Hummingbird Cake Mix in a Jar

Hummingbird Cake mix is a delicious recipe incorporating pineapple, bananas and cinnamon for a rich, tropical dessert.

It’s speculated that the Hummingbird cake got its name due to its sweetness, but it actually originated in Jamaica and was known as “doctor bird cake”. Doctor bird is the nickname of the Red-billed steamertail (a member of the hummingbird family) and the National Bird of Jamaica.
It was likely a marketing ploy as the Jamaican Tourism board distributed recipes in the Kingston Daily Gleaner, where this recipe first appeared on March 29, 1969.

This recipe has been scaled down to make a fantastic cake mix in a jar recipe for gift giving.

You’ll Need:
2 cups Flour
1 1/3 cups Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
3/4 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
2/3 cup Pecans — chopped

(makes 1 pkg/jar of cake mix)

Layer the ingredients in a large canning jar or vacuum seal bag. Seal & Attach tag:

Attach a card:

1 Pkg/Jar Hummingbird Cake Mix
1 cup vegetable oil
3 beaten eggs
8 ounce can crushed pineapple (undrained)
2 very ripe mashed bananas
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla

Preheat to 350 F

Combine 1 package of Hummingbird cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl, do NOT beat. Stir just until moistened. Add the crushed pineapple, mashed bananas and vanilla extract, mixing lightly.

Spread into greased 9″ pans or Greased Bundt pan if desired. Bake for 34-40 minutes. Cool

Almost Homemade Doctored Cake Mix Version

You’ll Need:
1 pkg Yellow Cake Mix (18.25 oz size)
1 8 oz can Pineapple, in juice (do not drain)
2 very ripe, mashed bananas
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl, mixing until incorporated. Transfer to a greased baking pan and bake 28-32 minutes. Let the layers cool at least half an hour before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 pkg 8 oz Cream Cheese, room temperature
4 tbs butter
3 1/2 cup to 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract
Chopped walnuts (or pecans)

Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth, add vanilla extract and powdered sugar a little at a time until fully incorporated, whip until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes total!

© Can Stock Photo Inc. / dbvirago