Easy Pineapple Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting (Hummingbird Cake)

Name: Easy Pineapple Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting (Hummingbird cake)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour (I like 1 cup white and 1 cup whole wheat.); 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ cup coconut (shredded, desiccated or flaked); ¾ teaspoon salt; 2 medium to large ripe bananas (mashed); 2 large eggs (whisked); ½ cup brown sugar (dark or light); ½ cup oil (I often use half light olive oil and half canola (or vegetable) oil, but any is fine.); 1¼ cups crushed pineapple ((10 ounces) in juice (or canned pineapple chopped into small pieces with about ⅓ cup of the juice)); 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; 1 tablespoon ground ginger; 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional); 4½ ounces cream cheese ((½ cup)); 2 cups icing / powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional); ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup crushed walnuts to decorate (optional (or a little toasted coconut))

By Helen Schofield

on Apr 08, 2023, Updated Apr 30, 2024

82 Comments

Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

This simple pineapple banana cake is a light and summery cake with a cream cheese topping. It’s so easy to make, and yet it’s moist and flavorful, and looks fancy enough to serve on a special occasion. You could say it’s Hawaiian style banana cake meets classic Hummingbird cake. It tastes a bit like a carrot cake, but with a tropical twist!

Closeup of a cake slice with a square piece of pineapple banana cake with cream cheese frosting and walnuts on top, on top of brown paper with the rest of the cake in the background.

THIS CAKE!!

There’s no shortage of banana cakes around here. In fact there’s quite the variety, from a peanut butter, banana and chocolate chip cake or mini air fryer banana bread for afternoon tea to yummy lower sugar Greek yogurt banana muffins.

But for an afternoon tea when you’re looking to impress (without spending all day in the kitchen!), this has to be my favorite. You could say it’s a rather summery cake. But it goes down well any time of year and for any occasion.

Why you’ll love it
About the ingredients
How to make pineapple banana cake
Helen’s Top Tips
How to serve
Variations
Recipe FAQ
More easy snack cake recipes
Easy Pineapple Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting (Hummingbird cake) Recipe

Why you’ll love it

I do love the ‘tropical theme’ going on with this banana pineapple cake. I also love:

So easy to make and yet easy to impress with. Simply combine the wet ingredients with the dry and bake. Cover with a thick layer of the simplest cream cheese frosting ever and you have a cake worthy of a special occasion.

Moist and flavorful! This cake is made with ripe bananas and crushed pineapple, which add moisture and sweetness to the cake. Then there’s a hint of spice to complement the tropical flavors. The flavors are all distinctly there without being overpowering.

It’s an easier, lighter version of a Hummingbird cake. Or even a classic carrot cake! Just one layer, and the cake batter is low in sugar with just half a cup. Also, half of the flour is whole wheat.

Great for a small crowd. With its thick layer of cream cheese icing on top, you only need a small piece!

Fun fact: Hummingbird cake (speciality of the American South!) was named after the bird because it is so sweet that it is said to attract hummingbirds. My quick and easy one layer version isn’t so sweet, but I think you’ll find it just as delicious.

About the ingredients

Overhead view of all the ingredients needed for a pineapple banana cake including white and whole wheat flour, raising agents and salt, brown sugar, eggs, oil, ripe bananas, ground cinnamon and ginger, coconut, crushed pineapple, cream cheese and powdered sugar.

Flour: I like to use a mixture of white all purpose flour and whole wheat flour. This not only makes for a healthier cake, it gives it a slightly nutty texture, too.

Baking powder and baking soda: A little of each.

Coconut: You can use dessicated coconut, shredded coconut or even flaked.

Salt: I find this essential for bringing out the other flavors.

Cinnamon and ginger: I’ve increased the amount of both of these warm spices since an earlier version of the recipe. I suggest adding a whole tablespoon of each to the cake batter. They complement the tropical flavors perfectly!

Bananas: This recipe includes a whole cup of mashed banana, which is around 2 medium to large bananas. It’s best to use really ripe bananas for maximum flavor and sweetness.

Eggs: You’ll need 2 large.

Brown sugar: I experimented with the amount of sugar in the batter and landed on just half a cup. Since there’s powdered sugar (icing sugar) in the frosting, the cake is definitely sweet enough without being overly sweet.

Oil: I usually use either vegetable oil such as canola oil, or a mixture of vegetable oil and olive oil. If you like, you can use melted coconut oil, or even melted butter instead if you prefer the flavor.

Pineapple: The perfect option here is crushed pineapple in juice. If you can’t find crushed pineapple, it’s fine to use chopped pineapple instead. If you have a food processor, pulse it for a second or two to finely chop.

For the simple cream cheese frosting

You only need 2 main ingredients for this – cream cheese and powdered (icing) sugar. I do also like to add a tiny bit of salt and vanilla for an extra delicious result.

Optional: Walnuts, pecans or another crushed nut for the top of the cake if you like.

How to make pineapple banana cake

The step-by-step guide below should help you make the recipe perfectly first time. Scroll down to the end for the full recipe including ingredient amounts.

This is a very simple version of a Hummingbird cake. It tastes like a much more complicated cake!

All you do is mix up the dry ingredients, mix up the wet ingredients, then stir the two together. In detail, here’s what you do.

Firstly, prepare the baking pan by lining with baking paper. I like to spray a little oil into the pan to help the paper to stick to it.

Next, add all of the dry ingredients to a large bowl.

Then mash the overripe bananas in a large jug or medium sized bowl.

Collage of 2 images showing flour and coconut in a large bowl and then someone mashing ripe banana in a jug.

Add the eggs, brown sugar, oil and pineapple (so all the ‘wet’ ingredients).

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry.

Closeup overhead shot of someone mixing together all the wet ingredients for a pineapple banana cake and then pouring it into the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Mix together (I like to use a silicon spatula for this) until ‘just’ combined.

Someone stirring dry ingredients to wet in a large mixing bowl and a green spatula in pineapple banana cake mixture in a large bowl.

Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake the delicious coconut pineapple cake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a tooth pick or skewer comes out clean.

See here before and after baking!

Overhead view of someone holding a square baking pan with unbaked and then baked pineapple banana cake on a marble background.

Remember to let cool completely before spreading over the quick cream cheese topping.

How do you make that, you ask? It’s so easy! Just slowly combine the powdered sugar with the softened cream cheese and a little vanilla and salt if you like. You’ll know when it’s done! The frosting will be creamy and perfectly smooth.

Collage of 2 overhead images showing someone creaming together cream cheese and powdered sugar and the cream cheese frosting finished in the bowl.

Overhead view of using pink spatula to spread cream cheese frosting onto pineapple banana cake on a cooling rack and marble background.

Helen’s Top Tips

Always keep ripe bananas in your freezer for this banana cake with pineapple and coconut, and other banana cakes you like to make. I simply throw them in there whole with the skin still on, then defrost until soft enough to mash (it doesn’t take long!).
As always when making a cake, don’t overmix the batter. Otherwise the cake can end up dense and chewy. Stir the mixture until just combined.
It’s best to take the cream cheese out of the fridge a while before you start baking so that it’s easier to combine with the powdered sugar when you make the frosting.
Add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese gradually so that it doesn’t splatter all over!

Closeup of the front part of a whole pineapple banana coconut cake with thick cream cheese frosting and walnuts on top on brown paper with walnuts in front and a brown cup and saucer behind.

How to serve

This delicious tropical banana coconut cake is a great cake for serving a small crowd. You can easily cut it into around 16 squares as it’s quite rich with the cream cheese frosting on top.

It’s perfect for any kind of occasion when you want to impress but you only want to make a one layer cake (no fussy layer cakes today, thank you!). I’m thinking a baby shower, a summer BBQ, a birthday party (just add candles!), a pot luck, and many more occasions.

Since it already has frosting on top, you don’t need to serve anything else with it. But I won’t tell if you want to add a little scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of cream on the side!

Closeup of the inside of a corner of cut pineapple banana cake with cream cheese frosting and walnuts on top, with another piece of cake in the foreground and a brown cup and saucer top right.

Variations

For a simpler take on this delicious banana, pineapple and coconut cake, it’s actually moist and tasty enough to serve without the cream cheese frosting if you prefer.

For a little crunchy texture, you can also add crushed nuts (walnuts or pecans work perfectly) both on top of the icing and inside the cake batter.

I no longer include nuts when I make this cake since we have an allergy in the house. Instead, I either sprinkle toasted coconut or dried rose petals over the top of the icing, or just leave it plain.

Since this cake already tastes a little like a carrot cake, why not add some grated carrot (or zucchini or apple!) to the batter? Try 1 carrot or half a zucchini and/or 1 apple. Squeeze out as much water as you can before adding the grated vegetable or fruit.

What about using a different topping? How about whipped cream with a little powdered sugar, or a simple buttercream?

Recipe FAQ

How long does this cake last?

Since it’s a moist cake, it will taste great for up to 4 to 5 days if kept in an airtight container in the fridge.

Can I freeze it?

Yes, you can. Freeze either well-wrapped in a double layer of plastic wrap/aluminium foil or in an airtight container, either frosted or before frosting, for up to 2 months. Let defrost in the fridge before serving.

Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned?

You can, but you may need to add a little more moisture to the batter to compensate for the lack of juice. Simply add around a third of a cup or 80ml of water, milk or even juice.

Can I leave out the pineapple?

Yes, you can, but it’s best to replace it with another chopped fruit with juice such as canned peaches or pear.

Can I make the cake without coconut?

Yes, it’s no problem at all to leave out the coconut. You could just omit it, or replace it with some crushed nuts.

More easy snack cake recipes

Everyone loves these peanut butter cheerio bars. So easy to make, and perfect for picnics and parties.
This Nutella cake is easy but impressive with the swirls of Nutella and crunchy hazelnuts on top!
Got an air fryer? Love banana bread? You’ll be amazed how good this mini air fryer banana bread is!
Banana and peanut butter are also a match made in heaven! These banana peanut butter bars is another banana sheet cake that everyone will love.
Got apples? Love ginger? These sticky apple ginger cake bars are delicious! Or try this delicious Italian apple cake that no one will believe was so easy to make.

Or see all of my easy cakes!

About Helen Schofield

Don't expect to find anything fussy or complicated here. Just QUICK, EASY & (mostly!) HEALTHY recipes from the Mediterranean and beyond. ENJOY!