Southern Hummingbird Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Why you’ll love it

• Stays moist for days thanks to the fruit and oil.
• One-bowl batter, mixed with a spoon.
• A true celebration cake for birthdays, Easter and holidays.

Quick facts

Ingredients

For the cake

• 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (400 g) sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 can (8 oz / 227 g) crushed pineapple, undrained
• 2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (about 4)
• 1 cup (115 g) chopped toasted pecans

For the cream cheese frosting

• 2 packages (8 oz / 225 g each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 6 cups (720 g) powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup (55 g) chopped toasted pecans, to decorate

Step-by-step method

1. Prepare the pans. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 9-inch (23 cm) round pans and line the bottoms with parchment.

2. Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.

3. Add the wet ingredients. Add the eggs and oil and stir with a spoon just until moistened. Stir in the vanilla, pineapple with its juice, bananas and pecans. Don’t overmix.

4. Bake. Divide the batter among the pans. Bake 23–27 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto racks and cool completely.

5. Make the frosting. Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar gradually, then the vanilla, and beat until fluffy.

6. Assemble. Place one layer on a plate and spread with 1 cup of frosting. Repeat with the second layer, top with the third and frost the top and sides. Sprinkle with pecans.

Tips for the best result

• Use bananas with lots of brown spots: they’re sweeter and more aromatic.
• Chill the cake 30 minutes before slicing for clean cuts.
• Short on pans? Bake it in a 9×13-inch pan for 40–45 minutes and frost the top.

Storage

Refrigerate covered up to 5 days. Let slices sit 20 minutes at room temperature before serving. Unfrosted layers freeze up to 3 months.