“Fabulous recipe! It’s been a winner every time and by far the easiest hummingbird cake to make. A+” ~Jane
hummingbird bundt cake is a new spring tradition
Grab your prettiest bundt pan and let’s get baking ~ you’re going to be amazed at how quick and easy this hummingbird bundt cake is, without skimping on any of the qualities that make this classic cake so fantastic. It’s super moist, with lots of texture from diced bananas, crushed pineapple, and walnuts. I’ve winnowed the recipe down to one bowl and a few simple steps. That means you don’t have to block out an entire afternoon to make this for your family and friends.
Also try my ONE BOWL HUMMINGBIRD CAKE BARS for another casual take on this classic dessert.
shopping list for hummingbird bundt cake
- all purpose flour
- sugar
- salt and baking soda
- cinnamon and nutmeg
- eggs
- vegetable oil
- vanilla paste or extract
- crushed pineapple
- bananas
- walnuts
GLAZE
- cream cheese
- unsalted butter
- vanilla paste or extract
- confectioner’s sugar
- milk or cream to thin
I broke in my new Stained Glass Bundt Pan with this recipe. A hummingbird bundt cake is traditionally an imposing layer cake, but using a bundt make it a little more casual, and more appropriate for breakfast or brunch. This would be perfect for Easter or Mother’s Day!
Intricate bundt pans are beautiful but removing the baked cake can be harrowing. Even with nonstick pans you need to prep them carefully. You can spray them with a baking spray that contains flour, or you can brush the surface with shortening and lightly flour it. Either way, wait 10-15 minutes after baking to attempt the big reveal. If a little bit remains in the pan, gently pry it loose and stick it right back onto the cake ~ nobody will know that anything’s amiss, and anyway, the glaze will hide the evidence.
storage and freezing
Because of the cream cheese icing, any leftover of this cake should be refrigerated. It will keep for up to a week. But if you’d like to make it ahead, the cake itself can be frozen. Just don’t add the frosting until thawed and ready to serve.
tips for making a hummingbird bundt cake
- Be sure to properly prep your bundt pan with cooking spray and then a good coating of flour. Be sure to get every nook and cranny, especially if you’re using an intricate pan like I did.
- Note that you do not drain the crushed pineapple before adding it to the batter.
- Let the cake cool before removing it from the pan: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before removing it. This will help prevent the cake from falling apart or sticking to the pan. I like to go around and gently loosen all the edges with a thin offset spreading knife first.
- If you want to show off the pattern in your bundt cake use a thinner glaze that will settle into the lines and highlight them. Just add more milk or cream to the recipe below. Make sure you let the cake cool completely before attempting to glaze it or your glaze will sink right in.
This hummingbird bundt cake can be made into a 3 layer cake, just divide the batter between 3 cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. To frost, cream 1 pound room temperature cream cheese with 1 cup (2 sticks) room temperature butter, then add 1 pound sifted confectioner’s sugar and a tablespoon of vanilla extract or paste.
more spring cake recipes
- Raspberry Cake with Lemon Buttercream
- Blueberry Lemon Cake
- Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake
- Perfect Buttermilk Pound Cake
- Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Poppy Seed Frosting
Hummingbird Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze
Equipment
- 9 cup (or larger) bundt pan
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil, I use safflower or canola
- 1 Tbsp vanilla paste or extract
- 8 ounce can of crushed pineapple, do not drain
- 2 bananas, diced (about 2 cups)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts, plus more for garnish
glaze
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 Tbsp vanilla paste or extract
- 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar
- milk or cream to thin
Instructions
- Set oven to 350F
- Spray and flour your bundt pan (mine is a 9 cup capacity.)
- Put the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and spices in a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Add the eggs and oil and mix until just blended. Mix in the vanilla, then fold in the pineapple, banana, and walnuts. Turn the batter in to the prepared bundt pan. Do not fill your bundt pan more than 3/4 full. If you have extra batter you can make a cupcake or two.
- Bake for one hour, or until the cake is fully risen and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out without wet batter clinging to it (moist crumbs are ok.)
- Set the pan on a rack and let cool for 10-15 minutes, then turn out of the pan and let cool completely on the rack.
- To make the glaze, blend the cream cheese and butter, then add the vanilla, sugar, and enough milk or cream to get a spoon-able or spreadable glaze consistency. Spoon or spread over the top of the cooled cake, and spread over the sides. Garnish with chopped walnuts.
Rave reviews!! Followed recipe with these exceptions: added 1/2 c. coconut to batter, and only 1/2 c. nuts. Use pecans instead of walnuts. Toasted other 1/2 c. pecans and 1/2 c. coconut for topping.
So glad it was a hit Joni!
Can you swap vegetable oil for olive oil or coconut oil ?
Yes, sure.
So excited yo try this. All your recipes are wonderful. Can i just skip the banana?
Unfortunately 2 bananas is a significant portion of this cake batter, so you’d have to find some substitute for it.
What could you substitute for the bananas
Bananas are so unique, it’s tough to substitute. You might try apple butter, or more pineapple.
The cake was easy to make. However, after I cooled it in the Bundt pan and went to put it on the cooling rack it fell apart. So I had a crumble cake. The flavor was amazing. Why did it fall apart?
It’s hard for me to know what might have happened without more details Rebekah. You may have let it cool too long in the pan, that can make it stick so when you try to turn it out it falls apart.