Hummingbird Cupcakes and Christmas. Whether you’re baking for three or more, the Hummingbird cupcakes are sure to please! Hummingbird cupcakes are filled with tropical fruit, chopped pecans, and warm spices, then baked and topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting; will make everyone “hum” with every bite.
I made these cupcakes a few years back and decided to revive this recipe from our archives. It’s a wonderful time of year to celebrate the holidays, so why not make it special and festive during these uncertain times.
How the Hummingbird Cupcakes and Christmas came about…
While I was food shopping at our nearby supermarket, I came across a beautiful magazine cover (the Christmas issue) and it jumped out at me at my first glance.
The cake on the cover looked so amazing, and it was a cake I heard about. It’s was a traditional southern cake known as the Hummingbird cake.
At that moment, I had to have it!
The hummingbird cake made its first appearance in 1978 from a woman in North Carolina, and still today, this beloved cake happens to be the most requested cake recipe here in the South and in Southern Living magazine history.
It always receives rave reviews.
So I was compelled to try this recipe for Hummingbird cake but instead decided to use this recipe to make cupcakes, simply because I knew it would be much easier to whip up and it makes plenty (about 24 to 26 cupcakes) to share.
These Hummingbird Cupcakes are truly delicious and sweet-tasting.
They are filled with crushed pineapple, mashed bananas, chopped pecans, and a hint of our favorite warm spices, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Baked to perfection, and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. Then topped with a sprinkle of crushed pecans.
So delicious! They taste like Christmas! … and everyone will love them. 🙂
Perfect to make-ahead and refrigerate them; making them ideal for the holidays.
Best of all, by making these into Hummingbird cupcakes instead of a large cake, we were able to enjoy more of them and share them with our family and friends.
With 12 days ’till Christmas, make these delicious cupcakes, and treat yourself! You’ll be glad you did.
ENJOY!!
Also, try our Hummingbird Smoothie!
How to Make these Hummingbird Cupcakes…
*Full recipe card below!
Ingredients Needed for Hummingbird Cupcakes:
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3 cups all-purpose flour (or GF flour)
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1 tsp. baking soda
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1 tsp. salt
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1 cup of sugar
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1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
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1+1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
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1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
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3 large eggs, lightly beaten
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1 cup of vegetable oil
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1 + 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
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2 (8-ounces) cans crushed pineapple, undrained
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1 cup chopped pecans
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1 + 1/2 cups mashed bananas (I used 2 bananas)
Cream Cheese Frosting…
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1 (8-ounces) package cream cheese, softened
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1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
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1 (16-ounces) package powdered sugar
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1 tsp. vanilla extract
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1/2 cup crushed pecans, as a garnish
Prepare Batter for Cupcakes:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. ( Do not beat.) Stir in vanilla, crushed pineapple, 1 cup of chopped pecans, and mashed bananas. Stir until well combined.
3. Pour batter into 2 prepared cupcake or muffin pans with paper or grease and flour each one.
4. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1. Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat at low speed until light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract. Refrigerate frosting until ready to use.
2. When ready to frost the cupcakes, place 1/3 of the frosting into a quart size ziplock bag. Snip a small opening in one corner of the bottom of the bag. Twist and squeeze the frosting over each cupcake, in swirling motions.
3. Top with crushed pecans on each cupcake. Cover and store in the refrigerator. Yields: 24 cupcakes
Here’s a quick tip:
Place a few pecans in a ziplock bag. Seal the bag and use a mug to gently crush the pecans. Open the bag and sprinkle some nuts over each cupcake.
Can We Use Gluten-Free Flour?
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Yes, indeed! (thanks to Denise!) Use your favorite gluten-free flour with this recipe.
Can We Freeze Hummingbird Cupcakes?
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Yes, you can! But it’s best to Hold Off the frosting and freeze cupcakes in zip-lock bags or in a plastic container.
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Be sure you press out excess air from the bags before you zip them closed, and the cupcakes have to be completely cooled. This will avoid freezer burn. You can store and chill the frosting for up to two weeks.
MORE Delicious Holiday TREATS and Easy Edible Gift Ideas! (they make great teachers gifts)
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S’mores Dark Chocolate Bark
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Chocolate-Dipped Apricots
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Peppermint Bark and Dark Chocolate Almond Kisses
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Easy Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas
Yield: 24 cupcakes
Hummingbird Cupcakes and Christmas Special Issue
Hummingbird cupcakes are filled with tropical fruit, chopped pecans, and warm spices, then baked and topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting; will make everyone "hum" with every bite.
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Additional Time
10 minutes
Total Time
45 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1+1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup of vegetable oil
- 1 + 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 (8-ounces) cans crushed pineapple
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 + 1/2 cups mashed bananas ( I used 2 bananas)
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 (8 ounces) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
- 1 (16-ounces) package powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup crushed pecans, as a garnish
Instructions
Prepare Batter for Cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. ( Do not beat.) Stir in vanilla, crushed pineapple, 1 cup of chopped pecans, and mashed bananas. Stir until well combined.
- Pour batter into 2 prepared cupcakes or muffin pans with paper or grease and flour each one. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Gradually add powdered sugar and beat at low speed until light and fluffy.
- Stir in the vanilla extract. Refrigerate frosting until ready to use.
- When ready to frost the cupcakes, place 1/3 of the frosting into a quart-size ziplock bag. Snip a small opening in one corner of the bottom of the bag. Twist and squeeze the frosting over each cupcake, in swirling motions. Top with crushed pecans on each cupcake. Cover and store in the refrigerator.
- yields: 24 cupcakes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24 cupcakesServing Size:
1 cupcakeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 227Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 23mgCarbohydrates: 33.1gFiber: 1gSugar: 19.5gProtein: 2.6g
Recipe adapted from Southern Christmas Special Issue 2014
16 Comments
Donna Smythe
November 22, 2021 at 8:19 pmThis is Ophras favorite cake, going to make these for Christmas. Want to make gingerbread cookies,always said to store in a tight container? Is that a cookie can or candy can we receive as a gift as I find baked goods don’t stay fresh for very long in them.
by Anna and Liz
November 22, 2021 at 10:29 pmThanks so much, Donna! Hummingbird cake is our favorite too. As far as baked goods staying fresh in sealed containers, it’s true, they will only stay fresh for up to 3 days. It’s best to freeze them or refrigerate them to keep them fresh longer.
Pearl
February 23, 2021 at 1:08 pmCan you half this recipe
by Anna and Liz
February 23, 2021 at 4:33 pmYes, you can cut this recipe in half. I haven’t done it yet, but I believe it’s possible!
sherry
December 20, 2020 at 9:02 pmhummingbird cakes? Yum! cream cheese frosting? double yum.
happy festive season
sherry
by Anna and Liz
February 11, 2021 at 3:00 pmThank you, Sherry!
Anonymous
December 4, 2014 at 11:14 pmMade these cupcakes gluten free. Just used gluten free flour in place of regular flour. SUPERB! Thanks to you ladies for all the wonderful recipes throughout the year. Merry Christmas Ladies keep the meal plans coming.
Bravo! Denise McDonnell
annaliz
December 5, 2014 at 2:28 amThank you Denise! We are so glad you made these gluten-free, it's always good to hear tips on how to turn recipes into gluten-free ones. Everyone will appreciate your comment, thanks again! And Merry Christmas to you and your family! xo
Dan from Platter Talk
November 26, 2014 at 3:32 pmStellar job with these gorgeous humming bird cupcakes. All of us at Platter Talk wish you and yours the best of holidays this year!
annaliz
December 4, 2014 at 11:04 pmThank you Dan, your good wishes and sweet comments are always appreciated!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
November 25, 2014 at 4:43 pmI have always wanted to make the Hummingbird cake – and love the idea of cupcakes instead. Cakes are not my thing but I seem to do ok with cupcakes. These are gorgeous. Three children birthdays in one week? Wow – you must have worked hard to make that happen – haha.
Your photos are gorgeous and I think I will make these for an office event coming soon. Very nice! Happy Thanksgiving to you both – have a blessed time with family and friends.
annaliz
November 25, 2014 at 6:21 pmThank you Tricia for such kind words. You always say the nicest things! Have a wondeful Thanksgiving !
Xoxo
Kitchen Belleicious
November 25, 2014 at 4:28 pmhummingbird cupcakes are my kids favorite! I made them last year and they just feel in love with them. Yours looks delicious
annaliz
November 26, 2014 at 2:31 amI understand why! We all fell in love with them too.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Joanne
November 25, 2014 at 12:34 pmThese are so fun! I love the flavors in them…totally decadent.
annaliz
November 26, 2014 at 2:28 amThanks Joanne! 🙂