From The Galley: Not Your Mama's Fruit Cake

From The Galley: Not Your Mama's Fruit Cake

The first Hummingbird Cake recipe was published by  magazine in 1978. It  soon became the most requested recipe in the magazine’s history! Impress your holiday guests with this delicious take on the traditional Christmas fruit cake and try a Hummingbird Cake recipe that has been passed down through the generations.

Hummingbird Cake almost tastes like banana bread and carrot cake had a baby together. The banana flavor overshadows the pineapple, but the pineapple no doubt helps create a moist cake and the little pieces of pineapple help give Hummingbird Cake its unique texture.

 INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• 1⅓ cups vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1¾ cups very ripe banana, mashed
• 2 cups toasted chopped pecans, divided
• 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 6 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, cut into 1-ounce pieces and chilled

* Add if desired- maraschino cherries

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour 3 9-inch cake pans.

In a large bowl, combine flour, 2 cups sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and allspice.

Add vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs and stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Stir in banana, 1 cup pecans, and pineapple just until evenly mixed.

Divide batter evenly between the 3 cake pans. Place in oven and bake for 25 to 28 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pans for 10 minutes and then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

To make frosting, use and electric mixer to beat together butter and powdered sugar, adding powdered sugar gradually. Add vanilla extract and salt and mix until smooth.

With mixer on medium, add 1 piece of cream cheese at a time. Turn mixer off once all cream cheese has been incorporated.

Spread frosting between layers of cake and cover top and sides. Sprinkle remaining chopped pecans on top.

If desired, crush additional nuts and press them into the sides of the frosting, and put sliced maraschino cherries on top of the cake.

all over will be filled with happy guests after they taste this treat of a recipe, Hummingbird Cake or Not Your Mama's Fruit Cake. A holiday recipe you have to try.