The Origin & History Of Hummingbird Cake

 Hummingbird Cake

In 1968, the Jamaican tourist board sent out press kits to the USA to try and attract tourists to the island. Inside of the kits were a few local recipes, including one for the “Doctor Bird Cake”.  “Doctor Bird” is the nickname for  

the National Bird of Jamaica, a variety of hummingbird, called the Red-Billed Streamertail. Some say the nickname came from the bird's resemblance to the black tailed coats worn by Doctors in the 1800's. The cake may also get it's name because it is sweet enough to attract the stunning long tailed male hummingbirds.

It has been called the “Cake That Doesn’t Last” because of how quickly it disappears! Most food historians agree the first printed recipe for Hummingbird Cake was submitted to Southern Living magazine, in February 1978, by Mrs. L. H. Wiggin. That same year, the cake won the Favorite Cake Award at the Kentucky State Fair. Perhaps it has also been called “Granny Cake” because even before then, there are countless references to the cake in county fair reports and baking competitions across the southern states.  Over the next few years, similar recipes appeared in local newspapers and community cookbooks, across the South, using different names for this delicious pineapple-banana spice cake.

Hummingbird Cake has been a tradition in Southern Cuisine since the mid-20th century. In 1990, it was selected as Southern Living's favorite recipe and is said to be the most requested recipe in the magazine's history. The cake is similar in texture to carrot cake.  It typically consists two or three layers filled with pecans, chopped bananas, diced pineapple and topped with a cream cheese frosting.

Today, one can find numerous recipes for Hummingbird Cake that vary slightly from each other. Some include coconut and canned crushed pineapple, or the cream cheese frosting differs. My favorite version is made with fresh pineapple and toasted pecans. From Jamaica to Southern Cuisine and now out West, Hummingbird Cake is Delightful and here to stay! (You can find my favorite version of the Hummingbird Cake recipe on my blog at: carriekitchencreations@blogspot.com)