Hummingbird Coffee Cake
11About 5 years ago, I got the idea to make an angel food cake for the first time, even though I’m not a huge angel food cake fan. I also decided to try and add a raspberry ribbon in the center. And since I didn’t have an angel food cake/tube pan, I went to buy one. Only, the store didn’t have one, so I ended up with a bundt pan. (Probably) needless to say, that angel food cake did not turn out well.
And, I haven’t used the bundt pan since. Instead, it’s been taking up valuable kitchen cabinet real estate where more useful things, like tart pans, could go. I rarely have a reason to make coffee/breakfasty type cakes, and until recently I didn’t really have coworkers to bring baked goods to so I wouldn’t eat them all. It seemed like time to bust out the bundt pan.
I searched my google reader for bundt recipes I’d starred, and this one popped up. It was perfect because I had exactly 2 oz. of cream cheese left and it used shredded coconut—and half a bag of shredded coconut has been sitting in my freezer for an eternity. I had all the other ingredients except the pineapple, and I just used canned tidbits for that rather than fresh, which worked fine.
This cake is pretty awesome. It’s incredibly moist, both from the yogurt and the mashed banana. Coconut and pineapple pair beautifully together (hello, piña coladas) and cream cheese frosting should be its own food group. One thing I did sort of fail at, though, was bringing baked goods to my coworkers. This cake was just too good to share, so Tom and I have been eating a piece of it for breakfast every morning. Hey, if the word “coffee” is in the title, that means cake is totally acceptable for breakfast consumption.
Hummingbird Coffee Cake
Slightly adapted from Annie’s Eats
For the cake:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. coconut extract
1 cup plain Greek yogurt (I used 0%)
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
2/3 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped fresh or canned pineapple pieces (drained)
For the glaze/topping:
2 oz. softened cream cheese (neufchatel is fine)
2 Tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/3 cup shredded coconut
1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Preheat the oven to 350 and thoroughly grease a bundt pan. Coat the inside with flour, tapping out the excess.
In one bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking sofa, cinnamon and salt.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla and coconut extracts. Beat in the yogurt until just incorporated.
Turn the mixer to low, and add half of the flour mixture, until just mixed in. Beat in the bananas, followed by the remainder of the flour mixture. Using a spatula, finish mixing in any flour not yet incorporated, and then gently fold in the coconut and pineapple.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake, rotating halfway through, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 45-55 minutes. Place the pan on a wire cooling rack and cool for 20 minutes. Using a knife, gently loosen the sides of the cake from the pan, and then invert the cake onto a cooling rack and allow to cool thoroughly.
To make the glaze, mix together the cream cheese, milk, vanilla extract and confectioners sugar. If the glaze is too thin, add a bit more sugar. If it’s too thick, add a teaspoon of milk at a time until you get the right consistency. Pour the glaze over the cooled cake, and top with the coconut and chopped nuts. Allow the glaze to set before serving.
Cake is totally acceptable for breakfast, especially when “coffee” is in the name. 🙂 Your *coffee* cake is absolutely stunning! Great use of that bundt pan!
Bookmarked for those bananas on the counter.
I’m so glad I can access your site again! (had some issues this morning). I’ve always wanted to make a hummingbird cake but most of the time just don’t feel like making a huge layer cake ordeal. This is the perfect solution! Looks gorgeous. Definitely bakery-worthy.
This looks delicious, gorgeous photos as well!
I bought a bundt pan for something a couple years ago and ended up never using it. I always say I am going to make something with it soon but never do. Maybe this awesome coffee cake will finally convince me to put it to use! This looks fantastic and I love your photos in this post!
I use mine of lots of things..especially flan and fill the center with fresh fruit. Love your cake and that frosting looks really good.
Mmmm, this looks so good! I like that is uses a bit of whole wheat flour and yoghurt to lighten it up a little bit. I think I had Annie’s recipe starred as well, this is a great reminder. Thanks for posting the recipe, the pictures are gorgeous!
I’ve made hummingbird cake a number of times and it’s always a hit, although it’s so sweet it’s (almost) cloying. This coffee cake makes it breakfast food, you’re right!
Mmmm I have heard of the hummingbird cake before…but this breakfast version is where it’s at. Got to get cooking, and yeah, much better use than making angelfood cake (not a fan either).
I have exactly the same issue with my bundt pan! I bought it for one particular recipe, tried it, failed, and it just sits on the shelf since then. Maybe I should try your cake, it sounds so delicious:)
Gorgeous pictures! I’m the same way with my bundt pan – I think I’ve used it twice and it takes up so much room. I also have a min bundt pan, and I’ve used it once, sigh. The cake looks like the perfect recipe to get my pan out for 🙂