H i everyone! What a beautiful weekend! Today was a great day to bake in the air conditioning. This Hummingbird Cake was pretty easy, it did require a little extra time to chop up fresh pineapple and banana. The recipe didn't specify how fine to chop them so I did them quite small. I think I could have left them a little larger for more interest.
I do think it's important that you get the correct pans if you don't have them already. It requires 2 8" round pans with 2" high sides. The batter rose to the top of the pans while baking so you do need that height. Since you are cutting the layers in 1/2 it is necessary to have that nice tall layer!
Remember to beat the eggs and sugar a full 5 minutes, it will be thick. When you add the flour mixture be sure and fold it into the egg mix, don't beat! The recipe says to bake 50 to 55 minutes! Not! I set my timer for 45 min. At 40 min I could really smell it so when I went and looked in the oven it looked done. I checked with a toothpick and it was clean. So I took it out at 40 min, but I think 38 min would have been perfect. Wow lucky for you guys I'm testing this recipe first!
So of course we had to cut a piece and as you can see, it looks a lot like a spice cake. It's very moist, you can taste the banana, pineapple and a hint of cinnamon and ginger. The cream cheese frosting is very delicious with this cake, sweet and fluffy with a tiny bit of lemon. It's definitely a lighter cake than a carrot. If anyone finds out the history behind the name let me know!
Hope you find the time some day to make this one. So different and really fabulous. Your guests would love it!
MMMM...looks soooo yummy! How was it Whit?
ReplyDeleteGo here for some interesting theories on why it is called Hummingbird Cake:
http://www.ehow.com/about_6307153_called-hummingbird-cake_.html
the cake looks fantastic!! I think I would love this one!!And for sure make it!
ReplyDeleteI am going to make this cake in a few weeks. I am making dessert for a bbq and a person who will be there does not like CHOCOLATE. I thought of making two desserts, but I think this hummingbird cake will fit the bill! Something different, not chocolate, and delicious! Can't wait to see how mine turns out.
ReplyDeletethank you Vicki..I did look up the various meanings of Hummingbird cake. One was because it is so delicious you hum while you are eating it, two, it is sweet, like the food hummingbirds eat, or three, people eat it stopping and starting kind of like hummingbirds eat. Hmmm, I think only the second explanation makes sense, but no one knows for sure. It is a recipe from the south, created in the late 1800's.
ReplyDeleteNOTE: After just finishing a delectible piece a few minutes ago, I must say that it was delicious! I see no reason why you couldn't use canned crushed pineapple, some of the other recipes also used coconut as a garnish on the top and sides. I did think the chopped crystallized ginger was a great accent on the top though. Don't be skimpy with the frosting, it is fabulous!! Let me know how yours turns out!