Hummingbird Cake Banana Pineapple (Print Version)

A moist, flavorful Southern cake with bananas, pineapple, pecans, and cream cheese frosting.

# What You Need:

→ Cake

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - ½ teaspoon salt
06 - 3 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 cup vegetable oil
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
09 - 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped, plus extra for garnish
10 - 2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
11 - 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, undrained

→ Cream Cheese Frosting

12 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
13 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
14 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
15 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
16 - Pinch of salt

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans, or line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt until evenly mixed.
03 - In a separate bowl, beat eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - Stir mashed bananas, crushed pineapple with juice, and chopped toasted pecans into the wet mixture.
05 - Gently fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined; avoid overmixing to maintain moisture.
06 - Divide batter evenly among the prepared cake pans.
07 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
10 - Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt, beating until mixture is fluffy and spreadable.
11 - Spread frosting between each cake layer and cover the top and sides evenly.
12 - Decorate with additional toasted pecans.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The oil keeps this cake impossibly moist even days later, so you don't need to serve it the same day you make it.
  • Those toasted pecans add a sophisticated nuttiness that feels fancy without requiring any complicated techniques.
  • You can taste the tropical fruit throughout every crumb, making it feel lighter than it actually is.
02 -
  • Bananas and pineapple release moisture as the cake bakes, so don't be alarmed if the batter looks thin—it will set up beautifully once cooled.
  • If your cream cheese frosting breaks or looks grainy, it means it wasn't soft enough to start; just chill it for 15 minutes and rebeat gently.
  • These cake layers are fragile while warm, so truly let them cool completely before frosting or they'll slide around.
03 -
  • Toast your own pecans in a 350°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes until fragrant; store-bought toasted ones sometimes taste stale, and homemade makes a real difference.
  • If you only have two pans instead of three, bake the layers two at a time and simply adjust baking time down by a few minutes for thinner layers.
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