Why is it called hummingbird cake?

Hummingbird cake is a sweet and moist cake that originated in Jamaica. It gets its name from the key ingredients that give it a very sweet taste – sugar and bananas. When the cake is baked, the sweet aroma and flavor are said to attract hummingbirds, much like hummingbird nectar. The cake has become popular in the Southern United States and is now considered a classic Southern recipe.

History of Hummingbird Cake

The earliest known recipe for hummingbird cake appeared in Country Women magazine in February 1978. It was submitted by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina and simply called “Doctor Bird Cake” after Jamaica’s national bird, the doctor bird hummingbird. Over time, the cake recipe spread and became known as “hummingbird cake.”

The traditional Jamaican doctor bird hummingbird cake recipe contained bananas, pineapple, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, flour, eggs, vegetable oil, and nuts. When the cake migrated to the American South, Southern bakers added their own twists with pecans and cream cheese frosting. The resulting cake was sweet and tropical tasting from the bananas, pineapple, and sugar. The addition of spice and nuts gave it more depth and texture.

Hummingbird Cake Ingredients

There are a few key ingredients that give hummingbird cake its signature sweet flavor and moist texture:

• Ripe bananas – Bananas lend natural sweetness, moisture, and flavor to the cake.
• Pineapple – Crushed pineapple also provides moisture and a tropical fruit flavor.
• Sugar – Granulated white sugar sweetens the cake and balances the other flavors.
• Spices – Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla provide warmth.
• Nuts – Pecans or walnuts add crunch and texture.
• Eggs and oil – Bind the ingredients and keep the cake moist.
• Flour – Provides structure to the cake.

When these ingredients are combined and baked, the result is a sweet and ultra-moist cake that resembles the nectar favored by hummingbirds.

Traditional Hummingbird Cake Recipe

Here is a classic hummingbird cake recipe:

Ingredients

• 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 (16 ounce) box confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, beat bananas, pineapple, sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon until combined.
3. Add eggs and beat well. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt just until combined.
4. Fold in pecans or walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pans.
5. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes until a toothpickinserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
7. To make the frosting: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in confectioners’ sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until light and fluffy.
8. Once cakes are cool, spread frosting between layers and over the top.

This yields a classic two-layer hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting that’s sweet and irresistible!

Variations

There are many variations on the traditional hummingbird cake recipe:

• Fruit: Pineapple can be replaced with mashed bananas. Applesauce or crushed berries can also be used.
• Nuts: Pecans can be swapped for walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts or hazelnuts.
• Spices: Nutmeg, allspice or ginger can be used instead of cinnamon.
• Frosting: Cream cheese frosting can be swapped for vanilla or lemon frosting.
• Gluten-free: The cake can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free flour.
• Vegan: The eggs and dairy can be omitted to make a vegan hummingbird cake.

The tropical flavors of hummingbird cake also work well in recipes like muffins, bars, tarts, trifles and even ice cream!

Why Hummingbird Cake Became Popular

There are a few reasons why hummingbird cake gained popularity in the Southern United States:

• The tropical, sweet flavors appealed to Southern tastes and evoked vacation memories.
• Southern bakers embraced the cake and added local twists like pecans and cream cheese frosting.
• The cake has an ultra-moist, soft crumb that is irresistible.
• It utilizes Southern pantry staples like bananas, pineapple, and pecans.
• The cake is substantial and perfect for potlucks and gatherings.
• The name “hummingbird cake” is charming and evocative.
• The recipe was shared in Southern cooking magazines and cookbooks.
• It became a new Southern classic and a break from traditional cakes.

Hummingbird cake was a hit – it was new and different, yet familiar. The tropical flavors and ultra-moist crumb made it addictive. It quickly joined the ranks of classic Southern cakes and became a staple at potlucks, church gatherings, and backyard barbecues. Southerners continue to embrace the nostalgic charm of this homemade cake.

Popularity and Modern Variations

Since it first appeared, hummingbird cake has exploded in popularity and can be found everywhere from Junior League cookbooks to food blogs. Some signs of its popularity include:

• It appears in Southern living cookbooks and magazines as a regional iconic dessert.
• Copying the cake has become a rite of passage for novice Southern bakers.
• It is served at classic Southern restaurants and diners alongside pie or banana pudding.
• Bakeries sell individual hummingbird cake slices and cupcakes.
• It shows up on restaurant dessert menus across the U.S., highlighted as a Southern specialty.
• Food bloggers create unique hummingbird cake recipes with new twists.
• It remains a fixture at church gatherings, weddings, and backyard barbeques.

While hummingbird cake is best known as a Southern classic, it has also inspired many new variations as it has spread across the country:

• Hummingbird bundt cake – The same batter baked in a bundt cake pan.
• Hummingbird sheet cake – Baked into a sheet cake and frosted.
• Hummingbird cupcakes – Cake batter baked into individual cupcakes.
• Hummingbird poke cake – Jello poked into a baked cake for more moisture.
• Hummingbird trifle – Layers of cake, pudding, fruit and whipped cream.
• Hummingbird muffins – The cake as a quick bread or muffins.
• Hummingbird bars – Turned into a layered bar cookie.
• Hummingbird blondies – Blond brown sugar bars with walnuts and pineapple.

The basic ingredients of banana, pineapple, sugar and spice still evoke the essence of hummingbird cake, while allowing for creative interpretations. The sweet taste of the tropics that made this cake famous clearly continues to inspire bakers today!

Conclusion

Hummingbird cake gets its memorable name from the sweet tropical ingredients that mimic the nectar favored by hummingbirds. Born in Jamaica then soaring in popularity in the American South, hummingbird cake has become a classic Southern recipe. Its signature sweet banana-pineapple flavor, soft crumb, and use of Southern pantry staples like pecans struck a chord with Southern bakers. Hummingbird cake has proven to have lasting appeal, inspiring creative variations that still showcase its tropical essence. More than 40 years after it first appeared, this homemade Southern dessert continues to evoke nostalgia and charm. The story of how hummingbird cake got its name is as sweet as the cake itself.