LIZ LORBER'S FAMOUS HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Liz Lorber's Famous Hummingbird Cake image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Time 2h45m

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 cup safflower oil, plus more for cake pans
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon coarse salt
3 large eggs
2 cups chopped ripe bananas (from about 3 medium)
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice
1 cup chopped toasted pecans
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
5 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Dried Pineapple Rounds, for serving (optional)

Steps:

Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush bottom and sides of three 8-inch round cake pans with oil. Line bottoms with parchment rounds; brush parchment.
Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs and oil; stir with a wooden spoon until just combined (do not overmix). Stir in bananas, pineapple with juice, pecans, and vanilla. Divide batter evenly among pans, tapping bottoms firmly on countertop to remove air bubbles. Bake until a tester inserted into center of each cake comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pans on wire racks, 20 minutes. Invert cakes onto racks and let cool completely, at least 1 hour.
Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add confectioners' sugar, 1 cup at a time, and beat until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Add salt and vanilla; beat to combine.
Trim rounded tops of cakes with a serrated knife to make level. Place one cake on a cake plate or stand, trimmed-side down. Spread 1 cup frosting evenly across top. Place a second cake, trimmed-side down, on top of first layer. Spread with another 1 cup frosting. Place remaining cake, trimmed-side down, on top; spread remaining frosting evenly across top and sides of cake. Garnish with pineapple rounds before serving.