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Hummingbird cake is a traditional Southern dessert made with mashed ripe bananas, crushed pineapple, cinnamon, and chopped pecans. The layers are historically frosted with a wealthy cream cheese frosting. The cake’s prime and sides are adorned with extra chopped pecans. It is surprisingly easy to make and is ideal for particular celebrations like birthdays, weddings, and holidays, because the cake’s distinctive taste makes it stand out from “the gang” of extra conventional desserts.
 
Origins of hummingbird cake
Based on Wikipedia, Hummingbird cake originated in Jamaica, the place it’s referred to as Physician Chook Cake, named after the island’s nationwide chicken, the scissors-tail hummingbird. The recipe was launched to the U.S. in 1968 by the Jamaica Vacationer Board as a part of a marketing campaign to draw American vacationers.
It gained recognition after L.H. Wiggins printed it in Southern Dwelling in February 1978. The cake turned an on the spot hit, profitable the Favourite Cake Award on the Kentucky State Truthful that yr and later being named Southern Dwelling’s most requested recipe ever. This Southern traditional options layers of pecans, bananas, pineapple, and cream cheese frosting.
Substances
You have to the next substances (it is mainly your buying listing). See the recipe card for portions.
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Granulated Sugar
- Vegetable oil
- Pineapple – 12 oz. crushed
- Bananas
- Eggs
- Chopped pecans
- Vanilla extract
- Cream cheese – 8 oz.
- Salted butter
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
The tools and provides you want
- 8-inch cake pans x 3Â
- Nonstick spray
- Whisk
- Medium mixing bowl
- Giant mixing bowl
- Toothpicks
- Cooling racks
- Mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
The best way to make hummingbird cake
Beneath are step-by-step directions and pictures. For an entire recipe with portions, scroll right down to the recipe card.
Step 1: Mix collectively the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl.Â
Step 2: Whisk.
Step 3: Mix the granulated sugar, vegetable oil, crushed pineapple, mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla extract in a bigger mixing bowl.
Step 4: Stir the moist substances collectively.
Step 5: Add dry substances into moist substances.
Step 6: Regularly stir the flour combination and pecans into the pineapple combination.
Step 7: Pour the batter into the cake pans.
Step 8: Bake for 40- 50 minutes. Permit the muffins to chill utterly.Â
Step 9: Add the cream cheese and butter to a mixing bowl.
Step 10: Beat the cream cheese and butter collectively. Slowly add within the powdered sugar.
Step 11: In case your frosting is just too thick, you possibly can slowly stir in a tablespoon of heat water at a time till you attain your required consistency. Combine within the vanilla extract.
Step 12: Permit the frosting to maintain mixing till gentle and fluffy.
Step 13: You’re able to frost the cake!
Step 14: Place one cake onto your cake stand.
Step 15: Unfold an excellent layer of cream cheese frosting over the cake.
Step 16: It ought to appear like this.
Step 17: Repeat this with 2 extra layers of cake (layer, frosting, layer, frosting)
Step 18: Unfold a skinny layer of the cream cheese frosting across the outdoors of the cake and place it within the fridge for half-hour to permit the frosting to set.
Step 19: Frost the cake with the remaining buttercream frosting. Sprinkle the chopped pecans across the prime fringe of the cake.
Step 20: Gently press a few of the chopped pecans across the backside fringe of the cake.
Substitutions
- All-purpose flour – 1 to 1 Gluten-free flour for a GF choice. In that case, add an extra egg to the recipe to maintain it from being too dry.Â
- Vegetable oil – melted butter in equal components.
- Chopped pecans – you may also use walnuts.
- Vanilla extract – vanilla bean paste may also work.Â
Suggestions for achievement and recipe notes
- Can I take advantage of a buttercream frosting as an alternative of cream cheese? Sure, vanilla buttercream is a superb different if you’re not a fan of cream cheese frostings.Â
- Do I have to toast the pecans earlier than utilizing them within the recipe? You would not have to toast your pecans earlier than utilizing them on this recipe. Nevertheless, toasting them will deliver out and intensify their nutty taste. It would additionally make them additional crispy and crunchy, including these flavors and textures to your cake.Â
- I’ve a nut allergy. Is there one thing else I can use? You’ll be able to omit them altogether. If you wish to add one thing to maintain the crunch, you may use toasted coconut, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds. Â
- Can I make this cake forward of time? Sure, you possibly can bake the cake forward of time, make the cream cheese frosting, assemble/enhance the entire cake upfront, and maintain it refrigerated for as much as 5 days. Alternatively, you possibly can bake the three cake layers, allow them to cool, and wrap them in plastic wrap, letting them set on the counter in a single day. Then ice the cake on the day of serving.Â
- Can I make cupcakes as an alternative of a complete cake? You may make cupcakes on the identical baking temperature; simply scale back the baking time to 18-22 minutes and test with a toothpick to make sure it’s finished. Permit them to chill earlier than piping the icing onto the highest and sprinkle with pecans or your pecan substitute.Â
- I’ve two cake pans. Can I simply bake it in two as an alternative of three? Sure, you possibly can bake in two layers as an alternative of three. You’ll simply want to extend your baking time to make up for the thicker cake layers.
- How do I do know if I would like so as to add water to my frosting? This simply relies on your required consistency; some individuals like their frosting to be thinner, whereas others prefer it thicker. If it appears somewhat too thick, add somewhat little bit of water at a time till you get to that consistency you want.
Storage directions
Hummingbird Cake ought to be saved within the fridge lined for as much as 5 days or within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than serving.Â
What to serve with hummingbird cake
- Drinks – Espresso, tea, lemonade, or candy dessert wines like Moscato, Sauterne, Ice Wine, or glowing wine.
- Ice Cream – Vanilla or coconut ice cream, pecan ice ice cream, or whipped cream.
- Fruits and Nuts – Contemporary tropical fruit salad, caramelized bananas, coconut flakes, or toasted pecans.
Different muffins with pecans
Hummingbird Cake
Hummingbird cake is a traditional Southern dessert made with mashed ripe bananas, crushed pineapple, cinnamon, and chopped pecans. The layers are historically frosted with wealthy cream cheese frosting, and the highest and sides are adorned with extra chopped pecans. It is surprisingly easy to make and ideal for particular celebrations like birthdays, weddings, and holidays. The cake’s distinctive taste makes it stand out from “the gang” of extra conventional desserts.
DirectionsÂ
Make cake layers
-
Preheat oven to 350°F and spray 3 8-inch cake pans with nonstick spray.
-
Whisk collectively the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl.
-
Stir collectively the granulated sugar, vegetable oil, crushed pineapple, mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla extract in a bigger mixing bowl. Regularly stir the flour combination and pecans into the pineapple combination. Pour the batter into the cake pans.
-
Bake for 40- 50 minutes till a toothpick might be inserted into the middle of the cake and comes out clear. Permit the muffins to chill utterly.
Make cream cheese frosting
-
Within the bowl of your mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter collectively. Slowly add within the powdered sugar. In case your frosting is just too thick, you possibly can slowly stir in a tablespoon of heat water at a time till you attain your required consistency. Combine within the vanilla extract. Permit the frosting to maintain mixing till gentle and fluffy.
Assemble and enhance
-
Place one cake layer onto your cake stand and unfold an excellent layer of cream cheese frosting over the cake. Repeat this with a second cake layer after which prime with the final layer. Unfold a skinny layer of the cream cheese frosting across the outdoors of the cake and place it within the fridge for half-hour to permit the frosting to set.
-
Frost the cake with the remaining buttercream frosting. Gently press a few of the chopped pecans across the backside fringe of the cake. Sprinkle the remaining pecans across the prime fringe of the cake.
Notes
- Frosting choices. You should use vanilla buttercream as an alternative of cream cheese frosting.
- Toast the pecans earlier than utilizing them within the recipe to make them additional crispy and crunchy and produce out and intensify their nutty taste.
- You should use pecans or walnuts. If utilizing walnuts, don’t toast them.
- Ought to I add water to my frosting? This relies on your required consistency; some individuals like their frosting to be thinner, whereas others prefer it thicker. If it appears somewhat too thick, add somewhat little bit of water at a time till you get to that consistency you want.
- Make cupcakes as an alternative of a complete cake! Bake them on the identical temperature; scale back the baking time to 18-22 minutes, and test with a toothpick to make sure it’s finished. Permit them to chill earlier than piping the icing onto the highest and sprinkle with pecans.
- You probably have solely two cake pans, you possibly can bake it in two as an alternative of three. You have to to extend your baking time to make up for the thicker cake layers.
- Storage ideas. Retailer the cake lined within the fridge for as much as 5 days or within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than serving.Â
- What to serve with Hummingbird Cake? Serve it with espresso, tea, lemonade, or candy dessert wines like Moscato, Sauterne, Ice Wine, or glowing wine. You’ll be able to prime the cake with vanilla or coconut ice cream, pecan ice cream, or whipped cream. Different add-ons embody caramelized bananas, coconut flakes, or toasted pecans.
Vitamin
Vitamin Data
Hummingbird Cake
Quantity per Serving
% Each day Worth*
* % Each day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie food regimen.
Vitamin Disclaimer:
The dietary data on this web site is simply an estimate and is supplied for comfort and as a courtesy solely. The accuracy of the dietary data for any recipe on this web site isn't assured. It shouldn't be used as an alternative to knowledgeable nutritionist’s recommendation.
