WALNUT HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

WALNUT HUMMINGBIRD CAKE image

Yield 14 servings

Number Of Ingredients 22

Ingredients

For the cake:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground Ceylon cinnamon*
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
3 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup fresh pineapple, crushed**
2 cups mashed banana (4 large, ripe bananas)
1 cup chopped California walnuts
Notes:
*Ceylon cinnamon is smoother and sweeter than ordinary supermarket cinnamon. If you can't find it, and must use regular ground cinnamon, reduce the amount to 1 teaspoon.
**Mash 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks with a potato masher until finely crushed; you will have about ¾ cup crushed pineapple.
For the frosting:
¾ cup (1½ sticks) chilled unsalted butter
1½ lbs. (three 8-oz. bars) chilled cream cheese, chilled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1½ cups sifted confectioners' (powdered) sugar
1½ cups chopped California walnuts

Steps:

Preheat the over to 350°F. Butter and flour three 9-inch round cake pans. Cover the bottom of pans with a round of parchment or waxed paper. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt and sift together; set aside. Put the granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl, add the eggs and stir vigorously until smoothly blended. When the eggs and sugars are blended, whisk in the oil and vanilla. Add the flour mixture all at once and stir just until moistened and the ingredients are evenly combined. Do not beat. Add the pineapple, banana and walnuts, and stir just until blended. Divide the batter among the three cake pans; bang each pan on the countertop to dislodge any air bubbles in the batter. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cake springs back when pressed gently with your finger and a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of a layer comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes and then turn the layers out onto cooling racks to cool completely before frosting. For the frosting an electric mixer is needed. Cut the butter into 2-inch pieces and put in a large bowl. Start the mixer slowly, gradually increasing the speed, and beat the chilled butter on medium speed until it becomes malleable, yet still cool, about 3 or 4 minutes. Cut the cream cheese into 2-inch pieces, add to the butter and continue to mix until smooth and thoroughly blended. Add the vanilla, then slowly add the confectioners' sugar and mix until blended. Increase speed slightly and continue mixing for 2-3 minutes until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. By hand, fold in the walnuts. To assemble cake, place one of the layers, bottom side up, on a plate. Spread with about 2/3 cup frosting. Top with a second layer, bottom side down, and spread with 2/3 cup frosting. Set the third layer, top side up, over the others. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Store the frosted cake at a cool but not refrigerated area until serving.