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All Posts / Southern Hummingbird Sheet Cake

Southern Hummingbird Sheet Cake

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By Rosie Published: May 9, 2025 Updated: May 15, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links.

A slice of this deliciously spiced hummingbird sheet cake is the perfect way to start or end your day! This classic Southern cake is made with bananas and crushed pineapple and finished with a rich cream cheese frosting.

A square of Old fashioned hummingbird sheet cake served on a white plate alongside a cup of Folgers coffee. A container of Folgers coffee as well as two ripe bananas sit nearby.
Table of Contents
  1. Ingredients for Homemade Hummingbird Sheet Cake
  2. How to Make Hummingbird Sheet Cake
  3. Best Ways to Enjoy Homemade Hummingbird Sheet Cake
  4. More Sweet Southern Treats from I Heart Recipes
  5. Old Fashioned Hummingbird Sheet Cake Recipe

Hey folks! Today, I’m sharing a Southern classic – an old-fashioned hummingbird sheet cake recipe! Hummingbird cake is a Southern staple. You’ll see it at just about every get-together where dessert is served. So, naturally, as a Southern and Soul Food blogger, I had to share my own recipe.

Two red containers of Folgers coffee  alongside a bowl of flour and a carton of eggs on a distressed white wooden table.

If you’ve been around a while, you’ll know that I’ve shared a layer cake version of hummingbird cake before, and boy, was it a hit! Now, I want to share the sheet cake version – slightly different, just as delicious! This hummingbird sheet cake pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee in the morning. It’s like a spiced coffee cake meets banana bread meets carrot cake. How delicious does that sound?!

A slice of hummingbird sheet cake on a square white plate served next to a white coffee mug filled with Folgers coffee. A baking dish with the remainder of the cake sits nearby as well as a ripe banana. A container of Folgers coffee is in the background.

Ingredients for Homemade Hummingbird Sheet Cake

The ingredients for this homemade hummingbird cake are simple – classic cake ingredients mixed with tropical flavor from sweet bananas and pineapple. You get a delicious cake that’s not too sweet, making it perfect to enjoy any time of day – for dessert or breakfast! Here’s everything you need to make an old-fashioned hummingbird sheet cake.

Hummingbird Cake Ingredients:

  • Flour, Sugar, Baking Soda, & Salt: these four ingredients are the base of just about any simple cake recipe. If you have these pantry staples on hand, you’re off to a great start!
  • Cinnamon and Nutmeg: these simple spices give the hummingbird cake that classic spice cake flavor, helping to make it not-too-sweet.
  • Vanilla Extract: just a little bit adds a warm depth of flavor to this tasty cake.
  • Eggs: as with most cake recipes, eggs give your cake structure. You’ll need 4 large eggs or 5 medium eggs for this recipe.
  • Vegetable Oil & Apple Sauce: despite what you may think, apple sauce does NOT make this cake taste like apples! These two ingredients ensure a perfectly moist cake.
  • Crushed Pineapple: here’s where that tropical flavor comes in! I prefer to use canned crushed pineapple to keep it simple.
  • Bananas: you’ll need three very ripe bananas. The more ripe they are, the sweeter they are. Overripe bananas add a ton of flavor and moisture to hummingbird cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

  • Softened Cream Cheese: be sure to let your cream cheese come to room temperature first, which will ensure your frosting is nice and smooth.
  • Butter: use unsalted butter for this frosting recipe.
  • Powdered Sugar: used to sweeten the icing.
  • Milk & Vanilla Extract: the wet ingredients bring the cream cheese frosting together into the perfect spreadable consistency.

Can you use brown sugar in a hummingbird sheet cake?

Yes, you certainly can! In fact, using brown sugar will give your hummingbird cake a much richer, caramel flavor, which goes perfectly with the sweet and tropical flavor of pineapple and banana (think bananas foster or pineapple upside down cake vibes… ohhh, yes please!). You can either swap out all the white sugar for brown, or use half and half, depending on the flavor you want.

Can I include nuts in this hummingbird cake recipe?

Yes, including nuts in your hummingbird cake is totally optional. I chose to leave out the nuts for this sheet cake recipe, but including toasted pecans or walnuts will give your cake an extra crunch that some love!

How to Make Hummingbird Sheet Cake

Now for the fun part – making this hummingbird sheet cake recipe! The reason I chose to turn my original cake into a sheet cake is simply because it’s easier and less time-consuming than making a layer cake. Having to make all those cake layers, letting them cool before assembling, and the delicate process of stacking frosted layers… sometimes, we ain’t got time for that! This sheet cake version is so simple and just as delicious, the shortcut is so worth it!

Here’s how to make a simple sheet pan hummingbird cake:

  1. In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and spices. Mix until well combined.
  2. In a separate large mixing bowl, combine your wet ingredients: eggs, vanilla, vegetable oil, applesauce, crushed pineapple, and mashed bananas. Mix until those are well combined.
  3. Slowly start adding the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. You can mix by hand or use an electric or stand mixer.
  4. Mix until you have a nice, creamy cake batter – but DON’T overmix!
  5. Prep a 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and pour the hummingbird cake batter into the prepared pan.
  6. Bake the cake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

While the hummingbird sheet cake is baking, make the cream cheese frosting:

  1. In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  2. Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Continue mixing (on low speed) until a smooth and creamy icing forms.
  3. Once your hummingbird cake is cooled, apply a nice, thick layer of icing on top of the cake.

Best Ways to Enjoy Homemade Hummingbird Sheet Cake

One of my favorite ways to enjoy a slice of this old-fashioned hummingbird cake is paired with a cup of coffee! I’ve always loved my Folgers Classic Roast and just discovered a few other favorite blends – Coffeehouse and 100% Colombian – YUM! I have a cup of coffee with lots of cream every morning. If only I could pair it with hummingbird cake every day too!

Here are some other ways to enjoy hummingbird cake:

  • Drizzle some caramel sauce over the top of the cream cheese frosting. Caramel goes perfectly with hummingbird cake’s warm spices and banana and pineapple flavors.
  • Leave the cake unfrosted. Unfrosted cakes are great for breakfast – it’s like a tasty coffee cake without the guilt of all that sugar from the rich cream cheese frosting.
  • Sprinkle the top with crushed pecans or walnuts. If you decide not to mix nuts into the cake batter, adding them as a garnish on top is the perfect way to get that nutty crunch.

Why is my hummingbird sheet cake dry?

Did you drain the juice from the crushed pineapple?! Tisk, tisk! In this recipe, we want all that tropical goodness IN our cake! Another cause of a dry cake is overmixing, so be sure to mix the batter just until all the ingredients are combined.

How do you store hummingbird cake?

I highly recommend storing this cake in the fridge. Because the cake is super moist and has a cream cheese frosting, it will taste best when stored

Rosie enjoying a slice of classic homemade hummingbird sheet cake with a cup of Folgers coffee in her hand.

More Sweet Southern Treats from I Heart Recipes

Well, there you have it, fam! An old-fashioned hummingbird cake recipe in sheet-pan form; perfect for feeding a crowd, but so much easier than a classic layer cake! Use the recipe card below to print out the full ingredients list and directions for this delicious cake, then let me know in the comments if you make it!

Want to try some more classic Southern desserts? I’ve got just the lineup for you! Here are some more favorite dessert recipes to try:

  • Southern Sock It To Me Cake
  • Easy Honeybun Cake
  • Caramel Pecan Coffee Cake
  • Old-Fashioned Banana Crumb Cake
  • Homemade Southern Caramel Cake (from Scratch)

Use the recipe card to print out my old fashioned hummingbird cake recipe below! And don’t forget to subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube for more delicious recipes! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, and check out my new cookbook, Super Soul Food with Cousin Rosie!

Old fashioned hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting

Old Fashioned Hummingbird Sheet Cake Recipe

There's nothing better than a sweet homemade slice of hummingbird cake paired with a delicious cup of Folgers coffee. Try this perfect pairing for breakfast today!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert / Treat, Side Dish/ Dessert
Cuisine Southern
Keyword Classic Hummingbird Cake, Hummingbird Cake, Hummingbird Sheet Cake
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
Cooling Time 30 minutes minutes
Total Time 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup apple sauce
  • 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
  • 3 medium bananas mashed

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 tbsp butter unsalted
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp milk

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325 F.
  • In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and spices. Mix until well combined.
    3 cups all purpose flour, 2 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tbsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • In a separate large mixing bowl, combine your wet ingredients: eggs, vanilla, vegetable oil, applesauce, crushed pineapple, and mashed bananas. Mix until those are well combined.
    4 large eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup apple sauce, 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, 3 medium bananas
  • Slowly start adding the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. You can mix by hand or use an electric or stand mixer.
  • Mix until you have a nice, creamy cake batter–but DON’T over mix!
  • Prep a 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and pour the hummingbird cake batter into the prepared pan.
  • Bake the cake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour and 20minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • Let the cake cool until it’s at room temperature.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
    4 tbsp butter, 8 oz cream cheese
  • Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.Continue mixing (on low speed) until a smooth and creamy icing forms.
    1 tsp vanilla extract, 4 cups powdered sugar, 2 tsp milk
  • Once your hummingbird cake is cooled, apply a nice, thick layer of icing on top of the cake.
If you loved this recipe, leave me a review below. This helps future recipe makers and ensures continued high-quality recipes for years to come!
© 2025 I Heart Recipes
Recipe by: I Heart Recipes

This post has been sponsored by The J.M. Smucker Company. I received product and compensation, but all opinions are my own.

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EXPLORE RECIPE CATEGORIESAll Posts, cake, Dessert, Sheet Pan Recipes, Southern Recipes

MEET THE RECIPE AUTHOR

Rosie

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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Comments

  1. Tahnee says

    February 11, 2019 at 1:54 pm

    Can I turn this into a 2 layer cake as well? This is my favorite cake hands down and really trust your recipes. Everything I have made is delicious and right on point. Thank you so much for everything you do and sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 11, 2019 at 5:45 pm

      Hi there! You sure can 🙂

      Reply
  2. Debbie says

    February 11, 2019 at 2:02 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe has always been a favorite of my mother. She would say that she put everything in it including the hummingbirds. Dad would wait patiently for it to be done. Your recipe seems to make it much simpler! Can’t wait to try it. Also, absolutely love the coffeehouse flavor of Folgers. It’s my new favorite!!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 11, 2019 at 5:45 pm

      Hi Debbie. Isn’t it delicious? Yummy!!

      Reply
  3. Shirley Zimmerman says

    February 11, 2019 at 2:23 pm

    This cake looks delicious. I drink coffee with 1/2 and 1/2.

    Reply
  4. Shirley Zimmerman says

    February 11, 2019 at 2:25 pm

    5 stars
    This cake looks delicious. I drink my coffee with 1/2 and 1/2.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 11, 2019 at 5:45 pm

      Yummy!

      Reply
  5. RON HACKL says

    February 11, 2019 at 2:46 pm

    5 stars
    I like my coffee black and hot. Keep up the great job.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 11, 2019 at 5:44 pm

      Thanks Ron!

      Reply
  6. JoAnn Johnson says

    February 11, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    I am excited to try this cake…never had it before. Love my coffee with just a touch of cream. I’ve missed you…where have you been?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 11, 2019 at 5:44 pm

      Hi Joann! I’ve been working on something for you all 😉

      Reply
  7. Debbie Williams says

    February 11, 2019 at 5:21 pm

    Printed the recipe but did not have the name of recipe only ingrediants nad instructions,

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 11, 2019 at 5:47 pm

      Hi Debbie! Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  8. Linda Brown says

    February 11, 2019 at 7:41 pm

    What a beautiful lady !!!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 15, 2019 at 8:50 am

      Thanks Linda!

      Reply
  9. Thelma Anderson says

    February 11, 2019 at 9:46 pm

    That cake looks so good. I will try it. I have a cup of coffee daily with creamer and sweetner.

    Reply
  10. Donna Jones says

    February 11, 2019 at 11:37 pm

    Hi there, I love your recipies! I’ve never made this but it sounds wonderful. I absolutely love my coffee black and very strong. Its even better with some sort of coffee cake or other dessert.

    Reply
  11. TJ says

    February 12, 2019 at 7:57 am

    Can you leave out the bananas or do you have a a good replacement for them?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 15, 2019 at 8:50 am

      It wouldn’t be a hummingbird cake without bananas 🙂

      Reply
  12. Barbara Thompson says

    February 12, 2019 at 5:21 pm

    Can you do this by hand or do you need a hand mixer?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 15, 2019 at 8:49 am

      Yes, it can be done by hand 🙂

      Reply
  13. Michael says

    February 12, 2019 at 5:44 pm

    5 stars
    My first cake from scratch. Your recipe is great and the cake turned out to be delicious. I have my coffee with cream.

    Reply
  14. Lavon says

    February 16, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    Hello Rosie I love your recipes and I can’t wait to try your Hummingbird Cake it looks absolutely yummy I like my coffee ☕ with hazelnut creamer and sweetner

    Reply
  15. Irene says

    April 15, 2019 at 4:59 pm

    Congrats for sponsorship 🙂

    Reply
  16. Jeanne Scott says

    June 5, 2020 at 9:34 pm

    I’ve been looking for a good Hummingbird Cake recipe! Going to give this a try, but I will add chopped pecans to it! Will let you know how it turns out!

    Reply
  17. Reginia Farrior says

    November 15, 2021 at 4:51 am

    4 stars
    I absolutely love this cake! I have made it many times!

    Reply
  18. Leah says

    November 17, 2021 at 6:03 pm

    I found how to post a comment finally.

    I am posting to submit entry into your Thanksgiving Giveaway.

    Reply
  19. Christina Chambers says

    May 18, 2025 at 6:00 am

    5 stars
    I love Hummingbird Cake & this one layer version did NOT disappoint!

    Reply

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Hey cousins, it’s Rosie!

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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