Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake

A sweet, old-fashioned Southern layer cake.

You’ll be glad you got your hands on this old-fashioned hummingbird cake recipe. Hummingbird cake is a sweet Southern layer cake that’s moist, flavorful from banana, pineapple, nuts and cinnamon, loaded with laid-back charm. 

Southern Living & Who Invented the Hummingbird Cake Recipe?

For as classic and old-fashioned as hummingbird cake feels, the cake has not been around for very long. Southern Living first published the hummingbird cake recipe in 1978. The layer cake was submitted by a Greensboro, North Carolina widow named Mrs. H.L Wiggins.

But did Mrs. Wiggins actually invent the hummingbird cake recipe?

Yes and no. Mrs. Wiggins is credited by Southern Living as submitting the first layer cake version with cream cheese icing. But the magazine also points out that hummingbird cake existed before that–and possibly first gained a foothold in America thanks to a Jamaican airline brochure!

Southern Living writes:

It started as a tube cake with no icing. Simple spiced cakes with canned pineapple and bananas popped up in community cookbooks throughout the early 20th century, when these once-exotic fruits became more commonplace in grocery stores, like Publix. The recipes usually sported names like A Cake that Lasts (most likely because it stayed moist and kept well) or Bird of Paradise Cake.

In any event, hummingbird cake took off from there, becoming a common presence in Southern bakeries, homes, and bake sales alike. Hummingbird cake has also been gaining popularity more broadly. The New York Times even recently (finally!) published their version of hummingbird cake.

What’s in a Hummingbird Cake?

Let’s start with what is not in a hummingbird cake: hummingbirds. Or any birds, for that matter!

Hummingbird cake is an easy banana cake, kicked up with the addition of crushed pineapple, cinnamon, and pecans.

How to Make Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake

I am a firm believer in not messing with perfection, so I use the Southern Living recipe almost exactly, with a couple of tweaks. I have also written the directions with more detail for less-experienced bakers.

That said, you do not need to be a great baker to make this very excellent hummingbird layer cake. It is mostly a dump-and-stir recipe with uncomplicated ingredients.

1. First, whisk together the eggs, vanilla, and oil.
2. Add them to the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
3. Stir in the pineapple, crushed ripe banana, and pecans.
4. Divide into cake pans and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until done.

What Kind of Bananas Should I Use?

Make sure your bananas are very ripe. The more spotted with brown the better. As bananas age, they develop more sugar and flavor, with less starchy dryness. The ripeness makes a huge difference in the flavor, so make sure you have some bananas browning a few days in advance.

Can I Substitute the Hummingbird Cake’s Crushed Pineapple?

Yes. I sometimes have trouble finding crushed pineapple at the grocery store, so I just buy chopped or diced pineapple instead and crush it with my hands. The key is to include the juice as well. Do not drain it.

You could also use 1 cup of fresh crushed pineapple plus 3 tablespoons water. But the canned pineapple is the classic version.

How to Frost and Decorate a Hummingbird Cake

With lots of fluffy vanilla buttercream or vanilla frosting, and maybe some pecans for good measure. Some people like cream cheese icing for this.

If you’re feeling arts-and-craftsy, I also recommend making some very simple oven-dried pineapple flowers with thin slices of fresh pineapple.

How to Make Dried Pineapple Slice Flowers for Hummingbird Cake

To make dried pineapple flowers:

1. Slice whole pineapple slices paper thin into rounds.
2. Bake on a sheet pan-lined baking rack at 225 degrees Fahrenheit until they look very wilted and pale golden-brown, anywhere from 2 to 3 hours, more or less. (It will very a lot depending on how thin you got the slices. Keep baking until you get a dried look with the right color.)
3. While the pineapples are still hot, shape them into muffin cups and let them cool in the muffin tin.

If you love a good old fashioned hummingbird cake recipe, you will also love:

• Easy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
• No Dye Red Velvet Layer Cake
• Buttermilk Birthday Rainbow Sprinkle Cake
• The Famous Commissary Carrot Cake