hummingbird cake

How To Make hummingbird cake

• 1

  Preheat oven to degrees/ Grease two 8" or 9" round cake pans, lining with parchment. (I put cake strips around the pans for a flat top). Drain the pineapple set over a bowl and press out the juice. Pour the juice into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until it reduces to about 1/3 cup, 5 minutes give or take. Toast all the pecans for the recipe, then divide, 1 1/2 cups for cake, 1/2 cup for frosting.
• 2

  Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together in a bowl. Whisk sugar and egg together in another bowl, then whip in the oil. Stir in bananas, pecans, vanilla, drained pineapple, and reduced pineapple juice. Then stir in the flour mixture until it is just combined. (This is actually the muffin method of mixing.)
• 3

  Divide the batter evenly between the 2 pans. They are meant to be in 9" pans, but I only had 8" pans so I also made a couple of cupcakes. If needed, smooth out the tops with a rubber spatula. Bake until dark golden brown on top and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs. Start checking at 45 minutes, rotating pans half way through baking. Let the pans cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Run a small spatula around edges of the cake, then remove from pans, peel off parchment and cool on rack another 2 hours. I like to put them, wrapped in plastic, into the freezer. It is easier to frost that way and stays fresh.
• 4

  FROSTING: Using a standing mixer, mix the butter and cream cheese together. Then beat in the sugar, vanilla, and salt on low speed until smooth. Increase speed and blend for about 2 minutes until light and creamy. Add more powdered sugar if it is too thin, a few drops of milk if it is too thick.
• 5

  Place one layer of cake on a platter. Smooth a generous amount of the frosting over the top, then place the other cake on top and press lightly to adhere. Spread about 2 cups of frosting over the top of that one and spread the remaining frosting all around the sides. I had enough to put the rest in a decorating bag and using a tip, made a few decorations around the bottom and top. Sprinkle top of cake with chopped pecans.
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