the origin of hummingbird cake? ›

In the late '60s, the Jamaica Tourist Board used the fruits of the island—namely banana and pineapple—in a recipe distributed to Jamaican newspapers that sought to spread the word about the flavors of the island's produce, and the hummingbird cake was born.

Does cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated? ›

Yes, cream cheese frosting needs to be refrigerated because it is prone to spoiling. However, cream cheese frosting can last up to two hours at room temperature, so you don't have to worry about eating cold cake.

What cake does the queen eat? ›

Queen Elizabeth's Favorite Cake: Chocolate Biscuit Cake - Chef Darren McGrady | The Royal Chef.

What is hummingbird delight cake? ›

Moist vanilla cake layers filled and frosted with our delicious hummingbird icing, which we make by blending smooth cream cheese icing and buttercream with pineapple, pecans, and banana flavor. We decorate the cake with buttercream and cream cheese icing and garnish it with chocolate fudge icing and toasted pecans.

Why is it called Princess cake? ›

The cake was originally called grön tårta (green cake), but was given the name prinsesstårta or "princess cake" because the Swedish princesses were said to have been especially fond of the cake.

Does hummingbird cake contain coconut? ›

It's packed full of flavor and texture with pecans, coconut, and pineapple! With 3 layers, it's a dessert made to impress!!

What is the cake called with a baby in it? ›

Traditionally, a small porcelain baby, symbolizing Jesus, is hidden in the king cake and is a way for residents of Louisiana to celebrate their Christian faith. The baby symbolizes luck and prosperity to whoever finds it.

Why did my cake come out dry? ›

A dry cake is usually the result of one of the following pitfalls: using the wrong ingredients, making mistakes while measuring or mixing the batter, or baking the cake too long or at too high a temperature. Once you understand which common cake-baking blunders to avoid, you'll know how to bake a moist cake every time.

How do you fix a cake that is too dry? ›

The 4 Best Ways to Fix a Dry Cake
  1. Brush the cake with a simple syrup glaze.
  2. Soak your cake in milk or cream.
  3. Add frosting.
  4. Fill your cake with mousse or jam.
May 14, 2023

How can I make a dry cake moist? ›

5 Ways to Moisten a Dry Cake That's Already Baked
  1. Brush with simple syrup glaze. Velez recommends adding a simple syrup glaze to your cake layers if they end up coming out too dry. ...
  2. Soak your cake in milk. ...
  3. Fill the cake with mousse or jam. ...
  4. Frost the cake. ...
  5. Stick it in the fridge.
Apr 27, 2021

How do you moisten a dry Christmas cake? ›

Applying simple syrup to cakes
  1. Brushing: Brush the syrup onto each layer of your cake.
  2. Poking Holes: Use a fork or toothpick to poke holes in the cake, then pour the syrup over the top.
  3. Dampening Layers: A mixture of milk and vanilla extract can also moisten each layer.
Dec 13, 2023

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