Chef Johns Hummingbird Cake Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter two 9-inch round cake pans, then dust with flour. Set aside.
• Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl; whisk quickly to combine. Add oil and eggs and mix with a spatula until just combined.
• Add vanilla, pineapple, bananas, and toasted pecans, and mix until thoroughly combined. Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans. Shake each pan then tap on the counter to settle the batter and bring any air bubbles to the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a wooden skewer inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
• Let cakes cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Let cool completely, at least 1 hour.
• Combine cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment on high speed, mix until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as necessary with a spatula. Mix in the powdered sugar on a lower speed in 3 or 4 additions until mostly incorporated. Increase to high speed and whip until light and fluffy.
• Place one cake on a serving platter. Spread 1/2 of the frosting on top, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch unfrosted at the edges. Top with second cake layer and give it a firm but gentle press. Pile remaining frosting on top and spread toward the outside.
• Place in the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, draw or trace a hummingbird template on a piece of paper and lay on a baking sheet under a silicone mat (such as Silpat®).
• Heat sugar for hummingbird in a saucepan over medium-low heat until dissolved, hot, and amber in color. Drip liquid sugar onto the silicon mat, tracing the hummingbird pattern. Let sit until hard.
• Place cooled hummingbird on top of cake and decorate with edible flowers.

CHEF JOHN'S CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place flour in a bowl. Add salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Sprinkle in ground ginger and cinnamon. Whisk thoroughly until combined. Set aside.
• Add sugar to a separate bowl. Whisk in eggs until mixture is smooth and pale yellow, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Heat butter and coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat until just melted but not too hot. Whisk into the bowl with the eggs and sugar until well combined. Add carrots, crushed pineapple, pecans, and walnuts. Stir well.
• Stir flour mixture into the carrot mixture until no dry spots remain. Pour batter into a greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Tap the pan against your counter to let any big air bubbles rise to the surface.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting, at least 40 minutes.
• Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar to form a smooth frosting. Spread evenly over the cooled cake. Chill completely before slicing.

DELICIOUS HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease three 8-inch cake pans.
• Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Beat in eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Stir in bananas, pecans, and pineapple. Divide batter among the prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Invert onto wire racks and let cool completely.
• Make frosting while cake layers are cooling. Combine cream cheese and butter in a bowl; beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract; mix until creamy.
• Spread frosting onto the cooled cake layers. Stack layers; frost top and sides.