Healthy Hummingbird Cake Food

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper. Butter the parchment and dust with flour.
• Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake until fragrant and toasted, about 8 minutes. Let cool slightly, then roughly chop. Toss with the bananas, pineapple and 1/2 cup flour in a small bowl.
• Whisk the remaining 2 1/4 cups flour, the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Beat the eggs and granulated sugar in a separate bowl with a mixer on high speed until thick and light, 5 minutes. Gradually beat in the vegetable oil.
• Sprinkle the flour mixture over the egg mixture, then gently fold to make a thick batter. Fold in the pecan-fruit mixture, then transfer the batter to the prepared pans. Bake until the cakes are firm and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Cool in the pans on a rack, 25 minutes, then invert the cakes onto the rack to cool completely.
• Make the frosting: Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer until fluffy, then gradually beat in the butter until combined. Sift the confectioners' sugar over the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth. Add the lemon zest and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy.
• Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread about half of the frosting on top, then cover with the other cake layer. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake.
• Photograh by Stephanie Foley

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray three 9-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray and coat the insides lightly with flour, knocking excess out.
• Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl.
• Beat together the granulated sugar, oil, coconut flakes, vanilla, eggs, bananas and crushed pineapples in a separate medium bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until completely combined. Fold in the pecans.
• Divide the batter among the prepared cake pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or the cakes bounce back when lightly pressed with a finger, 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before removing from the pans and cooling completely on a wire rack. Once completely cooled, level the tops using a serrated knife.
• For the buttermilk frosting: In the meantime, beat the butter in a stand mixer until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time, beating after each addition until smooth and fluffy. Add the buttermilk, vanilla and salt and beat just to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Use the buttermilk frosting to assemble the cake and decorate with dried pineapple rings and coconut chips.

HEALTHY HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray an 8" cake pan with cooking spray.
• In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, protein powder, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and chopped pecans.
• In a blender (I used my NutriBullet), add the drained pineapple, banana, egg, egg white, yogurt, maple syrup, oil, coconut sugar, stevia extract, and vanilla extract. Puree until completely smooth. Pour over the dry ingredients and fold together.
• Pour the batter into prepared pan and bake for ~55 minutes or until the surface springs back when tapped.
• Let cool completely, flip the cake onto a serving tray or cake stand, and wrap with plastic wrap. The next day, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting and sprinkle with chopped pecans. If you're feeling a little extra, make pineapple flowers too and you've got yourself a showstopping dessert! Slice, serve, and enjoy.

HEALTHY HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix applesauce and baking soda together.
• Add eggs and sugars. mixing well.
• Add chopped bananas, pineapple with juice, and vanilla.
• Sift together flour and cinnamon and stir into batter.
• Add chopped nuts.
• Pour into 13 x 9 pan sprayed with Pam and floured lightly.
• Bake for one hour, and test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into center of cake. If it comes out 'clean', it's done!

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE (THE HEALTHIER VERSION)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325^F. Generously coat a Bundt pan with nonstick spray.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set on high speed, beat the eggs and egg whites for 1 minute, or until foamy. Beat in the applesauce and vanilla extract.
• In another large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add half of the flour mixture to the egg white mixture and beat on medium speed until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and beat for 1 minute. Stir in the bananas and pecans.
• Drain the pineapple, reserving 2 tablespoons of the juice for making the glaze. Stir the pineapple into the batter. Scrape into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 60 to 65 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes. Loosen the edges of the cake by gently inserting a thin rubber spatula or knife around the sides and center. Invert the cake onto the rack and cool completely.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar and the reserved 2 tablespoons pineapple juice. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake.

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease with butter and dust with flour three 9- or 10-inch round cake pans.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the flours, sugar, salt, spices and baking soda.
• In a big bowl, whisk the oil, eggs, egg yolks, buttermilk, vanilla, pineapple and bananas really well.
• Add the flour mixture into the wet mixture and whisk gently until there are no lumps. Fold in 3/4 cup of the pecans.
• Divide the batter among the pans, scraping all the batter from the bowl with a rubber spatula. Bake for 35 to 50 minutes, depending on your oven. Be advised: This is a dense, moist cake and you'll be tempted to overbake it. Try not to. Once you start seeing color on top, keep pressing the top of the cake. When it's firm, it's done.
• Turn out the cake layers onto a wire rack and let them cool completely. Frost with cream cheese frosting and garnish with the remaining 3/4 cup pecans and--if you're feeling very Southern--sliced maraschino cherries. You can even brulee some pineapple slices for the top of the cake.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine all the ingredients. Whip on low speed for a while. When the sugar is incorporated, turn the mixer speed up and beat until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl often.
• To spread, use the frosting at room temperature, but store it covered in the fridge. Rewhip cold frosting before using it.

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C fan forced.
• Drain pineapple keeping juice for icing.
• In a large mixing bowl beat egg whites and sugar for 1 minute using electric beater.
• Stir bicarb soda into apple sauce (it will froth) and add to bowl.
• Mix in mashed banana, walnuts, drained pineapple and mixed spice, blend ingredients together well.
• Gently fold flour into mixture in one go, DO NOT BEAT, as this will make the cake tough.
• Pour mixture into a round cake tin (19cm) that has been coated with cooking spray.
• Bake 35- 40 minutes or until firm to touch in the centre.
• Allow cake to sit for 5 minutes in tin before turning onto a wire rack to cool.
• Once cake has cooled, place all icing ingredients into a small mixing bowl, blend together until smooth.
• Spread over top of cake.
• In humid weather it is best to keep this cake refrigerated.

SPICED HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil two 20cm, loose-bottomed cake tins and line the bottom of each one with baking parchment.
• Sieve the flour into a large mixing bowl, and add 1/2 tsp salt and the baking powder. Stir through the sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and a very good grating of nutmeg. In a separate bowl, whisk the mashed bananas through the eggs and oil until well combined. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and tip in the wet mixture. Fold everything together until combined, then mix through the pineapple and pecans. Spoon the mixture into the tins and bake in the centre of the oven for 35-45 mins or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tins for about 10 mins before transferring to a wire rack to cool down completely.
• Meanwhile, put the soft cheese, softened butter, honey and sugar into a mixing bowl and beat together until just combined. Try not to overbeat the mixture or it will become too soft and runny. Chill for 30 mins in the fridge before using.
• Put one of the cakes on a serving plate and spread with half the icing. Top with the other cake and smooth over the remaining icing. Finish with shavings of orange zest, edible flowers and dried pineapple rings, if you like. Will keep in an airtight container for up to three days.

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease and flour 1 (10-inch) bundt pan, 2 (8x4x2-inch) loaf pans, or 3 (8 inch) layer cake pans. Set aside.
• Using wire whisk, stir together dry ingredients to simulate sifting. Set aside.
• Break eggs into large mixing bowl. Beat until thick and lemon-colored.
• Add all other cake ingredients (oil, pineapple, nuts, banana, and vanilla) Mix well.
• Gently stir in reserved flour mixture. Mix only until lumps are gone and dry ingredients are moistened.
• Pour into greased and floured pan(s).
• Place pan(s) on center shelf of oven.
• Bake until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean (about 1 hour for bundt pan, 50 minutes for loaf pans, or 25-30 minutes for layer cake pans).
• Place pan(s) on wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Invert cake onto rack and allow to cool completely.
• For frosting, blend together the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
• Frost top of cake with cream cheese frosting.
• This freezes well.