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 (2024)

FAQs

Does a hummingbird cake need to be refrigerated? ›

Hummingbird Cake should be stored in an airtight container or well-covered with plastic wrap to protect it from drying out. It can be stored at room temperature (if less than 70 degrees F) for two days or will last in the refrigerator for up to one week.

What's the difference between carrot cake and hummingbird cake? ›

What Is The Difference Between Carrot Cake And Hummingbird Cake? Hummingbird Cake is lighter than carrot cake, almost crumbly but still moist and with the flavor of banana. It has a cream cheese frosting then topped with pecans which is the perfect complement to the banana and pineapple flavors in the cake.

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? ›

What does hummingbird cake taste like? Hummingbird cake tastes like the best banana bread ever, crossed with a carrot cake that some absent-minded baker forgot to bake with the carrots and raisins.

How long can a cake with cream cheese frosting sit out? ›

At room temperature, cream cheese frosting only lasts two hours, which is why it needs to be refrigerated if you don't want to waste leftovers. Cream cheese frosting will usually last in the refrigerator for up to a week, which gives you plenty of time to use it on various baked goods.

Does cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated? ›

From Paula's Pumpkin Bars to Giada's Spiced Apple-Walnut Cake With Cream Cheese Icing to the classic Red Velvet Cake, it's hard to escape cream cheese frosting's creamy goodness. So does it need refrigeration? Food Network Kitchens: Yes, you should always refrigerate any cake or cupcake that has cream cheese frosting.

Why is hummingbird cake called hummingbird? ›

Some say the cake was named after the bird because it was sweet enough to attract hummingbirds (who eat only nectar), while others say the yellow streaks of banana was reminiscent of the bird's plumage.

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.

What is a Queen Emma cake? ›

The Queen's Cake, our modern take on the Queen Emma Cake features seven luscious layers: guava cake, guava curd, lilikoi cake, lilikoi curd, coconut cake, coconut haupia, and more coconut cake, all enveloped in our signature vanilla Italian meringue buttercream.

Should I refrigerate cake layers before frosting? ›

"Prepare, bake, and cool the cake completely. Then, wrap each cake layer in cling film, nice and tight, and place in the fridge for at least two hours," he says. That's right, you won't be frosting your cake at room temperature; a chilled cake is essential before applying any frosting. "This step is the most important.

How long will 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.

Can you overmix cake batter? ›

You may know what you get when you overmix cake batter: a dense cake with tough texture (and maybe some unappetizing gluey streaks as well).

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).

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!!

How long can cake sit out unrefrigerated? ›

How long can cake sit out unrefrigerated? If your cake is frosted with buttercream, it will last covered at room temperature for up to four days. However, it is best to refrigerate cakes with other frostings such as cream cheese or ganache. A fully covered unfrosted cake will last for up to 2 days at room temperature.

Does my cake need to be refrigerated? ›

Store Cake for 1 to 3 Days At Room Temperature

If you're planning to eat your cake within three days of when it was baked, the best thing to do is keep it at room temperature. This means on the counter, away from heat, and out of direct sunlight.

Do you have to refrigerate cake or no? ›

You should avoid refrigeration in most cases. Unless your cake features perishable materials that could spoil—like cream frosting, fresh fruit, ice cream, mascarpone, or whipped cream—it's actually better off at room temperature.

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