Name: Classic Hummingbird Cake Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 24 people
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cups granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon; 2 cups mashed ripe bananas; 1 (8oz.) can crushed pineapple; 1 cup vegetable oil; 3 large eggs; ½ cup shredded coconut; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 4 ounces cream cheese; ¼ cup unsalted butter; ¼ cup caramel sauce; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 cups powdered sugar; ¼ cup pecan pieces

Hummingbird Cake is a classic recipe made with mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, and shredded coconut, and it’s topped with a sweet caramel cream cheese frosting and pecan pieces!

Slice of cake on a small white dessert plate with a pink background and flowers in the background.

This Hummingbird Cake Recipe Is A Summer Favorite

This Easy Hummingbird Cake Recipe is perfect for making and sharing at all your summer gatherings. Not only is the recipe simple, but it puts a unique twist on homemade cake … Plus, it’s always a big crowd-pleaser!

No hummingbirds were harmed in the making of this cake and it’s not meant to be served to them either 😉 If you want to indulge in a taste of the tropics this summer, you need this Hummingbird Cake Recipe!

The cake is moist and full of fruity flavors from coconut, bananas, and pineapples. Then, it’s topped with a silky smooth caramel cream cheese frosting that’ll make your mouth water!

I went to a Super Bowl party, and one of the ladies brought this cake.

I loved it, and I don’t even like cake normally.

– Deborah B.

Two slices of cake topped with pecan pieces on white desserts plates.

Hummingbird Cake Ingredients

Cake – All-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, kosher salt, baking soda, ground cinnamon, mashed ripe bananas, crushed pineapple, vegetable oil, large eggs, shredded coconut, and vanilla extract.

Frosting – Cream cheese, unsalted butter, caramel sauce, kosher salt, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, pecan pieces.

How To Make Hummingbird Cake

Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9×13-inch cake pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
2. In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
3. Add the mashed banana, crushed pineapple, vegetable oil, eggs, coconut, and vanilla to the flour mixture and mix just until combined.
4. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan and spread out evenly. Bake the cake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely (about 1 hour) before frosting.

Frosting

1. In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese and butter together. Scrape down the sides.
2. Add the caramel sauce, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Gradually add in the powdered sugar until fully combined.
4. Spread the frosting over the top of the cake and top with pecan pieces.

Mixing up hummingbird cake batter in a stainless steel bowl. Three process photos side by side.

Storage Instructions

Room Temperature: I think room temperature is best! You can store covered at room temperature for 2 to 3 days.

Refrigeration: You don’t have to refrigerate this, but you can, and it will yield a longer shelf life. I recommend storing it covered for 5 to 7 days.

Freezing: I recommend leaving the frosting off before freezing. Simply bake the cake and allow to cool to room temperature before double wrapping with plastic wrap and then wrapping once more with aluminum foil and freezing for up to 3 months.

Two slices of hummingbird cake on small white dessert plates with a pink background.

Why Do They Call It Hummingbird Cake?

Wondering where this dessert gets its name?

The history of Hummingbird Cake, like many recipes, seems to involve a bit of hearsay. Filled with flavors from the islands, the name may originate from Jamaica, where the hummingbird is the national bird. (Fun fact: it’s also known as Doctor Bird.)

Here in the US, a Hummingbird Cake Recipe can be traced back to a Southern Living article from 1978. However, it’s believed to have originated in Jamaica. But no matter where this luscious dessert came from, one thing’s for sure: it’s totally scrumptious and will definitely put you on island time!