Hummingbird Cake is a beloved Southern dessert that combines the tropical flavors of bananas, pineapple, and coconut with the warm spices of cinnamon and nutmeg. This cake is moist, flavorful, and has a perfect balance of sweetness and spice, making it a crowd-pleasing treat for any occasion, whether it’s a casual gathering or a special celebration. Its rich and fruity flavors make it a standout choice for spring and summer parties, as well as holiday meals.
The base of Hummingbird Cake starts with a simple batter made from mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, and shredded coconut, which give the cake its moist texture and tropical flair. A hint of cinnamon and nutmeg adds depth to the flavor, while a touch of vanilla rounds out the sweetness. The ingredients come together to create a cake that is dense yet light, with a beautifully aromatic flavor profile.
What sets Hummingbird Cake apart from other cakes is its rich cream cheese frosting. The frosting, made with cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla, is smooth, tangy, and perfectly sweet. It complements the moist cake beautifully, providing a luscious contrast to the tropical flavors. The cake is generously frosted and often topped with extra shredded coconut or chopped pecans for a crunchy texture and added visual appeal.
Hummingbird Cake is often served as a layer cake, with two or three layers stacked high and frosted to perfection. However, it can also be baked as a bundt cake or cupcakes, making it a versatile choice for any occasion. The combination of flavors and textures in this cake makes every bite a delight, whether you’re enjoying it with a cup of coffee in the afternoon or as a grand finale to a festive dinner.
This cake is a perfect choice for any celebration, from birthdays to holiday gatherings, or even as a thoughtful homemade gift. Its sweet, tropical flavors and rich cream cheese frosting make it an unforgettable dessert that will leave everyone asking for the recipe.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
- 1 cup crushed pineapple drained
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs beaten
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans optional
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract for frosting
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, beaten eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until well combined.
- Fold in the chopped pecans if using.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting: In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, and beat until smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Frost the cooled cakes with the cream cheese frosting. Stack the cakes, then frost the top and sides.
- Decorate with additional chopped pecans or fruits if desired.
Nutrition
This cake is sooo good! I used walnuts instead of pecans because that’s all I had and it turned out great!
I love that you made it work with walnuts! Sometimes you gotta improvise, right? The bananas and pineapple sound so good together!
Walnuts? I don’t think that’ll taste as good as pecans. But hey, if you liked it, that’s all that matters! Still looks yummy.
Followed the recipe exactly, and it turned out amazing! Perfectly moist!
Yum, I made it for a party and it disappeared fast! 🌟
I followed the recipe but mine came out dry. Maybe I overbaked? Not sure what went wrong.
I am skeptical about the crushed pineapple. Does it really work in a cake?
I don’t know, pineapple in cake sounds kinda weird. What if it makes it soggy?
I’ve tried it before, and the crushed pineapple adds a really nice moisture and flavor to the cake! Trust me, it works!
This was good but I’m not a fan of pineapple in cake, too weird for me. But the bananas surely helped.
Hummingbird cake? Never heard of it until now. Sounds weird but maybe I’ll try.
Weird? Nah, it’s just a mix of fruits and nuts! You’ll love it once you taste it. Don’t knock it until you try it!
Hummingbird cake is actually delicious! It’s a bit fruity and very moist. You should definitely give it a try!
This cake is a slice of heaven! So moist and delicious! Everyone loved it at the party.
Too many ingredients! I just wanted a simple banana cake. Geesh.
This cake is AMAZING! So moist and flavorful. I can’t stop eating it!
I totally agree! This cake is so delish! I made it for my friend’s birthday and it was a hit!
This cake is absolutely delicious! My family loved it! A total must-try!!
I don’t get why ppl rave about this cake. It’s just too sweet for my taste. Maybe with less sugar?
What’s with the bananas and pineapple? Sounds weird! I don’t trust it. 😒
I tried this recipe but it came out way too sweet for my taste. Maybe cut the sugar down a bit?
This cake is so good! My family loved it!
Best cake ever! It reminded me of my grandma’s baking! ❤️
Hummingbird cake? I thought it was a cupcake recipe at first! Confusing names. But it was good!
Too much sugar for my taste. It was more like a dessert than a cake.
These steps are too complicated for me! I’ll just stick to brownies. 😅
I feel you! Sometimes simple is the way to go. 🤷♀️ Brownies are delicious, can’t blame you for that!
Complicated? It’s not that hard! Just take your time, you’ll get it. Plus, this cake is totally worth it! 😃
Easy to follow recipe! I added some coconut flakes as well! Yum!
Can I make this without the eggs? Got allergies, 🤔. Any thoughts?
Just wow! The cream cheese frosting is the best part! Everybody loved it at my party!
I dont like nuts, so I left out the pecans but it was still fabulous! 🍰
Hummingbird cake? More like humming FLAVORS! This is my new favorite dessert. Yum!
I totally agree! This cake is a flavor bomb! I can’t believe how well everything blends together!
Looks good but I heard hummingbird cake isn’t even a cake? Like, it’s a type of bread or something? Not sure about that…
I added walnuts instead of pecans, and it was still sooo good! Will definitely make again.
My cake didn’t rise. What did I do wrong?
Sounds like you might’ve missed adding the baking soda or didn’t mix well enough. That can happen! Keep trying!
Maybe your eggs were too cold or you opened the oven too soon? Little things make a big difference!
Yummy! I omitted the nuts and it was still bomb!
Looks complex but actually easy to make! I felt like a pro baking this.
Hummingbird cake? More like hummingbird bomb. I don’t get the hype! 🤨
Yum!
Who even thought of this cake? Bananas and pineapple don’t belong together! Not for me.
Can I use fresh pineapple instead of crushed? Just curious how itld change things.
Yes, you can use fresh pineapple, but it might make the cake a bit more watery since crushed pineapple is drained. Just be careful with the extra liquid!
This cake is a hit at every party! So moist and yummy! Everyone loves it.
Hummingbird cake is life!!! I’ve made it 3 times already. It’s my go-to dessert now!
Too sweet for my taste! I don’t like the cream cheese frosting much either. 🙁
Just made this. My cake collapsed in the oven! What did I do wrong? Help!
I had high hopes, but the flavor was just okay. It needed more pineapple, I think.
Delicious but took way longer to bake! Maybe my oven runs cool?
I follow this recipe closely! My grandma made a similar cake but with walnuts. Love pecans!
This cake is pure heaven! So moist and fruity! My family loved it! Definitely a keeper.
What does a hummingbird taste like? Asking for a friend. 🙂
Not sure what I did wrong, but my cake collapsed. 😟
I tried making it without the pineapple (didn’t have any), and it still turned out good! Not the same though.
Your instructions are clear, but 3 cups powdered sugar is A LOT (for me). I’d cut it down to 2 cups next time.
The ingredient list is good, but I wish the instructions said whether to use “drained” pineapple for real real (mine was still kinda wet). Had to bake longer, but it came out fine. Would do again.
This is the best cream cheese frosting I’ve made—smooth and not overly buttery. The cake itself is dense but moist. Love it!
Not for me. The bananas and pineapple together… gross!!
Yum! You don’t know what you’re missing! This cake is delicious with those fruits!
I totally get what you mean! Bananas and pineapple are such a weird combo. Maybe try it without one of them?
Pretty good overall, but my frosting was a little too thick. Next time I’ll add a splash of milk/cream to loosen it. Still delicious though.
Delicious!! I added some shredded coconut for extra flavor. Try it!
Made it for my birthday and everyone went crazy for it! The flavors mixed so well together!
I had to modify it a bit and it turned out too sweet, I might skip the sugar next time. Can the frosting be made with yogurt instead?
Made this last weekend—so moist! The banana + pineapple combo is honestly perfect, and the frosting is smooth and not overly sweet. I skipped the pecans and it still tasted great.
Meh. Mine came out kinda dense and not as “fluffy” as I thought it would be. Also I think my bananas weren’t ripe enough—learned my lesson.
This recipe is perfect. I made it for a potluck and everyone asked for the link. The texture is so soft, and the frosting tastes like bakery cake.
Can confirm: 9-inch pans are key. I used 8-inch once and it overflowed and I had to improvise. Recipe is solid—just pay attention to pan size.
I thought it was too sweet. Maybe cut back on the sugar next time?
This is such a cozy cake—bananas + pineapple is a genius combo. I used walnuts instead of pecans and it still tasted amazing. Frosting came out silky.
Yes!! Bananas + pineapple really does make it extra cozy. I also swapped pecans for walnuts once and it was just as good—glad it worked for you too.
Cozy for sure 😅 I made it but my frosting got a little lumpy, not silky like yours. I think I didn’t soften the cream cheese enough. Still tasted great though!
Ok but… is it Hummingbird cake or like banana bread cake? I expected more banana flavor, but it was more cinnamon-y and pineapple-y for my taste. Still tasty.
I don’t have pecans, so I used walnuts. Worked fine, but I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be that way. Either way, everyone ate it.
Walnuts are totally fine—pecans are just there for that buttery crunch. If everyone ate it, you nailed it 😄
I think it *is* supposed to be with pecans, but walnuts work. Next time try the same amount and toast them a bit first? Makes it taste more “pecan-y.”
Tried this and it was… okay. Tastes good, but mine was a little dense and not as sweet as I expected. Might be the bananas were small or less ripe.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about 1 cup crushed pineapple for 2 cups flour. But it worked! I did reduce oven time by like 3 minutes because my toothpick was clean early.
I love hearing that! I’m always side-eyeing ratios with fruit like that. Great save on the oven time too—my toothpicks lie sometimes 😂
It’s ok, but I think my grandma’s recipe is better. Sorry!
I followed it pretty closely but my cake took closer to 38 minutes to get clean toothpick. Still tasted great though—next time I’ll check earlier and tent with foil.
That sounds like a normal oven-time hiccup. Mine has definitely needed a few extra minutes too—glad it still tasted great!
Banana and pineapple in a cake? What is this madness?! But I’m intrigued… might try it.
I love cakes but Hummingbird is not my usual. Still, this one surprised me—pecans optional is correct, because I had them and it gave it a nice crunch.
Super easy recipe! Took me no time at all. Will definitely make again!
So easy? What if I mess up the frosting? Idk if I’m ready for that!
I’m so happy to hear that! Hummingbird cake is my favorite. 🥳
My cake stuck to the pans even though I greased and floured. Maybe I didn’t cool long enough—10 minutes wasn’t enough for me. Tastes great, just frustrating.
The frosting is where it’s at. Cream cheese + butter + powdered sugar is basically a cheat code. I used vanilla in both layers like the recipe and it came out great.
It took longer to bake than you said… Should’ve read the instructions more carefully.
The batter smelled amazing, but my cakes took closer to 40 minutes. Toothpick came out clean eventually. Frosting was thick and sweet—still great though.
Totally agree—those flavors smell incredible right away. I usually end up needing extra time too (ovens run hot/cold), so 40 mins doesn’t sound crazy. Glad the toothpick finally came out clean!
I love hummingbird cake but I’ve never used vegetable oil. I feel like butter should be used instead, but the cake turned out surprisingly fine.
Hummingbird cake?? Never heard of it. Is this even a real thing? Sounds strange.
I followed the steps exactly but my cake took closer to 40 minutes. Still delicious though—cinnamon is subtle and the cream cheese frosting tastes like bakery style.
Hmm 40 minutes seems off… did you maybe overmix or put the pans on a lower rack? Also I’m surprised you said cinnamon is subtle—mine is pretty strong with 1 tsp.
Mine also ran a bit longer than the 25–30 mins—40-ish is totally believable with different pans/ovens. Glad it was still delicious! 🍌🍍
I followed it pretty close, but my batter seemed thicker than expected. Still baked up fine, though, and the frosting was super smooth. Next time I might drain the pineapple a bit better.
Mmm idk. “Crushed pineapple drained” can be anything lol. I usually squeeze it with a paper towel and it still ends up thick. Maybe your bananas were larger? Also I think 25 minutes is short for 9-inch pans—mine takes more like 35.
That sounds pretty close to what I’ve run into too. If the pineapple is a little too juicy, it throws off the batter thickness for me—draining helps a ton. Glad yours baked up fine though!
This is such a fun twist on classic cake—banana + pineapple + cinnamon sounds like a tropical hug. The frosting is definitely the star for me.
Totally agree—the frosting on hummingbird cake is what makes it irresistible. Cream cheese + butter with that vanilla is the real “tropical hug” 😄 I’m planning to try it with extra pecans too.
Delish!!!! This recipe is a 10 outta 10! Gonna make it again this weekend!
My kids loved it! They gobbled it up! I even put some sprinkles on top hehe.
I followed the instructions exactly and mine didn’t rise much. Could my baking soda be old? Flavor was fine, just not super fluffy.
Not gonna lie, I’m skeptical about the pineapple amount. 1 cup drained seems like it could mess with texture, but it actually worked. Would still squeeze the pineapple a bit more.
I felt it was a bit too sweet for my taste, maybe I should have used less sugar?
I think the sweetness makes it taste better, but everyone’s different. Just adjust sugar to your liking!
Yeah, that happens sometimes! You could try using a little less sugar or even substitute with honey next time.
I can’t believe how easy this was to make! So good with coffee in the morning.
I followed the recipe exactly but my cake was a little dry. Maybe it’s my oven or something? Idk.
Amazin taste but way too many calories! I felt guilty eating it. Still delicious!
My family says it tastes like banana bread had a baby with cheesecake frosting. I’m calling it a win. Also, I forgot to add pecans and it was still tasty.
This cake is an absolute delight! The flavors are perfect and it’s so moist. Absolutely loved it!
Five stars from me! I’m not a baker, and this was actually easy. Also, I used chopped walnuts instead of pecans and it worked great.
Love this! 🙌 I’m not a baker either and this cake seems super forgiving. Walnuts are a great swap—glad it worked out!
Easy peasy! Just mixed everything in one bowl, who needs fancy techniques?? LOL
Is it too late to make this for Christmas? Just curious if I should wait until next year!
The frosting came out a bit grainy for me even after sifting. Next time I’ll beat longer or warm the cream cheese slightly.
Confession: I forgot to drain the pineapple… still turned out okay but the crumb was a little looser. Flavor was still good. Would not recommend though.
Hummingbird cake? More like hummingbird disaster! Mine fell apart in the oven. What did I do wrong?
Don’t worry! Cakes can be tricky. Did you use fresh ingredients? Sometimes old baking soda can cause issues. Keep trying!
Maybe you overmixed it? That can make it fall apart. Next time, just mix until blended. Good luck!
My oven runs hot, so 25 minutes was way too long for me. Burnt edges, center still a bit wet. Lesson learned: start checking early.
Not sure about this. Hummingbird cakes always sound fancy, but this tasted kind of like banana bread with frosting. Still edible, just not wow for me.
This is dangerously good. The bananas + pineapple combo makes it so moist without being heavy. I skipped the pecans and it still tasted amazing—will make again for sure.
Yes!! That’s exactly why I love this one—banana and pineapple just melt into the crumb. Good call skipping the pecans; sometimes they’re more distraction than flavor.
This cake is amazing! So moist and flavorful, my family loved it!
I totally agree! This cake is to die for! The bananas and pineapple gives it such a unique taste. Definitely making it again!
I made it too, but mine turned out kinda dry. Did I do something wrong or maybe I baked it too long? Hmm.
One star because I ate the batter before baking. Kidding—kinda. But seriously, this is gonna ruin my diet 😅
Just made it and I forgot to add the baking soda. 😳 It turned out flat. Will try again!
Made it yesterday and it came out super moist. I didn’t even miss frosting “from scratch” flavors, and the pecans gave it a nice crunch.
I think the frosting is too thick? When I added powdered sugar it turned into a brick. Maybe my cream cheese was too cold. After a splash of milk it became perfect.
Yes!! I had the same problem once—mine turned grainy and super thick. I think I added the powdered sugar too fast. Next time I’ll sift and add a little milk like you did 😅
I followed everything but my cake sank a little in the middle. Maybe I underbaked by a couple minutes? Flavor is great though.
I followed it pretty much exactly but my frosting got a little grainy from the powdered sugar. Next time I’ll sift more carefully or beat longer.
Made this for my aunt’s birthday and it disappeared fast. Super moist—banana + pineapple is a winning combo. I did use pecans and they added a nice crunch.
Made it for a potluck and people went back for seconds. Not too sweet, super moist. Would totally bake again.
Yesss that’s exactly what I’m hoping for—moist but not cloying. Potluck wins are the best proof 😄
This is dangerously good. The banana + pineapple combo tastes like vacation. I used walnuts instead of pecans and it still rocked.
Not bad, but too sweet for me. Maybe I’ll cut the sugar in the cake or use less powdered sugar in the frosting. Flavor is there.
Honestly the frosting is too sweet for my taste, but the cake part is really flavorful. Next time I’ll cut powdered sugar a bit or add more vanilla.
The ingredient list is great but the directions are kinda vague—like how firm should the cream cheese frosting be? Mine was a little runny until I chilled it.
350°F… okay but my oven runs hot. I probably should’ve trusted the toothpick more than the time range. Anyway, it turned out tasty—just slightly drier on the edges.
Honestly, I thought it would be overly sweet, but it balanced out well. The pineapple drains nicely—don’t skip that step if you want it to bake right.
Hummingbird cake is supposed to be sweet, but I swear mine came out bland once? Maybe I did the pineapple wrong. Also I baked mine like 40 min and it was drier—350°F for 30 mins sounds right though.
Yes! I used crushed pineapple and *drained it* and the texture was perfect. Totally agree—if you skip draining, it can get weirdly sweet and gummy.
Made it for a family get-together and it disappeared fast. The texture is super moist, and the cinnamon makes the whole thing taste like “holiday” even when it’s not.
Mine was good, but I think I overbaked it a tiny bit (toothpick looked mostly clean at 25 min). Still super flavorful though—pineapple + banana is a wild combo I wasn’t sure about. Also, I didn’t have pecans so I used walnuts and it worked.
I made this for a family get-together too—can confirm, it vanishes fast 😄 The cinnamon really does give it that “holiday” vibe, even on a random weeknight. Moist without being heavy!
Meh… it’s tasty but I expected more “hummingbird” vibes? The cinnamon is subtle. Texture was nice, just not wow for me.
Yeah I feel you. Mine tastes good too, but it’s more “banana-vanilla cake” than that extra bright hummingbird punch. Maybe next time I’ll bump the cinnamon or add a little more vanilla for zing.
What if you replace the flour with self-rising? Would that ruin it? I’m scared to try but the rest seems easy.
Probably won’t ruin it, but I wouldn’t swap 1:1 without adjusting. Self-rising has leaveners that will stack with baking soda. You might need to reduce baking soda (and maybe omit the salt part). If you’re scared, do a small test cupcake first.
I think it’ll change the lift a bit. Self-rising flour already has baking powder + extra salt, and your recipe uses baking soda separately, so you may end up with a slightly different texture (sometimes more crumbly or a bit bitter). If you do try it, I’d probably skip the baking soda and salt—though baking soda and acidity from the pineapple/bananas is what helps here.
3 cups powdered sugar felt like a lot for me (my frosting ended up a bit stiff). I added a tiny splash of milk and it fixed it. Flavor was still good though.
Totally agree—3 cups powdered sugar is a lot. I’ve had the same stiff frosting situation. Your fix makes sense though, tiny splash of milk to loosen it 👍
Idk why they call it hummingbird cake lol. Mine tasted like banana bread with frosting (which is not a bad thing).
I tried with no pecans because I forgot. Still tasted amazing. Also, my toothpick came out clean at 26 minutes exactly.
I was skeptical because it’s called “hummingbird” cake but it tastes like banana bread with frosting (in a good way). The cinnamon + vanilla is perfect.
Honestly I think it needs more vanilla in the cake, like 2 teaspoons. The cake tasted a little flat before the frosting kicked in.
Just tried it—tbh the name sounds fancy but it’s easy. I messed up the measuring once (added extra oil) and it still came out edible 😅
Honestly that sounds exactly like how it should go—fancy name, forgiving recipe 😄 I also think the pineapple helps it stay moist even if you eyeball something.
The ingredient list is pretty solid, but I was confused about “divide batter evenly” for two 9-inch pans—mine ended up uneven. I think I eyeballed wrong.
Totally get that—“evenly” is one of those vague baking phrases 😅 I usually weigh the batter with a kitchen scale and split it right down the middle for 2 pans. Works every time.
Step 6 timing: mine took closer to 35 minutes. Toothpick came out clean at that point. If you pull it at 25, you might get gummy center.
Thanks for the timing note! I usually overbake stuff, so this helps. I’ll start checking closer to 30–35 minutes and not trust the low end.