For years I’ve averted Traditional Hummingbird Cake. Truthfully, it wasn’t actually that a lot of a problem since I lived in areas the place it was unlikely to pop up throughout because it does right here within the South. You’ll see it right here, at picnics, potlucks, and at all types of get-togethers.
*Warning – this can be a lengthy publish; use the leap to recipe button, beneath, if you wish to skip the narrative.*
Traditional Hummingbird Cake – a turntable makes frosting a lot simpler.
See, I knew all about Hummingbird Cake, or I assumed I did. And what I knew had by no means enticed me into really baking this attractive cake. I imply c’mon. Nuts IN a cake? Pineapple AND Banana? I wasn’t down with the concept. In no way.
About Traditional Hummingbird Cake:
So when a pal commented on a Hummingbird Cake (for $69.99 yikes!) at Harry & David, I assumed it was time to take the leap! Fortunate for me I used to be practising my “Simply say YES angle.” (You’ll be able to learn extra on my annual New Yr’s Submit if ya need, the New & Outdated 2022 ; it additionally consists of my high 10 recipes of the previous yr.)
Seems that is a kind of “If you realize, you realize muffins.” I really feel like a idiot for by no means attempting this cake earlier than and losing all these years. Yeah, it’s that good. I looooove it! Love, love, adore it! And I believe you’ll, too.
Primarily, Traditional Hummingbird Cake is a Spice Cake, like the way in which a Carrot Cake is. You’ll barely style the fruitiness from the banana and pineapple, but it surely’s what offers Hummingbird Cake its attractive moistness.
The banana flavors take a backseat and the pineapple offers delicate hints right here and there – primarily when just a little tidbit wakes up your tastebuds. The nuts within the cake keep barely distinct (not exhausting & crunchy) and add a little bit of just a little texture. All of the flavors mix in completely to make one wonderful (to not point out stunning) cake!
Making Traditional Hummingbird Cake:
For those who already learn about hummingbird cake, let me guarantee you this recipe is the traditional one (and I attempted a number of) with only a couple little minor tweaks. It’s the identical recipe in Southern Dwelling (claimed to be the unique) and in Paula Deans Journal. I attempted a number of recipes (together with my very own concoction) and haven’t discovered any higher!
This cake is tremendous straightforward to make. It’s virtually a measure and-mix-in one-bowl cake (besides you’ll want a separate bowl to mash the bananas.) Be sure you have a good-sized bowl for the cake! The dry components go in first; simply give them a superb whisking. Then you definitely’ll principally simply dump every thing else in, so as, mixing as you go. Simple Peasy!
Be aware on the Bananas: Your bananas must be spotty and really ripe (if not place them unpeeled on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake at 300 levels F. for 15 to twenty minutes.) Then they must be mashed – you probably have what I all the time name a potato masher and a small bowl it’s a bit of cake. Within the photographs, you’ll see my treasured bowl and old school potato masher. The bowl has a virtually flat backside which makes it so good for mashing something.
As for tweaks, on this last model, I upped the spice very barely, used salted pecans, put fewer pecans within the cake and extra on the surface, modified up the pan measurement for a extra dramatic profile, and elevated the frosting.
This little flat-bottomed bowl is nice for mashing and excellent for whipped cream.
Baking:
I extremely suggest making this cake in three 8″ pans quite than 9″ like the unique. I did so right here and the marginally larger cake offers a bit extra drama. The cake layers are sturdy sufficient to resist the additional top.
When baking, search for the traditional indicators of doneness. Do the toothpick take a look at. A couple of crumbs ought to adhere. The cake ought to spring again when gently touched within the heart and the sides ought to be flippantly brown and simply barely beginning to draw back from the edges of the pan.
Nearly any cake like this, together with most fast breads, turn out to be moister and style higher if nicely wrapped and left in a single day. I attempt to bake the day earlier than if in any respect attainable, then frost the following day.
Frosting & Adorning Traditional Hummingbird Cake:
For those who’re an beginner cake decorator/froster like me, do your self a favor and get your self a flip desk and a superb offset spatula and/or edge smoother/scraper. It’s unbelievable how a lot of a distinction they made in smoothing the highest and sides of this cake. For years I listened to bloggers and television personalities say if you happen to don’t enhance a lot you may get by with solely an offset spatula and for years I used to be annoyed pondering any flaws have been from my deficiencies and lack of expertise. I averted muffins that needed to be clean or did what I name my swoop and swirl methodology. For those who select to do this, no judgment! This frosting will work nicely for that methodology, too.
Additionally, work with a whole lot of frosting. Don’t gasp whenever you see how a lot! Belief me on this! Whereas a extra skilled decorator could get by with much less, if you’d like your cake to seem like mine, you’ll want quite a bit. That provides you with good, distinct layers and sufficient frosting (it takes greater than you suppose) to perform a little piping. That piping isn’t simply ornamental – it helps cover the messiness the place the highest meets the edges. Now that IS my lack of expertise!
One other fast cover is the layer of nuts, on this case, sea-salted pecans, which line the underside of the cake. They give the impression of being attractive however do double obligation by disguising any flaws on the backside of the cake! And since I questioned my means to make a straight line with the pecans, I went with a free-form wave sample. Any further pecans have been sprinkled on high. No waste and once more, they hid a number of flaws the place my high wasn’t completely clean!
There are a whole lot of little variations on cream cheese frosting recipes. I take advantage of my Mother’s Recipe (which by the way is similar one Southern Dwelling makes use of.) It spreads fantastically and stands as much as a number of layers as a filling. It additionally has sufficient physique to do some mild piping. I wouldn’t belief it for very intricate element however that piping simply “makes” the cake.
As talked about above, I take advantage of a whole lot of frosting! I doubled Mother’s recipe after which made an extra half! That’s within the recipe, beneath. To make it, make sure that your cream cheese isn’t stuffed with gums and different unusual thickeners, make sure that it’s completely tender and the butter is on the proper temperature. In case your powdered sugar has lumps, sift earlier than utilizing.
You must have the ability to bend the stick of butter with out it cracking (too chilly) or blowing out (too heat.) That’s going to ensure the frosting is straightforward to unfold and be certain that it doesn’t style buttery or oily.
An funding in a number of instruments makes all of the distinction in adorning.
Sea Salted Pecans:
The Sea Salted Pecans are tremendous straightforward & I believe assist offset a few of the sweetness within the cake. I found it accidentally in one among my earlier tries at this cake. I used to be out of standard pecans & made do. Since salted pecans are pricier and more durable to search out, I’ve included a fast recipe to make your personal.
The measurement doesn’t should be actual, simply shut sufficient. Package deal sizes and pecan sizes fluctuate so don’t undergo any heroics like opening a brand new package deal since you’re brief a number of.
Cash Saving Hints:
- Don’t purchase essentially the most attractive complete pecans for this or any recipe the place they’ll be chopped. Pecan halves or bigger items are massive sufficient to face as much as the roasting with out burning.
- Though Sea Salt sounds fancier, the identical quantity of desk salt will do.
Storing:
Traditional Hummingbird Cake ought to be saved within the fridge (wrap it nicely after it’s chilly and unwrap it earlier than it warms up so the frosting isn’t disturbed an excessive amount of) and can maintain nicely for 4 to 5 days. Be certain there’s room for the cake in your fridge forward of time!
As a result of each cream cheese and butter can undergo in scorching situations, beware when transporting or serving. I actually had a cake soften away as soon as after I put it in a automotive that had been sitting within the warmth. I hadn’t pushed a block (I did open the home windows and switch the air on instantly) when the highest layer slid off.
Hummingbird Cake freezes and thaws nicely. Wrap nicely after it’s frozen, then take away the wrapping and wrap flippantly as it’s thawed in a single day within the fridge.
Saving Cash on Traditional Hummingbird Cake:
I take advantage of the identical technique for purchasing virtually all baking items, particularly for the reason that rising costs of butter, cream cheese, and eggs. Know your costs so you realize what is an effective deal and what is a superb deal.
Typically, the low at your grocery goes to be earlier than any vacation, particularly the Winter Holidays and Lent/Easter. Low cost shops (like Aldi & Lidl) and large field shops (like Sam’s and Costco) could have nice financial savings however they often don’t match your grocery vacation low cost pricing.
If the financial savings are price it, determine how a lot of any merchandise you’ll have to final till the following nice sale and purchase accordingly, stocking up at a low. (If there are limits, you would possibly wish to make a number of journeys.) To see what is perhaps on sale throughout any main meals vacation, observe my hyperlink Win on the Grocery.
- Butter & Cream Cheese: Each freeze nicely. Depend the weeks to the following vacation and top off on the suitable quantity of butter. For cream cheese, if you’re a daily person, do the identical.
- Powdered Sugar: This may all the time be at a low round Christmas however will typically be at a superb worth previous to Easter and Mom’s Day. Put it in a Ziploc after opening and it ought to stay lump free. Sift earlier than utilizing (don”t toss) if there are lumps.
- Pecans & Different Nuts: The completely finest time to purchase is throughout the winter holidays, though you’re prone to see some gross sales round Easter, the low cost isn’t as nice. The winter holidays are proper after harvest, gross sales are nice and there’ll possible be coupons. Top off for the yr and freeze nuts to maintain them recent.
- Spices and vanilla will all the time be on sale throughout the spring. Search for paper and digital coupons and for Catalinas. (Paper that spits out notifying you of a sale.)
- Any baking gadgets that include cornstarch or flour ought to be positioned within the freezer for 3 days or within the fridge for 30 to forestall any “peskies.”
Concerning the Worth of Eggs:
Eggs are nonetheless at a excessive worth as I write this in 2023 – so truthful warning: lecture time!
- Watch your grocery retailer gross sales intently. It’s straightforward to make a mistake nowadays when specials and coupons should be loaded onto a card and so forth. Take note of the pricing at your low cost groceries like Aldi & Lidl in addition to on the purchaser’s golf equipment.
- Know that eggs don’t – repeat – would not have an expiration date! They’re often stamped with a Greatest Purchase or a Promote By date and anticipated to be good for 2 to 3 weeks after. Generally all that’s used is a Julien date. You’ll be able to learn all about it on the Nationwide Egg Board.
I do know this publish is quite a bit and I hope you each loved it and realized one thing worthwhile. And if not, nicely, there’s all the time that “leap to recipe” button! I’m fairly constructive whenever you make Traditional Humminbird Cake you’ll have a beautiful cake worthy of any big day whether or not you’re an skilled baker or not!
See ya subsequent time,
Mollie
Traditional Hummingbird Cake
- Complete Time: about 2 1/2 hours (in a single day advisable)
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Class: desserts
- Delicacies: Southern
Notes:
- This cake is at it’s finest if wrapped tightly and left in a single day earlier than frosting.
- Sea Salted Pecans could also be store-bought or simply made. If making, achieve this earlier than beginning the cake; they are going to be used within the cake and as garnish.
Sea Salted Pecans (very barely tailored from Bon Appetit):
- 2 cups (seven to eight ounces) of pecan halves or massive pecan items
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 1/4 teaspoons sea salt (fantastic) just a little extra if in bigger grains
Hummingbird Cake:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons floor cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 3 massive eggs, room temperature
- 1½ cups vegetable oil
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
- 2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 4 medium)
- 3/4 cup Sea Salted Pecans
- Cream Cheese Frosting (beneath)
- Garnish: remaining Sea Salted Pecans
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 3 eight-ounce packages of cream cheese, softened
- 3 sticks (12 ounces or 3/4 pound) of softened butter
- 3 kilos (48 ounces) powdered sugar (roughly 4 cups to 1 pound)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Sea Salted Pecans:
Place pecans in a small bowl, drizzle with butter, and toss to coat. Add the salt and stir to distribute evenly. Place on a baking sheet and roast for about 12 to fifteen minutes complete, till dry and barely darker, stirring midway by way of. After cooling, chop into small items as proven.
Hummingbird Cake:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease, with shortening or butter, three 8-inch spherical cake pans. Place a parchment spherical on the underside of every pan and grease. Flour pans, shaking and tapping out extra.
In a big bowl, whisk collectively flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. Add eggs and oil and stir till components are simply mixed. Stir in vanilla, pineapple, banana, and pecans.
Divide batter equally between the ready pans and unfold into even layer. Bake till a wood decide inserted in heart comes out clear, 25 to half-hour. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Take away from pans, and let cool fully on wire racks. If attainable, wrap layers tightly in plastic wrap when fully cool and permit to sit down in a single day earlier than frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
Beat cream cheese and butter along with an electrical mixer on medium-low velocity till simply clean. (Don’t overbeat.) Steadily add powdered sugar, beating at low velocity till blended after every addition. Stir in vanilla. Improve velocity to medium-high, and beat till fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.
Be aware: 1 pound of powdered sugar incorporates about 4 cups.
Meeting:
Take away parchment. Stage the tops of every layer by chopping off any doming. Place first layer on turntable and frost with a couple of cup of frosting. Add second layer and repeat. Prime with last layer, inserting it the wrong way up (clean aspect up) and frost high and sides, saving sufficient frosting (about 1 1/2 cups) to pipe round edge in a wavy shell sample with a 1M Wilton Open Star Tip.
Place pecans across the backside of the cake, working them about 2 inches up sides; use a wavy design quite than a straight line to attenuate any fussiness. Sprinkle any remaining pecans throughout the highest of cake contained in the piping.
Key phrases: Bananas, Cream Cheese, Desserts, Fruit, Pecans, Pineapple, powdered sugar
