Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Dried Pineapple Flowers

For the Cake

Preheat

Set the oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray 3 (8-inch) cake pans or 2 (9-inch) cake pans with nonstick baking spray and line with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.

Drain the pineapple in a fine-mesh strainer set over to bowl to catch the drippings. Press the pineapple with a rubber spatula to extract as much juice as possible. Set a small saucepan over medium heat and add the pineapple juice. Cook until reduced to ⅓ cup, about 6-8 minutes; set aside to cool.

Toast

While the juice reduces, place the pecans on a large baking sheet and place in the preheated oven, on the middle rack. Toast the pecans until darker in color and fragrant, about 6-8 minutes. Watch closely after the 5 minutes mark – pecans burn easily. Remove the pecans from the oven and pour them onto a large plate to cool. Chop when cool.

Whisk

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

Stir

In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar and eggs until incorporated. Continue whisking while adding the oil. Stir in bananas, chopped toasted pecans, vanilla, drained pineapple and the cooled reduced pineapple juice.

Add the flour mixture and mix just until no flour is visible.

Pour the batter, evenly, between the prepared pans and smooth the tops.

Bake at 350°F until dark golden brown for 25-40 minutes (depending on the pan size), or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Rotate the pans halfway through baking.

Cool

Transfer the cakes to a cooling rack to cool (in the pan) for 20 minutes.

Remove

After 20 minutes, remove the cakes from the pans, discard the parchment, and let cool completely on the cooling rack.

For the Frosting

Beat

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium-high speed until fully incorporated and smooth, about 3 minutes.

Add sour cream and vanilla extract and beat on medium-high speed another 2 minutes.

Whisk

Set the speed to low and add the powdered sugar. Once all the powdered sugar has been added, set the speed to medium-high and whisk an additional 3 minutes. The frosting will be fluffy, smooth, and gorgeous.

Assembly

Place one layer of the cake on a cake stand or plate. Add enough frosting to cover the top of the layer, then stack the second layer on top. Repeat with the third layer, if using.

Frost

Add more frosting to the top and sides of the cake, smoothing with an offset spatula.

Garnish with pineapple flowers, if desired.