Food and Recipes Entertaining Ideas & Tips 8 Fresh Ways With Hummingbird Cake That Can't Get Any Sweeter By Southern Living Editors Updated on December 13, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Since the Hummingbird Cake recipe originally ran in 1978, it has become the most requested recipe in Southern Living history. A signature Southern dessert, the Hummingbird Cake has been a favorite of our readers for almost 40 years. We gathered our best Hummingbird Cake recipes, all of which put a special spin on the sweet pineapple-banana-cream cheese combination. Though it's hard to improve on the original—there are more than a few readers dedicated to Mrs. L.H. Wiggins' classic 1978 version—we have a selection of delectable Hummingbird Cake recipes that take the original to new heights. Equally stackable and delicious, we have the family-favorite recipe for Hummingbird Pancakes, a sweet treat ideal for leisurely weekend mornings. Don't forget our lightened version and the simplified bundt cake style; try out any of these tasty Hummingbird Cake recipes and savor one this season. 01 of 09 Hummingbird Cake Southern Living The first Hummingbird Cake recipe was submitted to Southern Living in 1978 by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina. Little did we know it would become one of our most popular cake recipes of all time. There's something about the combination of crushed pineapple in their juices, bananas, toasted pecans, and cream cheese frosting that keeps us returning to this special cake. 02 of 09 Hummingbird Bundt Cake Photo: Jennifer Davick From pineapple to cream cheese, the same ingredients first featured in the 1978 version of this popular layer cake still shine in our new version— simplified by baking in a Bundt pan. Drizzled with a cream cheese glaze and topped with toasted, chopped pecans, this Bundt cake will sit pretty on a cake stand. 03 of 09 Lightened Hummingbird Cake The lightened version makes simple substitutions such as using applesauce for some of the oil and light rather than regular cream cheese. Your whole family will love the sweet pineapple and banana cake topped with delicious Cream Cheese Frosting and appreciate the fat and calorie savings. This lightened recipe reduces the fat from 24 grams in the original recipe to just 10 grams per serving. 04 of 09 Hummingbird Pancakes This showstopping stack has the same flavor profile as the original Hummingbird Cake recipe, and the cream cheese frosting is transformed into a lip-smacking Cream Cheese Anglaise to drizzle on top. Bananas, pineapple, and toasted pecans are incorporated into the pancakes, but the fresh fruit garnish makes this breakfast complete. 05 of 09 Hummingbird Snack Cake with Brown Butter Frosting Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke All the Hummingbird Cake flavors you love, but with only 20 minutes of hands-on time to thank for that sweet payoff. What's even better? The entire batter comes together in just one mixing bowl. 06 of 09 Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox You can skip the Candied Pineapple Wedges, but why would you want to? They come together in a snap thanks to store-bought candied dried pineapple rings and a quick zap in the microwave. Dust them in sparkling sugar and voila—the prettiest little garnish you ever did see. 07 of 09 Hummingbird Cake Whoopie Pies Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Take Hummingbird Cake on the move with our handheld whoopie pies. You'll still get all the classic Hummingbird Cake flavors you love (cinnamon, pineapple, bananas, and pecans), but in 30 mini whoopie pies that are perfect for giving to neighbors and friends or keeping all to yourself. We won't blame you a bit if you go for the latter. 08 of 09 The Original Hummingbird Cake Recipe Photo: Southern Living Originally submitted by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina and featured in our February 1978 issue, this Hummingbird Cake recipe is known to have won numerous blue ribbons at county fairs. So who was Mrs. L. H. Wiggins? For decades, little was known, and attempts to locate her yielded more questions than answers. Forty years later, the staff at Southern Living finally got answers about this beloved Southern lady. 09 of 09 Hummingbird Cake With Basket Weave Frosting Iain Bagwell Want to make a holiday showstopper? Our classic three-layer Hummingbird Cake recipe gets the basket-weave frosting treatment for a stunning Easter dessert. Creating this woven style with frosting is easier than it looks, according to these tips and instructions. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit