Makeover Hummingbird Cake

Name: Makeover Hummingbird Cake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 24 servings.
Cuisine: Comfort Food Desserts, Comfort Food Recipes
Ingredients: 2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium); 1 can (8 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained; 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce; 1/3 cup canola oil; 2 eggs; 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1-1/2 cups sugar; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts; ICING:; 1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese; 1/3 cup reduced-fat butter; 3 cups confectioners' sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

With pineapple, bananas, nuts and just a hint of cinnamon, this cake gets raves at potlucks and parties! —Sue Jernigan, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Ingredients

2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
1 can (8 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
ICING:
1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese
1/3 cup reduced-fat butter
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

In a large bowl, beat the first six ingredients until well blended. In another bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and cinnamon; gradually beat into banana mixture until blended. Stir in walnuts.
Pour into a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
For icing, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Spread over cake. Sprinkle with walnuts. Refrigerate leftovers.

Editor's Note

This recipe was tested with Land O'Lakes light stick butter.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 290 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 28mg cholesterol, 219mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (31g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.

Originally published as Makeover Hummingbird Cake in Healthy Cooking October/November 2010

Reviews

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Average Rating:

Math

Feb 16, 2011

This is a great way to use ripe bananas. The cake was enjoyed by all at a family gathering where there was enough cake for everyone.
HeatherHH

Sep 28, 2010

This cake did not rise and was gummy. I think that too much of the oil was replaced by applesauce, and the texture suffered greatly. The other hummingbird cake on the site also has 3 cups flour, but it has 1 1/2 cups of oil, compared to only 1/3 cup. Replacing approximately 3/4 of the oil in a standard recipe is just too much. I would not make this again.