pineapple

Hummingbird Layer Cake

Hummingbird Layer Cake by Wood and Spoon Blog. This is a recipe for a traditional southern pecan, coconut, banana, and pineapple filled cake. The recipe comes from Katie Jacobs' new book So much to celebrate. A cream cheese frosting makes this stacked naked cake sweet and moist. Perfect for summer parties and celebrations. Find the recipe at thewoodandspoon.com

In my recent years of being educated into Southern culture, there are a few things I’ve learned to be true. I’ve learned that you will be called “Ma’am,” no matter how old you are. I’ve found that iced tea does not come unsweetened; chicken is best served fried. Finally, moreso than football, camouflage, or pickup trucks, Southerners are really serious about their family recipes.

Hummingbird Layer Cake by Wood and Spoon Blog. This is a recipe for a traditional southern pecan, coconut, banana, and pineapple filled cake. The recipe comes from Katie Jacobs' new book So much to celebrate. A cream cheese frosting makes this stacked naked cake sweet and moist. Perfect for summer parties and celebrations. Find the recipe at thewoodandspoon.com

During my first year of living in Selma, Alabama, I discovered a number of foods for the first time. Skillet cornbread, fried pork chops, and chocolate chess pie were all foods that I barely knew existed and had definitely had never tried. Of all the bites I tasted during those early months in the deep South, one treat that stands out head and shoulders above all others in my mind is hummingbird layer cake, a cinnamon, pecan, and coconut flavored cake kept moist with the addition of bananas, crushed pineapple, and a sweet cream cheese frosting. While the combination of those ingredients seemed kinda odd to me, I nevertheless tried the cake and immediately fell in love.

Hummingbird Layer Cake by Wood and Spoon Blog. This is a recipe for a traditional southern pecan, coconut, banana, and pineapple filled cake. The recipe comes from Katie Jacobs' new book So much to celebrate. A cream cheese frosting makes this stacked naked cake sweet and moist. Perfect for summer parties and celebrations. Find the recipe at thewoodandspoon.com

Hummingbird Cake

Northerners, I’ll be honest- you’re missing out if you’ve never tried hummingbird cake. In true Southern form, this cake is heavy, rich, and moist, but the bright fruity flavors combined with the warm scent of cinnamon keeps you coming back for more and more. It’s a comforting recipe that somehow tastes like home, and I am beyond ecstatic to share the recipe for this delightful cake with you today!

Hummingbird Layer Cake by Wood and Spoon Blog. This is a recipe for a traditional southern pecan, coconut, banana, and pineapple filled cake. The recipe comes from Katie Jacobs' new book So much to celebrate. A cream cheese frosting makes this stacked naked cake sweet and moist. Perfect for summer parties and celebrations. Find the recipe at thewoodandspoon.com

This recipe for hummingbird cake comes from a darling Southern book written by my friend Katie Jacobs. “So Much To Celebrate” is an entertaining how-to filled with recipes, party ideas, and more. Katie, a Nashville native, put her keen eye for style, color, and Southern flair to use in this book that is equally beautiful as it is inspiring. While a number of recipes caught my eye, it was the hummingbird layer cake that stole my heart.

Hummingbird Layer Cake by Wood and Spoon Blog. This is a recipe for a traditional southern pecan, coconut, banana, and pineapple filled cake. The recipe comes from Katie Jacobs' new book So much to celebrate. A cream cheese frosting makes this stacked naked cake sweet and moist. Perfect for summer parties and celebrations. Find the recipe at thewoodandspoon.com

Making the Cake

To make this hummingbird layer cake, we start by mixing the wet ingredients with the sugar until light and fluffy. Next, several mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, pecans, and coconut are added, followed by the dry ingredients and a healthy spoon of cinnamon. The cake gets baked in four separate pans until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Hummingbird Layer Cake by Wood and Spoon Blog. This is a recipe for a traditional southern pecan, coconut, banana, and pineapple filled cake. The recipe comes from Katie Jacobs' new book So much to celebrate. A cream cheese frosting makes this stacked naked cake sweet and moist. Perfect for summer parties and celebrations. Find the recipe at thewoodandspoon.com

The frosting for this hummingbird layer cake is ultra-rich but perfectly sweet. Butter and cream cheese are creamed together before powdered sugar and vanilla are whipped in. In true cream cheese frosting fashion, this icing is fairly loose, so to achieve clean edges, I refrigerated the cake throughout the icing process and tried not to fuss with it too much. As a garnish, I trimmed some fresh blooms, a sweet and feminine topping worthy of a Katie Jacobs cake. I think she would approve.

Hummingbird Layer Cake by Wood and Spoon Blog. This is a recipe for a traditional southern pecan, coconut, banana, and pineapple filled cake. The recipe comes from Katie Jacobs' new book So much to celebrate. A cream cheese frosting makes this stacked naked cake sweet and moist. Perfect for summer parties and celebrations. Find the recipe at thewoodandspoon.com

This hummingbird layer cake is out of this world, a delightful treat to enjoy all year round. If you’re looking for a gift idea for a lady in your life, check out her book at this link here! Katie represents Southern baking well, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Happy baking!

Hummingbird Layer Cake by Wood and Spoon Blog. This is a recipe for a traditional southern pecan, coconut, banana, and pineapple filled cake. The recipe comes from Katie Jacobs' new book So much to celebrate. A cream cheese frosting makes this stacked naked cake sweet and moist. Perfect for summer parties and celebrations. Find the recipe at thewoodandspoon.com

If you like this hummingbird layer cake you should check out:

Hummingbird Muffins

Almond Coconut Cake

Banana Coconut Chocolate Cream Pie

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Hummingbird Layer Cake

This hummingbird cake is a Southern specialty from Katie Jacobs’ new book. Moist layers of cake made with cinnamon, banana, and crushed pineapple are filled with pecans and coconut, and the frosting is a rich and fluffy cream cheese icing.

  • Author: Katie Jacobs
  • Prep Time: 35
  • Cook Time: 35
  • Total Time: 90
  • Yield: 12

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 large)
  • 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened

For the frosting:

  • 1 pound (16 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 11/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
  • 2 pounds confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Instructions

For the cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour four 8-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat oil, vanilla, and sugar until combined, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, incorporating each before adding the next. Beat at medium speed until mixture is pale yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  4. In a separate bowl, mix together banana, pineapple, pecans, and coconut. Add to egg mixture; stir until well combined. Add flour mixture; blend well.
  5. Divide batter between pans. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes.
  6. Transfer pans to a wire rack. Once cooled, invert cakes onto racks; reinvert, top side up. Cool completely. While cake is cooling, make frosting.

For the frosting:

  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat cream cheese and vanilla until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. With mixer on medium speed, gradually add butter, beating until incorporated. Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually add sugar, beating until incorporated. Use immediately to frost and layer the cake.

Notes

  • This frosting is rich and fairly loose. To help keep your cake edges clean, refrigerate the cake throughout the icing process to help it set up.

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Hummingbird Muffins

Hummingbird Muffins Recipe by thewoodandspoon.com . Crumb / streusel topped muffins based on the classic Southern hummingbird cake recipe, these muffins are filled with brown butter, banana, pineapple, brown sugar, and nuts. Topped with a simple glaze/ drizzle. This recipe would be perfect for an Easter breakfast or brunch and are a great treat to share with friends. Simple, easy recipe based on Bake From Scratch Coffee Cake. By The Wood and Spoon Blog.

It’s Friday and I’ve got your weekend entertainment covered with a  few things to watch, a couple things to read, and a simple Southern recipe for hummingbird muffins that will knock the taste buds right off your tongue. Ready for the round-up? Let’s go!

Ina Garten, Her New Show, and How to Entertain

Ina Garten is the queen of my heart. Anyone who can slay in the kitchen and maintain BFF status with Taylor Swift is a champion in my book. She lends us kitchen peasants a few noble words of wisdom in this article from Food52. I’m adding this quote from Ina to my list of kitchen mantras: “Food is not about impressing people. In fact, it’s just the opposite: it’s about making them feel comfortable.”

Stevie Wonder Carpool Karaoke 

James Cordon is quickly moving his way up the hierarchy of late-night television, but he absolutely stole my heart with this ride along featuring Stevie Wonder. You can tell that James is just pinching himself with glee and disbelief the whole time. Watch it, sing along, and let this little corner of the internet fill your heart with musical joy!

Hummingbird Muffins Recipe by thewoodandspoon.com . Crumb / streusel topped muffins based on the classic Southern hummingbird cake recipe, these muffins are filled with brown butter, banana, pineapple, brown sugar, and nuts. This recipe would be perfect for an Easter breakfast or brunch and are a great treat to share with friends. Simple, easy recipe based on Bake From Scratch Coffee Cake. By The Wood and Spoon Blog.

The Birthday Party Project

Every person on the planet deserves the love and joy that comes with being celebrated. The Birthday Party Project is shelling out celebrations by throwing birthday parties for homeless kids across the US. Their motto? “Love each other! Build each other up!” Gosh, we could all use a bit more of that, am I right?

What to Do with Leftover Easter Candy

If you’re like me, you fill your kids’ Easter baskets with all the candies you like. You know, because leftovers. Check out my Easter cake tutorial from last year if you want something fun and spunky to make, and then take a look at this round-up of creative uses for leftover Easter basket candy!

Hummingbird Muffins

Hummingbird Muffins Recipe by thewoodandspoon.com . Crumb / streusel topped muffins based on the classic Southern hummingbird cake recipe, these muffins are filled with brown butter, banana, pineapple, brown sugar, and nuts. This recipe would be perfect for an Easter breakfast or brunch and are a great treat to share with friends. Simple, easy recipe based on Bake From Scratch Coffee Cake. By The Wood and Spoon Blog.

Hummingbird Muffins Recipe by thewoodandspoon.com . Crumb / streusel topped muffins based on the classic Southern hummingbird cake recipe, these muffins are filled with brown butter, banana, pineapple, brown sugar, and nuts. This recipe would be perfect for an Easter breakfast or brunch and are a great treat to share with friends. Simple, easy recipe based on Bake From Scratch Coffee Cake. By The Wood and Spoon Blog.

You may remember that I’m new to the South. During my first month on the job as dietitian at my small town hospital here in Selma, AL, I got my first taste of hummingbird cake. It was an immediate classic for me. This cake was like banana bread meets carrot cake meets spice cake meets all of my dreams coming true, and I couldn’t get enough of it. 

I adapted the recipe for these hummingbird muffins from Bake from Scratch magazine, and I think it may be my new favorite way to eat cake for breakfast. These muffins are moist, lightly sweetened, and topped with a delightful pecan crumb topping and sour cream glaze. True to the original cake recipe, these muffins are sweetened with banana, crushed pineapple, and brown sugar. The cake also boasts the subtle flavor of brown butter which really takes these muffins to the next level. (Update: for some help on browning butter, see my post here!)

Hummingbird Muffins Recipe by thewoodandspoon.com . Crumb / streusel topped muffins based on the classic Southern hummingbird cake recipe, these muffins are filled with brown butter, banana, pineapple, brown sugar, and nuts. This recipe would be perfect for an Easter breakfast or brunch and are a great treat to share with friends. Simple, easy recipe glaze/drizzle based on Bake From Scratch Coffee Cake. By The Wood and Spoon Blog.

These hummingbird muffins would make an excellent breakfast item this weekend, and might be the perfect treat to round out your Easter brunch table too! Give them a try and let me know what you think. Have a terrific weekend and stay tuned for another great spring recipe that I’ll be sharing next week!

You may also like:

Apple Crumb Cake

Orange Cardamom Rolls

Hazelnut Cinnamon Rolls

Blueberry Cornbread

Lemon Almond Poppyseed Bundt Cake

Strawberry Shortcakes

 

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Hummingbird Muffins

Based on the classic Southern cake, these hummingbird muffins have a brown butter pecan streusel, a sour cream glaze, and a tender banana and pineapple filled muffin base.

  • Author: Kate Wood
  • Prep Time: 30
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12

Ingredients

For the browned butter

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick, 110 gm) unsalted butter

For the streusel

  • 1/3 cup (40 gm) flour
  • 1/4 cup (55 gm) brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons (50 gm) unsalted butter, cold
  • 1/2 cup (55 gm) chopped pecan halves

For the cinnamon sugar sprinkle

  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the cake

  • 1 large (120 gm) banana, mashed
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (115 gm) drained crushed pineapple
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 11/2 cups (190 gm) flour
  • 3/4 cup (150 gm) sugar
  • 1/4 cup (55 gm) brown sugar, packed
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the glaze

  • 1/2 cup (60 gm) confectioner’s sugar
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 11/2 teaspoons whole milk

Instructions

To prepare the browned butter

  1. Cube the butter and place in a small sauce or fry pan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until melted. Once melted, stir frequently to keep the butter moving and watch as the butter slowly begins to brown. You’ll notice little amber colored flecks forming at the bottom of the pan and the butter will give off a nutty aroma. This should take close to ten minutes, but watch closely to avoid burning the butter. Once browned, remove from pan to a separate bowl and place in the fridge to cool to room temp.

To prepare the streusel

  1. Combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium sized bowl. Dice the butter and then cut into the flour using the back of a fork or a pastry cutter. Once the butter is well integrated, about pea-sized clumps, toss in the pecan pieces. Place in the fridge to keep cool until use.

To prepare the cinnamon sugar sprinkle

  1. Combine the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl and set aside.

To prepare the cake

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a muffin pan with 12 paper liners.
  2. Combine the banana, eggs, pineapple, and vanilla in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on medium speed until thoroughly combined and slightly whipped, about 1-1/2 to 2 minutes. Add the cooled, liquid browned butter, and beat to combine. In a small bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients and then add them to the butter mixture. Stir until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
  3. Once mixed, scoop 2 tablespoons of batter into the bottoms of each of the muffin tins. (I use a leveled medium-sized cookie scoop for even scoops). Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar sprinkle evenly over each scoop of batter. Then, disperse about 1/3 of the streusel evenly among the 12 muffin tins. Top each muffin with an additional 2 tablespoons of batter, and then sprinkle the remaining streusel on top. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for a few minutes before removing from the pan.

To prepare the glaze

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl with a whisk. Drizzle over top of the the muffins as desired.

Notes

For some help on browning butter, see my post here: https://thewoodandspoon.com/you-need-to-know-how-to-brown-butter/

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

Recipe Adapted From: Bake From Scratch

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