This easy Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake recipe is a wonderful southern classic when it comes to dessert. Made with pineapple, pecans and spices and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting.
We are all about sharing easy dinner and dessert ideas and this simple cake recipe is sure to please.
This is one of our easy dessert cake recipes you will want to bookmark for later.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe for a Hummingbird Cake
This is a delicious flavorful cake. It is like a cross between carrot cake and a spice cake. The pineapple gives it a tropical flavor. It is so tasty and it is ready in 45 minutes
Nice as a dessert or picnic treat, it is a great way to celebrate the warmer seasons.
This beautiful cake is also nice for potlucks, picnics, tea parties and special occasions.
It moist cake also makes a nice birthday cake. Pair this cake with this tangy Orange Chiffon Recipe or this delicious Carrot Cake recipe for a beautiful tea time or dessert table spread.
Ingredients For Classic Hummingbird Cake
Cake
- flour - I use all purpose flour
- sugar
- eggs
- vanilla
- baking soda
- crushed pineapple
- pecans (optional)
Frosting
- powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar)
- cream cheese
- butter - at room temperature
- vanilla
- pecans
Equipment and Kitchen Tools Needed
- large bowl
- electric mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment
- 2 9-inch cake pans
- spoon
- parchment paper
- wire racks
- serving plate
How to Make A Hummingbird Cake
Step By Step Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Prep two 9” round cake pans by spraying with non stick cooking spray and dusting lightly with flour.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, add dry ingredients: (flour, sugar, baking soda)and blend until well combined.
- Whisk in wet ingredients (eggs, vanilla, crushed pineapple and pecans) until mixed completely.
- Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans, bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool to room temperature before frosting.
How To Make Hummingbird Cake Frosting
- Blend cream cheese and butter on high speed until it begins to thicken. Reduce the speed and add in the powdered sugar and vanilla, blend well.
- Once cakes have completely cooled, add frosting between the top and bottom layers and then frost the entire cake with remaining frosting.
- Sprinkle crushed pecans over entire cake, pressing some of the pecans gently along side of the cake to until completely covered.
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Pro Tips and Timesaver Shortcuts
- I like to crush the pecans the day before for easy prep.
- After cooling cake in the pans for 15-20 minutes. Remove from pan and let continue to cool on a wire rack.
- You can make this cake in a bundt pan instead of two round cake pans but baking time will increase to around an hour. Check with a toothpick for doneness.
Serving and Storage Suggestions
- Add a few pecan halves to decorate the top of the cake.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. you can freeze the cake in sections or in slices. Place in ziploc bags in the freezer for up to one month.
There are a few theories on this. The first is that it was called the Doctor bird cake, a nickname for a Jamaican variety of hummingbird called the Red-billed Streamertail. The Hummingbird is the Jamaican National Bird. Another theory is that people hover around the cake like hummingbirds hover around flowers.
Why do they call it a hummingbird cake?
There are a few theories on this. The first is that it was called the Doctor bird cake, a nickname for a Jamaican variety of hummingbird called the Red-billed Streamertail. The Hummingbird is the Jamaican National Bird. Another theory is that people hover around the cake like hummingbirds hover around flowers.
Don't forget to bookmark this recipe.
More Easy Dessert Cakes
My Best Cake Recipes
Mango Coconut Cake - A Refreshing coconut cake that is perfect for summer.
Baked Banana Pudding – A wonderful dessert recipe for banana lovers -creamy and easy!
Tres Leches Cake - this Mexican-inspired cake is made with three types of milk - delicious!
Coca Cola Cake - My favorite version of this decadent chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. SO COOD!
Texas Sheet Cake - Another one of those delicious and moist chocolatey cakes!
Sour Cream Pound Cake - Just 7 ingredients for this delicious pound cake!
Cookie Cake - A giant cookie cake to be shared!
Old Fashioned Orange Cake - A delicious orange chiffon style cake.
Neapolitan Cake - beautiful multi-colored cake.
📖 Recipe
Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 20 oz can crushed pineapple
- ½ cup crushed pecans optional
Frosting
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 stick butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ½ cups crushed pecans to coat the cake
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prep two 9” round cake pans by spraying with non stick cooking spray and dusting lightly with flour.
- In a large mixing bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer, add flour, sugar, baking soda and blend on low speed until well combined.
- Blend in eggs, vanilla, crushed pineapple and pecans (optional) into the flour mixture until mixed completely.
- Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared pans,
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool to room temperature before frosting.
Frosting
- Blend cream cheese and butter on high speed until it begins to thicken. Reduce the speed and add in the powdered sugar and vanilla, blend well.
- Once cakes have completely cooled, add frosting between the top and bottom cake layers and then frost the entire cake with remaining frosting.
- Sprinkle crushed pecans over entire cake, pressing some of the pecans gently along side of the cake to until completely covered.
Notes
- I like to crush the pecans the day before for easy prep.
- After cooling cake in the pans for 15-20 minutes. Remove from pan and let continue to cool on a wire rack.
- You can make this cake in a bundt pan instead of two round cake pans but baking time will increase to around an hour. Check with a toothpick for doneness.
Nutrition
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Tamara Bowman
I LOVE a good hummingbird cake. All that pineapple goodness. What an awesome looking cake.
clearissa
You had me at pecans. 🙂 This cake looks so moist. And it's not overly difficult to make. This is a winner. Thank you for sharing at #omhgww. Pinned and tweeted if buttons are available. See you next week.