Achin' for Bakin'! - Hummingbird Cake

And cravin' some cake!

I spoke of the hangover already. It was finally gone. I was feeling productive! There were also lots of ripe bananas in the freezer. And in all honesty, I was achin to bake!

Sean had just left and I needed to keep busy. Inspired by all the ripe bananas and a craving for cake - I thought - Mmmmm Hummingbird Cake. Bananas Pineapple and Walnuts! Perfect! Use up the ripe bananas and I love all the other ingredients, too! Topped with cream cheese frosting - I couldn't wait.

Not sure where the Hummingbird Bird cake gets it's name. Few theories are floating out there. Dr. Bird, National bird of Jamaica, possibly the cake is of Jamaican roots - Dr. Bird Cake was made of bananas. The recipe was first printed as Hummingbird Cake in Southern Living. It is one of their most requested recipes to this day.

No matter what the history, it's a delicious cake. Moist and full of flavor. It uses oil instead of butter. It's a no fail cake that is sure to please! Also you don't have to make this cake in a mixer. It can easily be done by hand. Some recipes call for pecans but I like using walnuts. Plus, I had some yummy walnuts from the farmers market. I got all the ingredients together. I was anxious to get started!

Note: This recipe is everywhere. It varies only slightly. I have my recipe memorized from the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook. It may vary slightly by the addition of more pineapple and nuts.

Humming Bird Cake

3 cups flour

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 cups sugar

3 eggs, room temperature

1-1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup crushed pineapple

2 cup mashed bananas

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 350.

Grease 2 9 inch round pans. Line the bottom with parchment. I like to do this to insure that all those yummy ingredients come out without a problem.

In a large bowl place flour, soda, salt and cinnamon. Whisk to mix and aerate.

In the bowl of a mixer, beat oil and sugar till combined. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla and mix well. Add the bananas and pineapple. Add the dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Stir in the nuts. Reminder: You can easily make this cake by hand!

Divide batter between the two pans. Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minuted then, remove from pans. Cool completely on a wire rack; frost with cream cheese frosting and decorate with nuts if desired.

Enjoy.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 1/2 Packages of Cream Cheese

1 Stick of Butter

2 tsp Vanilla

5 Cups Powder Sugar

In a large bowl beat cream cheese and butter together til smooth. Add vanilla. Slowly add powder sugar. If necessary add a few drop of heavy cream and milk. Beat for 4 minutes.

This is enough frosting for a two or three layer cake.

Enjoy!

Almost every morning at the workshops, a hummingbird comes into the kitchen. I can hear their wings moving fast. It stays for a moment, then off again. It doesn't return til the next morning. I know this is my father wishing me good morning. He loved hummingbirds. I know he would love this Hummingbird Cake. - Me