During our last trip to New York, we hit up the Cupcake Stop truck for an afternoon treat. I was surprised to find Hummingbird Cupcakes on their menu. For those of you unfamiliar with this particular cake, it is a fabulous Southern dessert that has been around for ages.
I hadn’t had Hummingbird cake in years. Actually, I hadn’t even thought about it in a while. I’m also pretty sure I’ve never made one. But, when I saw it in cupcake form on the menu that day among their other tasty flavors, I had no hesitation in making my choice. Since that day, I developed a hankering for Hummingbird cake that I just couldn’t ignore. I decided to try them in cupcake form, too, as a tribute to the awesomeness that is Cupcake Stop.
If I’d never eaten this cake, I probably wouldn’t have read through the recipe and thought that it was a must-make cake. It’s a bit of an odd combination – cinnamon, pineapple, pecans, bananas. Trust me, though, it is exceptionally good. It’s a bit like eating banana bread with cream cheese frosting. Only better.
Taking chocolate options out of the equation, this is definitely one of my top-rated cakes. You know, even considering chocolate, I might just have to put it in the top ten.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 cups chopped bananas
- chopped pecans or sanding sugar, for garnish
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 16 ounces confectioners sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To make the cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour regular cupcake pans. Set aside.
Combine flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in vanilla, pineapple, pecans, and bananas.
Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Then, remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
To make the frosting:
Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.
After cooling, frost cupcakes. Garnish, if desired.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Southern Living.
June 30th, 2010 at 6:27 am
Yum! That looks irresistable. I would love to make these but I’m allergic to pineapple. What do you think I could substitute the pineapple for?
June 30th, 2010 at 7:40 am
This looks incredible-I am going to try this recipe-I like the combination. Where did you see the cupcake truck in NYC-I was just there and did not see any.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Well, if it beats out so many of your chocolate recipes, then I have no choice but to try it, now do I?
June 30th, 2010 at 10:52 am
Oh the cupcake truck…it’s such a happy sight to see. And you never know where it’s going to be…so you just MUST get a cupcake each and every time you see it. Simply must. And now this hummingbird cupcake is calling out to us!
June 30th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Se ven deliciosos. Saludos
June 30th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
I have seen hummingbird cakes around so many times but have never tried making them – and these are adorable! I don’t know why I have never given this a go, since I love each and every flavor mixed here…
Beautiful!
June 30th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
This looks and sounds amazing! I’ve never had hummingbird cake, but I think I won’t be able to say that for long!
June 30th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Mm wow these sound amazingly good, i love the picture you took as well, it makes them look so tasty yum!
June 30th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Val, if it were me, I’d add extra bananas. Let me know what you try and how it works.
June 30th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
It’s my fallback cake for potlucks and such, but I never thought to serve it in cupcake form.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
If these babies make the chocolate-included top ten…then wow they must be good. Okay. Bookmarked.
July 1st, 2010 at 3:58 am
Oh the cupcake truck! It’s such a happy sight to see! You just have to stop and get a treat when you pass…because who knows when you’ll see it again! You really don’t have a choice. And now we’re dreaming on this hummingbird cake…yum.
July 1st, 2010 at 5:03 am
hummingbird cupcakes always seem very hearty to me – like delicious ‘kitchen sink’ cupcakes. yours look incredible!
July 1st, 2010 at 6:37 am
Esme, the Cupcake Stop truck was on 5th Avenue somewhere around 20th Street. They usually post their spot for the day on Twitter and Facebook.
July 1st, 2010 at 10:49 am
Oh my this looks delicious. I have never heard of it before but it looks like it’s a must make.
July 1st, 2010 at 11:08 am
I never knew of Hummingbird cake or cupcake…I love all the ingredients it includes so now I will just have to try it!!!
Thanks for this blog.
July 1st, 2010 at 11:40 am
One of my favorite cakes translated into a cupcake!!!
July 1st, 2010 at 2:10 pm
These are incredible. This is my first real visit to your site so I’ve spent some time reading your earlier posts. I’m so glad I did. You have fantastic recipes and I love the tone of your blog. I’ll be back often to see what else you’ve been cooking. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
July 1st, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Ohh this post just reminded me that I need to make a hummingbird cake..I never have!
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:06 pm
I grew up in the south and still live here but have never heard of a Hummingbird Cake before. I’m trying it out at my family get together on the 4th. One question… do you drain the juice off of the can of pineapple or use it as is??
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:43 pm
yayyy! My most favorite cake EVER! It is a tradition that every year my mom makes me this cake for my birthday, and I do the same for her when her special day rolls around. I only make it once a year because it is just too dang dangerous to have in my house.
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Heather, I drained some of the juice, but you can use it all.
July 5th, 2010 at 10:33 am
I made these cupcakes for the 4th and they were wonderful. The cream cheese frosting is perfect! I didn’t drain the pineapple, thought it needed the extra moisture. The end consistancy was just like my banana bread batter, thick and yummy to lick off the spoon!
July 7th, 2010 at 6:53 am
I recently made Hummingbird Cake and my friends kept asking if I had used real hummingbirds in it.
I loooooved it and will make it again for sure – maybe next time as cupcakes!
July 8th, 2010 at 9:52 am
i wish we had a cupcake truck here, those look so wonderful, i think i will give them a try. Thank you for sharing the wonderful recipe and photos
July 8th, 2010 at 10:21 am
this is a wonderful recipe, it was really easy to make, i made them in mini cupcakes and my kids loved them. Thanks for sharing
July 10th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
These look fantastic, I tried one when I was down South and just loved them. Now I finally can try and make them myself. Thanks!
July 11th, 2010 at 11:32 am
These look terrific, and pretty easy to put together also, which is big plus in my book when it comes to cupcakes. Thanks for the post! – Gary
July 15th, 2010 at 10:45 am
I had extra bananas and was looking for recipe that wasn’t banana bread. When I came across Hummingbird Cake, I knew I had to make it because I loved the name so much. When I made it I didn’t have time to bake cupcakes (only have one cupcake pan) so I made a cake. (I just baked it longer.) It was delicious!!! Thanks for the recipe.
July 15th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Its like my favorite cake encapsulated in a lovable bite-sized portion. Thanks for the recipe – definitely going to make for my next get together with friends!
July 20th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Delicious!! I made these to take to my Grandmother’s 84th birthday and it was a huge hit. The one comment that stands out for me was from my hubby saying “were these difficult to make” and when I responded “no”, he was pleased stating to keep the recipe on top.
July 20th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
I miss your posts – hurry up and make something! LOL
Seriously, though, I really do enjoy your posts and look forward to your latest and greatest. The hummingbird cupcakes are on the “soon” list, to be sure!
July 21st, 2010 at 5:56 pm
I’ve never heard of hummingbird cake before, but now I’m dying to try!
July 25th, 2010 at 5:50 am
I like very much this web.
July 26th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Jennifer,
Wow I did not know there was something called hummingbird cupcake or even a cupcake stop truck. I have been a New York many times but never seen it. In California, we have lot of taco trucks and they are great!
This looks yummy enough to eat from the page, will be back for sure. Love your blog.
July 27th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
This is the first time on your site for me, and I’ve spent a long time admiring your photography and recipes! I will be back!
Let me know if I could feature your site on mine-thanks!
August 4th, 2010 at 3:20 am
Those look great! I had never heard of Hummingbird cake until my cousin requested that I make her one for her birthday. The combination of flavours does work really well together.
August 14th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
I have just found your site and it is amazing! All of your baking looks delicious. You are doing something I have always wanted to do! You are def an inspiration! I can’t wait to start baking! Thanks for all the hard work and keep it up.
September 1st, 2010 at 11:36 am
I love hummingbird cake!
September 1st, 2010 at 4:17 pm
I love cupcakes. This is a cupcake I would definitely try because I like all the different components that are in the cake.
September 1st, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Moist? Check!
Good icing? Check!
Nuts? Check!
What more could you want???
Fabulous recipe. I always add pinneapple, banana etc to mine.
September 2nd, 2010 at 1:18 pm
This does indeed look and sound like a must-bake. Can’t wait to try it for myself.
September 3rd, 2010 at 7:01 pm
These look awesome….I’ve never had it before…..I’m definately going to try it. Thanks for the recipe:)
September 4th, 2010 at 6:53 am
I just recently tried hummingbird cake for the first time–I am still trying to decide if I like it better than carrot cake..but regardless, your cupcakes look amazing!
October 18th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Totally love these cupcakes! I have never tried the hummingbird cupcake, but it is now on my list! Also I’ll be featuring them on Friday this week on http://partycupcakeideas.com/ Cheers!
October 29th, 2010 at 7:04 am
I love your blog! Your recipes look amazing and the photography is beautiful! My good friend, Amy, requested Hummingbird Cake for her birthday many years ago and I have been making it ever since (at least once a year on her birthday). I am inspired now to make it in cupcake form. Thanks!
January 12th, 2011 at 9:43 am
It’s nice to see Hummingbird Cake in cupcake form. The recipe is the perfect combination of fruit, cinnamon spice and cream cheese. Adding walnuts on top is great, but using coconut is also a nice change-up to the traditional recipe.
March 4th, 2011 at 11:15 am
I made these last night to bring into the office today for my birthday and they are AMAZING! So incredibly moist and flavorful, I described them as banana bread but WAY better than that! Thanks so much for this recipe, it’s been a hit! And I’ll be featuring this recipe on my blog either this weekend or early next week, just FYI. And I’ve already featured your Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake, which I am obsessed with. Thanks again, love it all!
August 31st, 2012 at 5:13 pm
This look gorgeous! I can’t wait to get my hands and kitchen dirty.
January 26th, 2013 at 10:26 am
Looks great! Thanks! Can’t wait to try them!