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Home » Best Dessert Recipes » Hummingbird Cupcakes

May 6, 2020

Hummingbird Cupcakes

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These hummingbird cupcakes are the most soft and moist cupcakes. Hummingbird cake is a soft banana-pineapple spice cake with a cream cheese frosting -- a southern classic!

These hummingbird cupcakes are the most soft and moist cupcakes. Hummingbird cake is a soft banana-pineapple spice cake with a cream cheese frosting -- a southern classic!

Click here to SAVE this hummingbird cupcake recipe!

If you never had hummingbird cake, you need to give this southern classic a try! I usually sprinkle them with crushed pecans, but sometimes I like to go the extra mile and top my hummingbird cupcakes with dried pineapple flowers for a beautiful presentation.

cupcakes with pecan topping

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Hummingbird cake ingredients

This hummingbird cake recipe is much like carrot cake, without carrots, or banana muffins with cream cheese frosting.  Gather these ingredients:

Grocery List for Hummingbird Cupcakes

  • All-purpose flour (2 cups)
  • Vegetable oil (½ cup)
  • Eggs (2 large)
  • Ripe bananas (2 medium)
  • Crushed pineapple (8 oz. can)
  • Chopped pecans (½ cup)
  • Vanilla extract
  • Baking soda
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Salt
  • Cream cheese (8 oz.)
  • Butter (4 tablespoons)
  • Powdered sugar (2+ cups)

The above ingredients are for the hummingbird cake and the cream cheese frosting. You'll need extra pecans for the optional topping. If you plan to top with dried pineapple flowers, you will also need to pick up a fresh whole pineapple at the grocery store.

Hummingbird cake recipe

Moist, sweet and carrot cake-like is the first description that came to mind when I took my first bite.  Minus the actual carrots, of course.  Ben especially likes these, which doesn't surprise me because carrot cake is his favorite.  The first time I made these, Judah ate two of them in one setting - I was in an especially good mood that day for letting him, I guess.  I even had one for breakfast!

cupcakes with pecan topping

How to make hummingbird cupcakes:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pan with baking cups.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk dry ingredients.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk wet ingredients.
  4. Mix together wet and dry ingredients.
  5. Scoop batter into prepared cupcake liners.
  6. Bake 20 minutes.
  7. Let cool completely.
  8. Top with cream cheese frosting.

Click here for the full hummingbird cupcake recipe ingredients and instructions.

Why is hummingbird cake called hummingbird cake?

Originally called doctor bird cake, hummingbird cake originated on the island of Jamaica named after their national bird. After a push of marketing efforts from Jamaican tourism, the hummingbird cake became very popular in the southern United States. The recipe was originally published in Southern Living magazine and has won numerous cake awards.

bite out of cupcake with pecan topping

Cream cheese frosting

These hummingbird cupcakes are topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting. Easy to make homemade, although you are more than welcome to buy a store-bought tub.  After slabbing on the frosting, top with crushed nuts, or pineapple flowers, or simply leave them plain.

If you choose to top these with the dried pineapple flowers, they create such a lovely presentation for any special event, especially Mother's Day.  In fact, a friend of mine is considering having these served at her wedding, which I think is a fabulous idea and very fitting with her particular theme.  Alternatively, you can dress them down by eliminating the flower and instead topping with just the frosting, and maybe a sprinkling of crushed pecans. (Do you say, "pee-CAN" or "PEE-can" or "peh-CAHN"?)  🙂

cupcakes topped with dried pineapple flowers

How to make dried pineapple flowers

If you want to top your cupcakes with pineapple flowers, you can follow this tutorial. I recommend making the pineapple flowers the day before you make the cupcakes because they require overnight to dry -- and you need to use the cupcake pans to form the flowers.

Other delicious cupcake recipes:

  • Birthday Sprinkles Cupcakes
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
  • Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
  • Strawberry Cupcakes
  • Raspberry Lemon Cupcakes

cupcakes with pecan topping

Print this hummingbird cake recipe to save for later. Made this recipe? Leave a star rating and tag me on social media @seededtable so I can see.  I love hearing from you!

cupcakes with pecan topping
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4.88 from 8 votes

Hummingbird Cupcakes

These hummingbird cupcakes with dried pineapple flowers are perfect for a delicate dessert party. Hummingbird cake is a soft banana-pineapple spice cake with a cream cheese frosting -- a southern classic!
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time40 mins
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: dried pineapple, hummingbird cake, pineapple flowers
Servings: 18 cupcakes
Calories: 323kcal
Author: Nikki Gladd

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

  • 2 cups flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 medium ripe bananas , mashed (about 1 ⅓ cups)
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
  • 8 oz. crushed pineapple , drained
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup finely chopped pecans

For the frosting:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter , at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar

Instructions

For the cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside.
  • In a separate large bowl, whisk the bananas, eggs, oil, sugar, pineapple and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the pecans.
  • Add the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon until fully combined. Do not over mix.
  • Divide the batter evenly between the prepared liners, filling each about three-quarters full. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until passes the toothpick test. Let cool in the pans for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the frosting:

  • Combine the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the vanilla.
  • With the mixer on low, gradually beat in the powdered sugar until fully incorporated. Increase speed to medium-high. Beat until smooth. Frost cooled cupcakes as desired, then top with optional toppings, such as crushed pecans or dried pineapple flowers.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 144mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 288IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Take a pic and tag @seededtable or #SeededAtTheTable to be featured!

This recipe was originally published November 15, 2011 and updated May 6, 2020.

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pinterest collage for hummingbird cupcakes

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How to Make Dried Pineapple Flowers »
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About Seeded At The Table

Thanks for visiting! We’re the Gladd family! We love donuts, Disney, LEGO and Jesus. Not in that order, of course. 🙂 Ben shares DIY wood-working projects and Nikki shares delicious recipes. You’ll also find a sprinkling of travel adventures and other family fun ideas!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chelsea says

    July 14, 2017 at 12:47 pm

    Your recipe isn't showing up for me anymore Do you know what the problem could be?

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      July 17, 2017 at 4:25 pm

      Sorry about that Chelsea! When I recently moved my site to a new template, some of my recipes disappeared. Thank you for letting me know about this one. I've inserted it back so you should see it now. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jeannie says

    August 09, 2012 at 10:43 am

    I love the flowers, and humming bird cake is something I have always wanted to bake too, but some how got posponed...must bake it soon, yours looks so lovely!

    Reply
  3. Jackie Thompson says

    February 18, 2012 at 10:52 am

    These are beautiful cupcakes ~ the pineapple flowers are a brilliant idea and make an outstanding presentation for such a special occassion.

    Reply
    • Nikki says

      February 18, 2012 at 10:54 am

      Thanks, Jackie. It's crazy how easy it is to make the flowers, too! 🙂

      Reply
  4. ashley says

    November 21, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    these are absolutely beautiful!

    Reply
  5. Courtney says

    November 21, 2011 at 5:22 am

    These are so perfect for a baby shower, and the pineapple flowers you made look gorgeous! I say peh-CAHN, but a lot of people here in Virginia say it the other way.

    Reply
  6. branny says

    November 16, 2011 at 5:44 pm

    Beautiful job!

    Reply
  7. Nicole, RD says

    November 15, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    Those pineapple flowers are stunning! They ALMOST make the cupcakes look too pretty to eat. But they're cupcakes...of course they have to be eaten 🙂

    Congrats to Amy!

    Reply
  8. Sue Gladd says

    November 15, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    Absolutely breathtaking! Can't wait to taste this one of these days when you fix it for me, Nikki!

    Reply
  9. Suzanne (kokocooks) says

    November 15, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    Beautiful cupcakes! I used to make hummingbird cake every week at a cafe where I worked during college. And the pineapple flowers are stunning - will check Annie's blog for the instructions.

    Reply
  10. Jessica of My Baking Heart says

    November 15, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    Simply gorgeous, Nikki! I could eat one right now...

    Oh, and it's always peh-CAHN. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Jessica @Sunny Side Up says

    November 15, 2011 at 10:50 am

    These are absolutely STUNNING pictures! Your cupcakes turned out amazing and what a great way to celebrate a new baby girl!

    Reply
  12. Shawnda says

    November 15, 2011 at 9:48 am

    The cupcakes are so beautiful! (And I say peh-CAHN)

    Reply
  13. Kelsey says

    November 15, 2011 at 9:14 am

    Thank you for bringing such a sweet and stunning dessert to Amy's shower. Hummingbird cupcakes are so delicious and the pineapple flowers really make them so special. Just like Annie, I say peh-CAHN.

    Reply
  14. Krystal R. says

    November 15, 2011 at 8:46 am

    Totally gorgeous!! The pineapple flowers always brings that extra ooh-la-la touch. I'm going to admit that I say peh-CAHNs! haha.

    Reply
  15. Amy (Sing For Your Supper) says

    November 15, 2011 at 8:29 am

    Put me down for 'peh-CAHN' too! 🙂 These are SO beautiful, Nikki, and SO perfect for today! Thank you so much for doing this for me- you are such a sweet friend!

    Reply
  16. Melissa says

    November 15, 2011 at 7:18 am

    These look perfect! Too beautiful to eat!!

    Reply
  17. Annie says

    November 15, 2011 at 3:36 am

    Absolutely gorgeous, and a very clever little tie-in to the shower! Oh, and I say peh-CAHN 🙂

    Reply
  18. Presley's Pantry says

    November 15, 2011 at 2:49 am

    WOW! I love the pineapple flower on top. Gorgeous to look at.... The yellow is the perfect hue for my mood right now.... might have to give these cupcakes a spin. 🙂

    Reply

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