Hummingbird Skillet Cake Recipe (2024)

  • Cakes
  • Banana
  • Pineapple
  • Pecans

A hearty pineapple-banana cake, baked in a cast iron skillet and topped with cream cheese frosting.

By

Stella Parks

Hummingbird Skillet Cake Recipe (1)

Stella Parks

Editor Emeritus

Stella Parks is a CIA-trained baking nerd and pastry wizard, dubbed one of America's Best New Pastry Chefs by Food & Wine. She was the pastry editor at Serious Eats from 2016 to 2019.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated May 07, 2020

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Hummingbird Skillet Cake Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • Puréeing the fruit maximizes its flavor more than simply chopping or mashing.
  • A pinch of cloves intensifies the banana flavor.
  • A 10-inch cast iron skillet is the perfect size for a casual cake to feed a crowd.

Hummingbird cake is a classic Southern dessert. It has a similar look and feel to carrot cake, down to the light and tangy cream cheese frosting, but pineapple and banana take the place of the carrots, for a tropical twist. It's almost always served as a stately layer cake, but a cast iron skillet dresses it down into a more casual affair, one that's easy to transport and perfect for potlucks and picnics alike.

Fresh Pineapple Is the Key to This Cast Iron Skillet Hummingbird Cake

Recipe Details

Hummingbird Skillet Cake Recipe

ActiveAbout 45 mins

Total3 hrs

Serves10to 12 servings

Ingredients

Getting Ready:

  • 4 ounces pecan pieces (about 3/4 cup; 113g)

  • 1 small pineapple

  • 1 small banana

For the Cake:

  • 6 ounces plain ortoastedsugar (about 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon; 170g)

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 3/4 teaspoon (3g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use about half as much by volume or the same weight

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

  • 2 large eggs (about 3 1/2 ounces; 100g), straight from the fridge

  • 1/4 ounce vanilla extract(about 1 1/2 teaspoons; 7g)

  • 6 ounces unsalted butter, melted (about 3/4 cup; 170g)

  • 5 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour (shy 1 1/4 cups, spooned; 155g)

To Finish:

  • 2 cups cream cheese frosting, cream cheese buttercream, or another topping of your choice

  • Toasted pecans, to taste

Directions

  1. Getting Ready: Adjust oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 350°F (180°C). Toast pecans on a half-sheet pan until golden brown, about 10 minutes, then let cool completely. (The pecans may be toasted in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several weeks.) Meanwhile, peel, trim, and core the pineapple and measure 5 ounces (about 2/3 cup; 140g) fruit into the jar of a blender, or a tall, narrow jar if using an immersion blender. If you like, reserve the pineapple scraps to make fresh pineapple syrup. Peel banana and measure out 3 ounces fruit (about 1/3 cup; 85g) to add along with the pineapple. Blend until smooth. Use purée immediately or refrigerate up to 3 days and bring to about 70°F (21°C) before use.

  2. For the Cake: Combine sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, nutmeg, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on low to moisten, then increase to medium and whip until thick and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add melted butter in a steady stream, then reduce speed to low and add flour. Once smooth, add fruit purée and mix only until well combined. Fold in toasted pecans with a flexible spatula, scraping the bowl along the bottom and sides to ensure batter is well mixed throughout.

  3. Bake until the cake is well risen and golden brown, about 45 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center will have a few crumbs still attached when removed, and your fingertip will leave a slight indentation in the puffy crust. Transfer to a heat-safe surface or a wire rack and cool until no trace of warmth remains, at least 90 minutes. (The time will vary depending on the cast iron's gauge and the type of cooling surface.)

  4. To Finish: Top the cake with about 2 cups of your favorite cream cheese frosting or buttercream, along with a scattering of toasted pecans. Enjoy immediately or leave at room temperature until ready to serve, up to 24 hours at cool room temperature. After cutting, wrap leftover slices individually and store at cool room temperature up to 2 days more.

Special equipment

Immersion blender, stand mixer, 10-inch cast iron skillet

Notes

Those who don't like cream cheese frosting can reserve the pineapple core and scraps to make fresh pineapple syrup. This in turn can be made into a pineapple variation on Lemon Chantilly, for a bright and tangy topping without cream cheese.

This Recipe Appears In

  • Fresh Pineapple Is the Key to This Cast Iron Skillet Hummingbird Cake
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
494Calories
29g Fat
59g Carbs
4g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10to 12
Amount per serving
Calories494
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g37%
Saturated Fat 10g51%
Cholesterol 61mg20%
Sodium 262mg11%
Total Carbohydrate 59g21%
Dietary Fiber 2g7%
Total Sugars 45g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 6mg32%
Calcium 46mg4%
Iron 1mg7%
Potassium 133mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Hummingbird Skillet Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a hummingbird cake made of? ›

If you're not familiar, hummingbird cake is a spiced pineapple-banana cake topped with cream cheese frosting and pecans. Maybe it's the pecans that lure me in, or the way the taste fools me into thinking I might just be eating a fancy piece of banana bread with a little cream cheese. Good for you, right?

Why is it called hummingbird cake? ›

Created in Jamaica where the dessert is called the doctor bird cake (or Dr. Bird cake), it is named after the island's national bird, the scissors-tail hummingbird (locally known as the doctor bird).

Why is my hummingbird cake dry? ›

Why Is My Hummingbird Cake Dry? Your hummingbird cake can be dry due to common mistakes, such as draining your crushed pineapples. Don't drain your crushed pineapple before adding it to the recipe; make sure you're using it along with its juice, which imparts not only tons of flavor, but exquisite moistness, too.

Why is my hummingbird cake crumbly? ›

Using too much flour is a surefire way to end up with dry, crumbly hummingbird cake. The best and most accurate way to measure flour is to weigh it with a kitchen scale. If you don't have one, fluff up the flour in its container and spoon it into your measuring cup, using a knife to level off the top.

What does a hummingbird cake taste like? ›

What does hummingbird cake taste like? Hummingbird cake tastes like the best banana bread ever, crossed with a carrot cake that some absent-minded baker forgot to bake with the carrots and raisins.

What is Elvis Presley cake? ›

An Elvis Presley cake is a single-layer classic yellow cake that's topped with a pineapple glaze. Much like a poke cake, the syrup and juices of the pineapple will seep into the cake through fork holes, resulting in a decadent, ultra-moist cake.

Why is it called wife cake? ›

Another story tells of a dim sum chef's wife creating a pastry with wintermelon paste influenced by a recipe from her mother's family. The new pastry was found to taste better than the dim sums that were being sold in teahouses, and the chef proudly told everyone it was made by his wife, hence it was named "Wife Cake".

What is a brides cake? ›

Usually, a large, white tiered cake, decorated mostly in white frosting, is called the bride's cake, and a second flavor choice is called the "groom's cake". This tradition was brought over from England by early American colonists, who considered the white-iced bride's cake too light for men's tastes.

What is the most popular cake in America? ›

Top 10 Birthday Cakes In America
  • Red Velvet Cake. Let's kick things off with the all-time favorite – Red Velvet Cake. ...
  • Chocolate Fudge Cake. Calling all chocoholics! ...
  • Funfetti Cake. ...
  • Lemon Raspberry Cake. ...
  • Carrot Cake. ...
  • Tiramisu Cake. ...
  • Strawberry Shortcake. ...
  • Black Forest Cake.
Oct 2, 2023

How long will hummingbird cake last? ›

Hummingbird cake is best stored in the refrigerator and will keep for up to 5 days there, just make sure to keep it tightly covered in an airtight container. It's such a moist cake the cool refrigerator doesn't do much damage to its tender crumb.

Can I use both butter and oil in cake? ›

Oh yes, you sure can. This recipe has a combination of butter and oil to give off that nice buttery taste while keeping it soft and moist at the same time. Cake using pure butter tends to be more dense and dry compared to adding oil into the batter.

Does hummingbird cake contain coconut? ›

This Hummingbird Cake Recipe is a Southern delicacy with a banana cake batter, pecans, pineapple, cinnamon, and in my version, coconut! The addition of cream cheese frosting makes this layered banana cake practically irresistible.

Should I refrigerate cake layers before frosting? ›

"Prepare, bake, and cool the cake completely. Then, wrap each cake layer in cling film, nice and tight, and place in the fridge for at least two hours," he says. That's right, you won't be frosting your cake at room temperature; a chilled cake is essential before applying any frosting. "This step is the most important.

How do you make a cake moist and not crumbly? ›

Add ½ cup of mayo (yes, mayo!) to the batter when mixing. The mayo doesn't replace anything; it's only an addition. And don't worry: The flavor wasn't impacted by this small amount being added; it just gave the cake noticeable moistness.

How do you make a cake less moist and crumbly? ›

How to Prevent a Dry or Dense Cake
  1. Use Cake Flour. Reach for cake flour instead of all-purpose flour. ...
  2. Add Sour Cream. ...
  3. Room Temperature Butter / Don't Over-Cream. ...
  4. Add a Touch of Baking Powder or Baking Soda. ...
  5. Add Oil. ...
  6. Don't Over-Mix. ...
  7. Don't Over-Bake. ...
  8. Brush With Simple Syrup/Other Liquid.
Aug 25, 2019

What is hummingbird food made of? ›

Directions for making safe hummingbird food:

Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water (for example, 1 cup of sugar with 4 cups of water) until the sugar is dissolved. Do not add red dye. Fill your hummingbird feeders with the sugar water and place outside. Extra sugar water can be stored in a refrigerator.

Why is it called hummingbird? ›

Most hummingbirds beat their wings 60 to 80 times per second. The name hummingbird comes from the humming sound their wings make as they fly. These birds' flexible shoulder joints allow their wings to rotate 180 degrees, which enables backward flight and stationary hovering.

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