The Hummingbird Bakery is a popular bakery chain that originated in the UK and now has locations around the world. The bakery first opened in Notting Hill, London in 2004 and quickly gained fame for its indulgent American-style baked goods. The Hummingbird Bakery is best known for its cupcakes, which come in a variety of fun and creative flavors.
Some quick facts about The Hummingbird Bakery:
– Founded in 2004 in Notting Hill, London by Tarek Malouf and his sister Samir Malouf.
– The first Hummingbird Bakery was inspired by bakeries Tarek visited in New York City. He wanted to bring American-style baking to the UK.
– The bakery is named after the hummingbird cake, a classic Southern US dessert. Hummingbird cake features banana, pineapple, pecans, cinnamon, and cream cheese frosting.
– The Hummingbird Bakery quickly took off in popularity thanks to media coverage and word-of-mouth. Customers lined up out the door for the bakery’s fresh-baked cupcakes and cakes.
– Today there are over 45 Hummingbird Bakery locations. The bakery chain has expanded across the UK, into the US, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and more.
The Bakery’s Famous Cupcakes
The Hummingbird Bakery is most famous for its wide offering of American-style cupcakes. When it first opened in 2004, cupcakes were not common in the UK. The Hummingbird Bakery helped launch the cupcake trend across the country.
Some key reasons the bakery became so well-known for its cupcakes include:
– Unique and creative flavors – Hummingbird cupcakes come in flavors like red velvet, strawberries and cream, salted caramel, and more. The unique options helped them stand out from typical British cakes.
– Frosting – The cupcakes feature tall, swirly frosting in rich buttercream or cream cheese. This made them extra decadent and indulgent.
– Freshness – The cupcakes are baked fresh in small batches throughout the day. This quality and freshness helped build word-of-mouth excitement.
– Bright and colorful – Hummingbird Bakery cupcakes are topped with bright, crunchy sprinkles or decorations. The fun, colorful look made them popular for parties and celebrations.
– American style – The cupcakes are based on American baking styles like red velvet and strawberry. These were new concepts in the UK at the time.
Top Hummingbird Cupcake Flavors
Here are some of the most popular cupcake flavors from the iconic Hummingbird Bakery:
| Cupcake Flavor | Description |
|---|---|
| Red Velvet | Rich red chocolate cake with tangy cream cheese frosting |
| Vanilla | Moist vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream frosting |
| Chocolate | Rich chocolate cake topped with chocolate buttercream |
| Salted Caramel | Caramel cake with sweet and salty caramel frosting |
| Strawberries & Cream | Vanilla cake filled with fresh strawberries and fluffy cream |
The bakery rotates through over 50 cupcake flavors so there is always something new to try. Seasonal flavors are also offered.
Other Baked Goods
While the Hummingbird Bakery is most famous for cupcakes, it also offers many other baked treats:
– Layer cakes – Elegant multi-layer cakes topped with buttercream frosting for special occasions
– Pies – Homemade fruit and nut pies with flaky crusts, like apple pie and pecan pie
– Traybakes – Thick slabs of layered bars with flavors like salted caramel, rocky road, and lemon drizzle
– Muffins – Jumbo bakery-style muffins in flavors like blueberry, banana walnut, and double chocolate
– Cookies – Chewy cookies including chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, and more
– Scones – Fluffy British-style scones served plain or with add-ins like berries, lemon, and white chocolate
– Brownies – Rich, fudgy chocolate brownies made with high-quality chocolate
Most Popular Baked Goods Besides Cupcakes
Here are some of the most popular non-cupcake items from Hummingbird Bakery:
| Baked Good | Description |
|---|---|
| Red Velvet Cake | Layered red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting |
| Carrot Cake | Spiced carrot cake with cream cheese frosting |
| Chocolate Fudge Cake | Rich chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting |
| Cinnamon Rolls | Soft, chewy cinnamon rolls drizzled with icing |
| Chocolate Chip Cookies | Gooey chocolate chip cookies with vanilla chips added |
The bakery’s signature cake and cookie flavors are nearly as popular as the cupcakes. Customers also love the cinnamon rolls, brownies, and orange-scented scones.
The Hummingbird Baking Process
A major reason for the Hummingbird Bakery’s popularity is the care put into the baking process. Some details that help create quality baked goods include:
– Made from scratch – Batters and recipes are made fresh in-house versus using mixes
– Quality ingredients – Only high-quality butter, chocolate, fruit, and extracts are used, no artificial flavors
– Small batches – Treats are baked in small batches throughout the day for freshness
– Balanced recipes – Recipes are meticulously tested to create the perfect balance of flavors
– Seasonal offerings – Ingredients are carefully selected at the peak of freshness based on the season
– No preservatives – No preservatives are added, contributing to natural flavors and textures
– Trained bakers – Friendly and knowledgeable bakers prepare each treat by hand
The attention to detail allows the bakery to consistently create high-quality treats with real, homemade taste. Customers can truly taste the difference these quality details make.
The Look and Atmosphere
Beyond the treats, the look and atmosphere of Hummingbird Bakery locations help make the brand so popular.
Some signature features include:
– Vintage inspired decor – Shabby chic, Victorian inspired decor creates a cute, girly aesthetic
– Display cases – Treats displayed in large cases allows customers to browse all the options
– Open kitchen – The kitchen is openly visible so customers can watch bakers in action
– Pastel colors – Soft pastel colors like mint, pink, and blue are used throughout for a playful look
– Vintage tiles – Black and white checkered tiles on floors and walls mimic 1950s diners
– Flowers and chandeliers – Fresh floral displays and ornamental chandeliers add a feminine touch
– Old fashioned signs – Handwritten signs on chalkboards and wooden paddles continue the retro theme
The welcoming, playful decor has become a key part of the Hummingbird Bakery brand. The look and atmosphere make it just as Instragrammable as the baked goods themselves. It is an environment people love to be in and a part of the bakery’s popularity.
Global Expansion
The popularity of Hummingbird Bakery eventually led the brand to expand globally beyond the UK:
- 2006 – First US location opens in Los Angeles
- 2012 – Expands to Saudi Arabia with store openings in Riyadh and Jeddah
- 2013 – Opens location in Hong Kong
- 2015 – Launches stores in Dubai, UAE
- 2016 – Adds second US bakery in New York City
Overseas locations aim to closely recreate the signature Hummingbird style of both baked goods and decor. Global customers visiting London often make a stop for Hummingbird treats part of their trip as well. The global reach has helped cement the bakery’s international fame.
Awards and Accolades
The incredible popularity and praise for Hummingbird Bakery has led them to receive numerous awards and recognitions over the years, including:
– Voted UK’s Best Cupcake by the Guardian Food Awards (2019)
– Named “One of the World’s Best Bakeries” by Food Network
– Received 3 Great Taste Awards from Guild of Fine Food for baked goods quality
– Winner of 7 Golden Cupcake Awards for Best Bakery and Best Cupcakes
– Featured in lists of Best UK Bakeries by publications like Conde Nast Traveller, Timeout, and more
– Has a 5-star rating on Trustpilot from over 5000 customer reviews
The many awards help substantiate why so many customers love Hummingbird Bakery and how they’ve become icons in the world of baking.
Conclusion
The Hummingbird Bakery has earned famous status thanks to its signature indulgent cupcakes as well as the quality and care that goes into all its baked goods. The fun, girly style of the bakeries and innovation in bringing American baking concepts to the UK also helped launch them into popularity. While the brand has expanded globally, they stay committed to baking small batches by hand and using only the finest ingredients. The result is bakery treats that look beautiful and taste just as good as they look. Hummingbird Bakery has become globally renowned, especially for its cupcakes, by focusing on delighting customers with baked goods that offer a delicious taste of feel-good nostalgia.
