Hummingbird Skillet Cake Recipe

A hearty pineapple-banana cake, baked in a cast iron skillet and topped with cream cheese frosting.

A slice of frosted hummingbird cake baked in a cast iron skillet.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Why It Works

  • Puréeing the fruit maximizes its flavor more than simply chopping or mashing.
  • A pinch of cloves intensifies the banana flavor.
  • A 10-inch cast iron skillet is the perfect size for a casual cake to feed a crowd.

Hummingbird cake is a classic Southern dessert. It has a similar look and feel to carrot cake, down to the light and tangy cream cheese frosting, but pineapple and banana take the place of the carrots, for a tropical twist. It's almost always served as a stately layer cake, but a cast iron skillet dresses it down into a more casual affair, one that's easy to transport and perfect for potlucks and picnics alike.

Recipe Details

Hummingbird Skillet Cake Recipe

Active About 45 mins
Total 3 hrs
Serves 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

Getting Ready:

  • 4 ounces pecan pieces (about 3/4 cup; 113g)

  • 1 small pineapple

  • 1 small banana

For the Cake:

  • 6 ounces plain or toasted sugar (about 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon; 170g)

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 3/4 teaspoon (3g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use about half as much by volume or the same weight

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

  • 2 large eggs (about 3 1/2 ounces; 100g), straight from the fridge

  • 1/4 ounce vanilla extract (about 1 1/2 teaspoons; 7g)

  • 6 ounces unsalted butter, melted (about 3/4 cup; 170g)

  • 5 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour (shy 1 1/4 cups, spooned; 155g)

To Finish:

Directions

  1. Getting Ready: Adjust oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 350°F (180°C). Toast pecans on a half-sheet pan until golden brown, about 10 minutes, then let cool completely. (The pecans may be toasted in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several weeks.) Meanwhile, peel, trim, and core the pineapple and measure 5 ounces (about 2/3 cup; 140g) fruit into the jar of a blender, or a tall, narrow jar if using an immersion blender. If you like, reserve the pineapple scraps to make fresh pineapple syrup. Peel banana and measure out 3 ounces fruit (about 1/3 cup; 85g) to add along with the pineapple. Blend until smooth. Use purée immediately or refrigerate up to 3 days and bring to about 70°F (21°C) before use.

  2. For the Cake: Combine sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, nutmeg, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on low to moisten, then increase to medium and whip until thick and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add melted butter in a steady stream, then reduce speed to low and add flour. Once smooth, add fruit purée and mix only until well combined. Fold in toasted pecans with a flexible spatula, scraping the bowl along the bottom and sides to ensure batter is well mixed throughout.

  3. Bake until the cake is well risen and golden brown, about 45 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center will have a few crumbs still attached when removed, and your fingertip will leave a slight indentation in the puffy crust. Transfer to a heat-safe surface or a wire rack and cool until no trace of warmth remains, at least 90 minutes. (The time will vary depending on the cast iron's gauge and the type of cooling surface.)

  4. To Finish: Top the cake with about 2 cups of your favorite cream cheese frosting or buttercream, along with a scattering of toasted pecans. Enjoy immediately or leave at room temperature until ready to serve, up to 24 hours at cool room temperature. After cutting, wrap leftover slices individually and store at cool room temperature up to 2 days more.

Special equipment

Immersion blender, stand mixer, 10-inch cast iron skillet

Notes

Those who don't like cream cheese frosting can reserve the pineapple core and scraps to make fresh pineapple syrup. This in turn can be made into a pineapple variation on Lemon Chantilly, for a bright and tangy topping without cream cheese.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
494 Calories
29g Fat
59g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories 494
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g 37%
Saturated Fat 10g 51%
Cholesterol 61mg 20%
Sodium 262mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 59g 21%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 45g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 6mg 32%
Calcium 46mg 4%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 133mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)