Hummingbird Cake

Hummingbird Cake is a beloved Southern American dessert, essentially a spiced, fruity layer cake. It's made with a batter of mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, and pecans, which is then baked, layered, and generously frosted with a rich cream cheese frosting.

🍳 View the full Hummingbird Cake recipe →

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This is a decadent, high-calorie dessert, primarily high in carbohydrates and fat from the sugar, oil, and cream cheese frosting. A typical slice provides a significant energy boost, with key nutrients coming from the fruit (potassium, vitamins) and nuts (healthy fats, protein), though in a very sweet package.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	470 kcal
Protein	5 g
Carbs	58 g
Fat	25 g
Fiber	1.5 g
Sugar	40 g
Sodium	320 mg
Potassium	180 mg
Calcium	60 mg
Iron	1.5 mg
Vitamin A	45 mcg RAE
Vitamin C	3 mg
Thiamin (B1)	0.1 mg
Niacin (B3)	1.2 mg
Phosphorus	75 mg

Per 1 slice (120 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

The cake's name is a nod to the main ingredients—bananas and pineapple—which are favorites of hummingbirds, not because the cake contains any actual bird. It rose to fame after winning the 'Cook-off of the Century' at the 1978 Kentucky State Fair, cementing its status as a Southern classic.