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How to Make Chef John's Hummingbird Cake - A Step-by-Step Guide

Chef John's Hummingbird Cake is a delightful and popular Southern dessert that's perfect for any occasion. This moist and flavorful cake is loaded with ripe bananas, crushed pineapple, pecans, and a hint of warm spices. Topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting, this cake is a true crowd-pleaser that will have everyone humming with delight.

Originating from Jamaica, Hummingbird Cake made its way to the Southern United States and quickly became a beloved classic. It's often referred to ...

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple
  • 3 medium ripe bananas, sliced
  • 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (16 ounce) package powdered sugar
  • ½ cup white sugar, or as needed
  • ¼ cup edible flowers, assorted

Information

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Additional Time: 2 hrs 10 mins
  • Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 1 9-inch layer cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter two 9-inch round cake pans, then dust with flour. Set aside.
  • Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl; whisk quickly to combine. Add oil and eggs and mix with a spatula until just combined.
  • Add vanilla, pineapple, bananas, and toasted pecans, and mix until thoroughly combined. Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans. Shake each pan then tap on the counter to settle the batter and bring any air bubbles to the top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until a wooden skewer inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
  • Let cakes cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Let cool completely, at least 1 hour.
  • Combine cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment on high speed, mix until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as necessary with a spatula. Mix in the powdered sugar on a lower speed in 3 or 4 additions until mostly incorporated. Increase to high speed and whip until light and fluffy.
  • Place one cake on a serving platter. Spread 1/2 of the frosting on top, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch unfrosted at the edges. Top with second cake layer and give it a firm but gentle press. Pile remaining frosting on top and spread toward the outside.
  • Place in the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour.
  • Meanwhile, draw or trace a hummingbird template on a piece of paper and lay on a baking sheet under a silicone mat (such as Silpat®).
  • Heat sugar for hummingbird in a saucepan over medium-low heat until dissolved, hot, and amber in color. Drip liquid sugar onto the silicon mat, tracing the hummingbird pattern. Let sit until hard.
  • Place cooled hummingbird on top of cake and decorate with edible flowers.

    • Nutrition

    983 cal.

    • Total Fat: 56g
    • Saturated Fat: 18g
    • Cholesterol: 108mg
    • Sodium: 436mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 115g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 85g
    • Protein: 9g
    • Vitamin C: 5mg
    • Calcium: 57mg
    • Iron: 3mg
    • Potassium: 268mg

    Categories

    Dessert recipes
    Cake recipes
    Baking recipes
    Fruity recipes
    Southern recipes