on Feb 03, 2014, Updated Nov 29, 2023 129 Comments Are you looking for more delicious cake recipes? I think you’ll love my Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Best Chocolate Cake, Coconut Cake, and Best White Cake. Hummingbird Cake is a favorite cake recipe of my family. My grandmother would make it for special occasions, especially around Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, or spring birthdays. It was always front and center at any family gatherings or church socials. Topped with delicious Cream Cheese Frosting and full of banana, pineapple, and roasted pecans, Hummingbird Cake is a Southern classic cake recipe.
Hummingbird Cake Recipe
How to Make Hummingbird Cake
Ingredients for Hummingbird Cake
To make this favorite cake, you’ll need these ingredients:
All-purpose flour – Use a light all-purpose flour. You can also substitute it with cake flour. Granulated sugar – I use granulated white or raw cane sugar. Use your favorite sugar replacement for baking. Baking soda and Baking powder – both are used in this cake recipe. Salt – I use Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt. If you substitute with Morton’s Kosher salt, fine sea salt, or table salt, you will only need half the amount of the salt called for in the recipe. Ground cinnamon – adds a warm cozy flavor to the cake. Eggs – Use room temperature eggs as they incorporate the best into the cake batter. Vegetable oil – makes for a moist, tender cake. You can substitute with melted coconut oil, avocado oil, or even melted and cooled butter. Vanilla extract – Use your favorite store-bought pure vanilla extract or homemade. Bananas – Fresh bananas are mashed and incorporated into the cake batter. They add richness and moisture to the cake. Crushed pineapple – The pineapple adds so much fresh flavor to the cake. Roasted pecans – the toasted pecans add texture and flavor to the cake. However, I generally omit if serving where there could be a nut allergy or sensitivity.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Origins of Hummingbird Cake
As far as the original maker of the hummingbird cake, it was submitted to Southern Living magazine for the February 1978 issue by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina. Even though she provided her lovely recipe, she did not include the story behind it or its name. Some would say that is a loss, but I think Mrs. Wiggins did us a great favor by allowing our imaginations to conjure up stories as sweet as her delicious cake. Be sure to add this cake recipe to your must-make list for your next get together. It is sure to delight as well as quickly disappear. Remember to cut the slices thinly as it is rich and as sweet as southern sweet tea.
How Long Does Hummingbird Cake Last?
I prefer to store this cake in the refrigerator since it contains fruit and is topped with cream cheese frosting. In the fridge, it will last up to a week. Here’s the Hummingbird Cake recipe my family has used for years. It differs slightly from Mrs. Wiggins’ original, but I love the changes. Enjoy!Robyn xo From the Add a Pinch recipe archives. Originally published in 2011.
