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Hummingbird cake is a beloved Southern layer cake made with ripe bananas, crushed pineapple, and toasted pecans, all baked into tender, ultra-moist layers and finished with tangy cream cheese frosting. If you’ve never tried it, think of it as a tropical cousin of carrot cake. The name is as charming as the cake itself. The recipe originated in Jamaica, where it was known as “Doctor Bird Cake” after the island’s hummingbird, before becoming a Southern staple when it appeared in Southern Living in the late 1970s. This version is based on that classic Southern Living recipe.
