Prep: 20 min
Bake: 30 min
Yield: 1 (3-layer) 8-inch cake
Here’s our version of a delightfully sweet and nutty cake that, as one story goes, began in the 1960s as a "Doctor Bird Cake" after a kind of hummingbird found in Jamaica. The first published recipe appeared in Southern Living Magazine in 1978.
Cake
- 3 1/2 + 2 tablespoons sifted Swans Down® Cake Flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 to 4 bananas)
- 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
- 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped + whole toasted pecans for garnish
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 (16-ounce) box confectioners’ sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Preheat oven to 350℉ and grease and line 3 (8-inch) cake pans with parchment paper.
- Make Cake: Whisk flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon together in a medium bowl; set aside. Mix granulated sugar, light brown sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla together in a large bowl until smooth. Add mashed bananas and crushed pineapple (with the juice) and chopped pecans; mix to combine. Add flour mixture and mix until incorporated.
- Divide batter evenly into prepared cake pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and let cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely.
- Make Frosting: Cream the cream cheese and butter together until incorporated. Add confectioners’ sugar and continue creaming until smooth and fluffy. Add vanilla extract and salt and mix until incorporated.
- Assemble Cake: Place the first cake layer top side down on a cake plate or cake round. Spread a dollop of frosting evenly over top. Repeat with second layer. Add third layer and frost entire cake with remaining frosting. Garnish with pecans.
Hi, I have now made this cake three times! Every time I have made it I get rave reviews! This week I made the cake for our staff potluck lunch at the office. The cake was gone within the hour of being served. Not a leftover in sight! I really like Swans Down flour. Thanks for posting all these recipes.
Thanks, Ben! So glad to hear this cake makes you and others smile! Appreciate the feedback and happy baking 🙂
I cannot see the recipe for this cake, can you please provide me with the link for it? Thank you!
Hi Anna, Here’s a link to our Hummingbird Cake. Happy baking!
Hello, Swans Down! I’m planning on making this cake for my mom on Mother’s Day. Would it be ok if I made my own cake flour?
I made this cake today and is moist delicious. I did bake it on 325 to ensure my layers didn’t overcook. Thanks for sharing!! I’m glad I found a recipe using cake flour instead of AP.
I have used Swan’s Down Flour for all my desserts for years… I have taught my children how to use it as well.. One of my kid’s favorite is brownies made with this flour… As long as it’s on the market, we will purchase it..