Hummingbird Cake Mix in a Jar

Sweet, spiced, and packed with that classic banana-pineapple flavor, this Hummingbird Cake Mix in a Jar turns a Southern favorite into a practical make-ahead gift. Layer the dry mix once, attach the simple baking directions, and you’ve got a homemade pantry gift that actually gets used instead of quietly collecting dust behind the rice cooker.

The dry mix keeps the cinnamon, flour, sugar, and pecans ready to go, while the add-in card finishes the cake with mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, eggs, oil, and vanilla. If you like giftable jar mixes, this one lands somewhere between old-fashioned and downright clever.

What Is Hummingbird Cake?

Hummingbird cake is a moist spice cake built around banana, pineapple, cinnamon, and nuts. This jar version keeps the dry ingredients shelf-stable so you can gift it now and bake it later. The finished cake tastes a bit like banana bread and pineapple cake decided to stop arguing and work together.

The name traces back to Jamaica, where a similar banana-pineapple cake was known as doctor bird cake. That nickname comes from Jamaica’s national bird, and the cake later caught on in the American South. For a quick look at the cake’s Jamaican roots and how it traveled, see this history of Hummingbird Cake from Visit Jamaica.

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Ingredients for the Jar Mix

You’ll need the following dry ingredients for one jar:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup chopped pecans

This makes 1 jar of cake mix, enough for one full cake once the wet ingredients are added. A 1-quart wide-mouth canning jar usually works best for layered mixes because you need every bit of the space.

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How to Assemble the Mix

1. Add the flour to a clean, completely dry 1-quart canning jar or a vacuum-seal bag.
2. Layer the sugar evenly over the flour.
3. Add the baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in neat layers if you want a giftable look.
4. Finish with the chopped pecans on top.
5. Seal the jar tightly and attach the baking directions below.

Attach this card:

• 1 jar Hummingbird Cake Mix
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 beaten eggs
• 1 can crushed pineapple, 8 oz, undrained
• 2 very ripe mashed bananas
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Keep the jar dry and tightly sealed. Moisture is the enemy here, and it always shows up uninvited.

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How to Bake the Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans or one Bundt pan.
3. Combine the jar mix, vegetable oil, and beaten eggs in a large mixing bowl. Do not beat. Stir just until moistened.
4. Add the undrained crushed pineapple, mashed bananas, and vanilla. Mix lightly until combined.
5. Spread the batter into the prepared pans.
6. Bake for 34 to 40 minutes, or until the cake tests done in the center.
7. Cool completely before frosting or serving.

Because the batter includes fruit, you want to stir gently instead of whipping air into it. Overmixing can turn a tender cake dense in a hurry.

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Tips for Best Results

• Use very ripe bananas. They mash more easily and bring the strongest banana flavor.
• Keep the pineapple undrained. That juice is part of the cake’s moisture.
• Do not overmix. Stir until the flour disappears, then stop fussing with it.
• Toast the pecans first if you want deeper flavor. Let them cool fully before layering them into the jar.
• Choose the pan with intent. Two 9-inch layers are easiest for frosting, while a Bundt pan makes a nice gift cake with less assembly.

If you enjoy layered pantry gifts, Spiced Apple Cake Mix in a Jar uses the same make-ahead idea with a different flavor profile.

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Almost Homemade Version

If you want the flavor without assembling a jar mix first, use this shortcut version:

• 1 package yellow cake mix
• 1 can pineapple in juice, 8 oz, do not drain
• 2 very ripe mashed bananas
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl until incorporated.
2. Transfer the batter to a greased baking pan.
3. Bake at 350°F for 28 to 32 minutes.
4. Let the cake layers cool at least 30 minutes before frosting.

This is the version to make when you want cake tonight and don’t feel like decanting flour into a jar first. Entirely reasonable.

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Cream Cheese Frosting

For a classic finish, use:

• 1 package cream cheese, 8 oz, room temperature
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3 1/2 to 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Chopped walnuts or pecans

1. Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
2. Add the vanilla extract.
3. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time until fully incorporated.
4. Whip until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes total.
5. Spread over the cooled cake and top with chopped walnuts or pecans if desired.

If you like fruit-forward cakes with a similar soft crumb, Pineapple Sunshine Cake is another good one to keep in your back pocket.

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Storage and Shelf Life

Jar mix storage: Store the sealed dry mix in an airtight jar or vacuum-sealed bag in a cool, dry pantry for up to 3 months for best quality. That estimate is based on the shortest-lived ingredient in the mix, the chopped pecans, which can lose flavor faster than the flour or sugar.

Baked unfrosted cake: Once baked and cooled, wrap tightly and keep at room temperature for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Frosted cake: If you use the cream cheese frosting, refrigerate the finished cake and use it within 3 to 4 days. Cover it well so it doesn’t dry out or start tasting like last night’s leftovers, which is a deeply unfair fate for cake.

Leftover pineapple: If you open an extra can, transfer any unused fruit to a covered glass or plastic container and refrigerate it. Use it within 5 to 7 days.

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Serving Suggestions

Serve Hummingbird Cake plain, dusted lightly with powdered sugar, or finished with cream cheese frosting and extra pecans. It works well as a layer cake, a simple Bundt, or even a snack cake cut into squares.

For gifting, tuck the jar into a basket with a wooden spoon, a handwritten tag, and a bottle of homemade Vanilla Extract. That turns one useful little pantry mix into a complete baking gift without getting fussy about it.

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🛒 Walmart Grocery List

• All-Purpose Flour, 5 lb
• Granulated Sugar, 4 lb
• Baking Soda, 1 lb
• Plain Salt, 26 oz
• Ground Cinnamon, 2.37 oz
• Chopped Pecans, 8 oz

Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hummingbird Cake Mix in a Jar

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Hummingbird Cake Mix in a Jar

Article or recipe authorAuthor: Melissa 'Liss' Burnell

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preparation timePrep 15 minutes mins

cook timeCook 40 minutes mins

total timeTotal 55 minutes mins

This layered dry mix makes a moist, spiced hummingbird cake with banana, pineapple, cinnamon, and pecans once the wet ingredients are added. It yields about 12 servings, with an estimated total batch cost of $11.32 and about $0.94 per serving when prepared with the jar mix add-ins.

ServingsServings 12 servings

CourseCourse Dessert

CuisineCuisine Southern

Budget101 Price BreakdownApprox Cost: $11.32

Ingredients

1/21x2x

• ▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ ⅔ cup chopped pecans
• ▢ 1 cup vegetable oil
• ▢ 3 eggs beaten
• ▢ 1 can crushed pineapple 8 oz, undrained
• ▢ 2 very ripe bananas mashed
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Equipment

1-quart canning jar

Large Mixing Bowl

Measuring Cups

Measuring Spoons

Rubber Spatula or Spoon

Two 9-inch cake pans or 1 Bundt pan

Instructions

Prevent Sleep Mode Prevent Sleep Mode

1. Layer the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and chopped pecans in a clean, dry 1-quart canning jar.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
3. Grease two 9-inch cake pans or one Bundt pan.
4. In a large bowl, combine the jar mix, vegetable oil, and beaten eggs. Do not beat. Stir just until moistened.
5. Add the crushed pineapple with its juice, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract. Mix lightly until combined.
6. Spread the batter into the prepared pans.
7. Bake for 34 to 40 minutes, until the center tests done.
8. Cool completely before serving or frosting.

Recipe Size Alteration

💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.

Notes

Estimated cost is based on current online ingredient prices and will vary by store and date.
Prep time is an estimate for layering the jar mix and mixing the batter.
Store the dry mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months for best quality.
If frosted with cream cheese frosting, refrigerate the cake and use within 3 to 4 days.

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