Hummingbird Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting (Dairy Free)

Originating in Jamaica as "Doctor Bird Cake," hummingbird cake blends ripe bananas and crushed pineapple for a tropical delight. Made dairy-free with extra virgin olive oil, this Southern favorite offers a richer, more indulgent taste infused with island-inspired flavors in every bite.  Make a dairy-free frosting for the cake using dairy-free butter and cream cheese in this frosting recipe.  

 

 

The Cake 🎥

YOU WILL NEED

GINGER CAKE MIX
WET INGREDIENTS

3 large eggs (about 189g, weighed with shell) 
⅔ cup mild extra-virgin olive oil (134g) 
2 medium ripe bananas (8oz, 240g)  
½ cup crushed pineapple, drained (4oz, 113g)  
1 tablespoon mild unsulphured molasses (23g) 

STIR-IN

1 cup chopped toasted pecans (8oz, 250g

 

INSTRUCTIONS
  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease two round 8-inch baking pans and line them with parchment paper.
  • Beat eggs at high speed for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy. With the mixer still running, gradually add the olive oil in a thin drizzle and beat until thick and creamy. 
  • Add the mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, molasses and the ginger cake mix.
  • Beat on low speed until well combined. Stir in the chopped pecans.
  • Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • Cool in baking pan for 5-10 minutes before unmolding and allow to cool completely before frosting.

 

The Cream 

YOU WILL NEED

INGREDIENTS

¼ cup pineapple juice 
Cream cheese (8oz, 226g)
1 cup powdered sugar (113g)
1½ cups cold heavy cream (368g) 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract

 

INSTRUCTIONS
  • Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar on low speed until incorporated. 
    Increase speed to medium-high and continue to beat until well combined. 
  • With the mixer still running, gradually add the heavy cream and extracts in a thin drizzle and beat until thick and creamy.
  • Slice each cake horizontally and brush with pineapple juice. Decorate with cream cheese frosting and pecans.


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Tips & Methods

Baking Tips

  • Preheat your oven to 325ºF.
  • Grease the recommended pan and line it with parchment paper.
    If using a Bundt pan, apply a baking spray made with flour.
  • For best results, weigh all ingredients and bring them to room temperature.
  • Don’t open the oven door until the cake has set, unless the recipe instructs you to do so.
  • Your cake is done when it begins to shrink from the sides of the pan, springs back when touched or when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • Let your cake cool for 5-10 minutes before taking it out of the pan.
  • Cooled plain cakes (without frosting or pastry cream) can be double-wrapped first in cling film, then in aluminum foil and refrigerated for up to a week or frozen for up to 3 months.
    To defrost a frozen cake, simply place the wrapped cake in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
  • Store plain or glazed cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or up to a week in the refrigerator.
  • Store frosted cakes and cakes baked with pastry cream in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Olive Oil Cake Method

  • Pre-heat your oven to 325ºF.
  • Grease the recommended cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
    If using a Bundt pan, apply a baking spray made with flour.
  • In a separate bowl, beat room temperature eggs at high speed for 3-5 minutes, then add mild extra virgin olive oil in a slow, steady drizzle until thick and creamy.
  • Add remaining wet ingredients and the cake mix to the egg mixture and mix until combined, stopping to scrape down the bowl. Do not overmix.
  • Gently mix stir ins into batter until well combined.
  • Scrape batter into prepared pan(s) and sprinkle with toppings.
  • Bake immediately following the guidelines in the recipe. Cool in baking pan for 5-10 minutes before unmolding.
  • Cool cake completely before frosting.

Vegan Olive Oil Cake Method

  • Pre-heat your oven to 325ºF.
  • Grease the recommended cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
  • Stir all wet ingredients together.
  • Place cake mix in a large bowl. Slowly add the liquid blend to the cake mix while mixing with a hand-held whisk until well combined.
  • Mix stir ins (nuts, berries, chopped fruit, chocolate chips etc.) into batter until just blended.
  • Scrape batter into prepared pan(s) and sprinkle with toppings (e.g. sliced almonds)
  • Bake immediately following the guidelines in the recipe.
  • Cool in baking pan for about 10 minutes before unmolding.
  • Cool cake completely before frosting.