Last Updated on December 29, 2022
If you are looking for something different to bake, this delicious hummingbird cake recipe with a cake mix is a great option. It consists of many wonderful flavor combinations including cinnamon, bananas, and pineapple. This is an awesome cake to serve at a dinner party or potluck.
This recipe is easy to make, which is ideal if you are just a beginner baker. This classic cake is a great alternative to traditional vanilla or chocolate if you are looking for something different. Packed full of flavor, it is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
What You Will Need
Ingredients
- 1 package yellow cake mix
- 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
For the Frosting
- 1 package of cream cheese, softened (8 ounces)
- 1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 box (16 ounces) confectioners’ sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
- 5 drops of yellow food color
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
- 1 drop of blue food color
Equipment
- Two 9-inch cake pans
- Cooking spray
- Two large mixing bowls
- Small mixing bowl
- Electric mixer
- Wire rack
- Hummingbird cookie cutter (optional)
- Ziploc bag
Amazon Basics Nonstick Round Baking Cake Pan, 9 Inch, Set of 2
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step One: Preheat Oven and Grease the Pans
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease both of the 9-inch cake pans generously with cooking spray.
Step Two: Make Cake Batter
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the cake mix, banana, pineapple, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and lemon extract. Beat the mixture for 30 seconds at low speed, scraping the sides of the bowl if needed. Then, increase the speed to medium and beat the hummingbird cake batter for two minutes.
Step Three: Bake the Cakes
Carefully pour your cake batter evenly into the two greased cake pans. Bake the hummingbird cakes for 25-30 or until a toothpick you insert into the middle comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before flipping them onto the wire rack to fully cool.
Step Four: Make the Frosting
Beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract at medium speed in a large bowl using an electric mixer. Then, gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar until smooth.
Stir in the yellow food coloring until it is fully incorporated. Then, take one cup of frosting and mix it with chopped pecans in a small mixing bowl.
Step Five: Decorate the Cake
Frost the first layer of cake with pecan frosting. Then, place the second layer on top and frost the sides and top of the cake with regular frosting.
Take the coconut and mix it with blue food coloring in the Ziploc bag. Gently place the hummingbird cookie cutter in the middle of the cake and place the coconut in the cutter. Carefully remove the cookie cutter from the cake.
Serving and Preparation Time
Tips and Tricks
Store this hummingbird cake with cake mix in a large airtight container in the fridge. It can last in the fridge for 3-5 days when properly stored.
If desired, you may freeze this hummingbird cake as well for three to six months. Place the cake uncovered in the freezer for one hour, allowing the frosting to set. Then, wrap it in plastic wrap and then next aluminum foil.
When ready to serve the frozen cake, let it thaw on your kitchen counter for two hours. In addition, you can also place the cake in your fridge overnight to thaw as well.
To mash the bananas for the cake, you can use a potato masher or a fork. In addition, you can also place them in the blender or food processor and blend until there are no more chunks left.
Be sure to not drain the pineapple before adding it to the cake. The cake needs pineapple juice to have a delicious flavor and moist texture.
Delicious Hummingbird Cake Recipe With Cake Mix
Equipment
- Two 9-inch cake pans
- Cooking spray
- Wire rack
- Hummingbird cookie cutter (optional)
- Ziploc bag
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 package yellow cake mix
- 2 medium ripe bananas mashed
- 1 can 8 ounces crushed pineapple, undrained
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
For the Frosting
- 1 package cream cheese softened (8 ounces)
- 1/2 cup butter softened (1 stick)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 box 16 ounces confectioners’ sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
- 5 drops yellow food color
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
- 1 drop blue food color
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Grease Pans - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. Grease both of the 9-inch cake pans generously with cooking spray.
- Make Cake Batter - In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the cake mix, banana, pineapple, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and lemon extract. Beat the mixture for 30 seconds at low speed, scraping the sides of the bowl if needed. Then, increase the speed to medium and beat the hummingbird cake batter for two minutes.
- Bake the Cakes - Carefully pour your cake batter evenly into the two greased cake pans. Bake the hummingbird cakes for 25-30 or until a toothpick you insert into the middle comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before flipping them onto the wire rack to fully cool.
- Make the Frosting - Beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract at medium speed in a large bowl using an electric mixer. Then, gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until smooth.
- Stir in the yellow food coloring until it is fully incorporated. Then, take one cup of frosting and mix it with chopped pecans in a small mixing bowl.
- Decorate the Cake - Frost the first layer of cake with pecan frosting. Then, place the second layer on top and frost the sides and top of the cake with the regular frosting.
- Take the coconut and mix it with blue food coloring in the Ziploc bag. Gently place the hummingbird cookie cutter on the middle of the cake and place the coconut in the cutter. Carefully remove the cookie cutter from the cake.
Notes
What Do You Serve with Hummingbird Cake?
Hummingbird cake tastes especially good when decorated with cream cheese frosting. You can also serve it with vanilla ice cream, cinnamon ice cream, pineapple, or coconut. It will also taste great with caramel sauce drizzled on top or even some caramel ice cream as well.
How Many Calories Are in a Slice of Hummingbird Cake?
The exact amount of calories in a slice of hummingbird cake will vary by the individual recipe and the size of the slice you are having. The calories in a slice can vary drastically, ranging on average between 426 calories and 710 calories.
The number of calories may be more or less depending on if you eat your cake with frosting and how much frosting the slice has. An average serving of cream cheese frosting has 140 calories.
To find the exact amount of calories in a slice, you can use a calorie calculator for the recipe you are using. Simply enter the ingredients, measurements, and servings of the recipe you are using to find out the nutrition facts, including calories.
When Was Hummingbird Cake Invented?
Hummingbird cake was invented sometime during the 1960s in Jamaica. Originally, it was referred to as the “Doctor bird cake”, which is a nickname for a variety of hummingbirds from Jamaica called the Red-billed Streamertail.
The cake is believed to have received this name because it is sweet enough to attract hummingbirds. Others say it got the name because the yellow streaks in the cake from the banana are reminiscent of the hummingbird’s plumage.
In 1968, the Jamaican tourist board sent out press kits to America to help attract tourists. The press kits included recipes from Jamaica, including a recipe for hummingbird cake.
The cake quickly grew in popularity and has become a particular favorite in the Southern United States. It has grown in popularity throughout America since the 1970s and has appeared in many cookbooks as well. In addition, there have also been variations of the recipe ever since coming to America in 1968.
How Much Does It Cost To Make a Hummingbird Cake?
When buying a hummingbird cake from a bakery, you can expect to pay anywhere from $25 to $80. The exact price will vary by the size of the cake, quality of ingredients, and decorations.
When making a hummingbird cake at home, buying all the ingredients for the cake and frosting will likely cost you around $50. However, to make the cake, you will probably be using around $10-$15 worth of ingredients from everything you need to make it.
How Many Carbs Are in a Slice of Hummingbird Cake?
The number of carbs in a slice of hummingbird cake will vary by the individual recipe and the size of the slice you are eating. On average, a slice of hummingbird cake will have anywhere from 22 carbs per slice to 116 grams of carbs per slice.
If you want to find out the exact number of carbs per slice of hummingbird cake, you can use a nutrition calculator. By entering the ingredients, measurements, and servings, the calculator will tell you the nutrition facts of your recipe.
Delicious Hummingbird Cake Recipe Cake Mix
This recipe is an easy and delicious way to make hummingbird cakes. It is full of flavor and has an irresistible texture, where you will be coming back for seconds. You will love how easy this cake is to make, which is great if you are in a rush or a new baker.
If you enjoyed making this hummingbird cake recipe with cake mix, please share your thoughts down in the comment section. Also, please share this recipe with your friends and family so they can enjoy eating it as well.
Ever since she was a young girl, Anna has been a lover of desserts. As an adult, she enjoys
baking a variety of desserts from cakes, cookies, brownies, bread, and more from scratch. She
enjoys sharing her passion for baking with others who also have a sweet tooth. From properly
measuring ingredients to making sure they are the correct temperature, Anna knows the
importance small details can make in baking. She wants to share her experience with others in
hopes they can make the most delicious baked goods. When she’s not busy blogging, Anna
enjoys trying new recipes in the kitchen.