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!
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
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
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.
Add the eggs, brown sugar, oil and pineapple (so all the ‘wet’ ingredients).
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry.
Mix together (I like to use a silicon spatula for this) until ‘just’ combined.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
Yes, you can, but it’s best to replace it with another chopped fruit with juice such as canned peaches or pear.
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.
- 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! This banana sheet cake with peanut butter fudge frosting 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.
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, LET ME KNOW HOW YOU GET ON BY LEAVING A COMMENT AND RATING BELOW… AND DON’T FORGET TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE ALL MY NEW RECIPES BY EMAIL!
Easy Pineapple Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting (Hummingbird cake)
Equipment (affiliate links)
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
For the cake
- 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
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 340F (170C). Line a 8 – 9 inch square (or equivalent) baking pan with baking paper.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, coconut, and salt in a large bowl.2 cups all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ cup coconut, ¾ teaspoon salt
- Mash the banana in another large bowl, then whisk in the eggs, sugar, oil, pineapple and juice, cinnamon and ginger and vanilla if using.2 medium to large ripe bananas, 2 large eggs, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup oil, 1¼ cups crushed pineapple, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined (take care not to overmix).
- Pour into the baking pan, then bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out more or less clean.
- Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- Beat the cream cheese with a hand-held whisk, then slowly whisk in the powdered sugar/icing sugar, salt and vanilla (if using) until you have a thick frosting. Pile on top of the cake (nice and thick!) when the cake is completely cool.4½ ounces cream cheese, 2 cups icing / powdered sugar, ½ cup crushed walnuts to decorate, 1 teaspoon vanilla, ½ teaspoon salt
- Sprinkle over crushed walnuts (if using) or toasted coconut, or leave plain.½ cup crushed walnuts to decorate
Cassie says
I love this! I literally needed a cake recipe that would use up some brown bananas and leftover pineapple juice. In desperation (and feeling quite sure search would be fruitless) I did a little Google, and up this popped! I didn’t have dessicated coconut so I used ground almonds instead and coconut oil instead of olive. It’s turned out lovely. I’m really chuffed with this, thank you!
Helen says
Oh Cassie you’ve made my day!!! So glad this turned out well for you and thank you so much for taking the time to let me know and leave a rating. It’s really good for me to know you can change things up a bit and still get good results, too. I’ll have to try the ground almonds next time!
Sarah says
Hello! I am really keen to try this! Just wanted to check if it will work with fresh pineapple instead (I have a ripe pineapple sitting at home!)? Not sure if it will be less moist in this case. Thanks for your help!
Helen says
Hi Sarah! Very happy you’re going to give this a go! I’m sure it would be delicious with fresh pineapple, but I’d add in a little bit of liquid – some sort of juice, or milk or water if you don’t have any. Just 100ml or so – about the amount that would be in a can of pineapple. I know this doesn’t sound very accurate, and it isn’t, but I think it would work out just fine if you did this! Please let me know how you get on and I’ll adjust the recipe to include this way of doing things. 🙂
DV says
Hi,
This cake seems really nice.
Can we bake it without the coconut?Do we increase or decrease anything in the recipe?
Does it taste fine without the icing?
Thanks in advance for your help.
DV
Helen says
Hello! I’m afraid I have never tried making this cake without the coconut, but I’m pretty sure it would still taste really good. You could add the same amount of grated carrot instead, or just leave the coconut out and see how you go!
DV says
Hi Helen,
Just baked this cake,,,,tropical love..loved it,it turned out fab.
I did not use the coconut just bananas and pineapple,I also reduced the sugar a little(bananas were super ripe).
my cake took around 40 minutes to bake.
I don,t know why but a strong soda taste was left in the mouth could it be because of the changes..over all delicious
Really yum.
BOOKMARKED.
Thank you
Helen says
Hi! So happy you enjoyed the cake – even without the coconut! I’m not sure why you had the soda taste? Maybe try using new baking powder/soda, or omitting the soda altogether if that doesn’t work. I honestly haven’t had this issue when I’ve made this cake, but I will certainly look out for it in the future, just in case anything needs tweaking in the recipe. Thanks again for leaving your feedback – I always appreciate that! 🙂
DV says
Hi Helen,
The baking powder was fresh,do you think the cake will rise without the baking soda?
Thanks.
DV
Helen says
I think it would probably still rise, although I haven’t tried this cake without the baking soda. Another thing you could try is making sure the baking soda is really well mixed in with the dry ingredients before you mix with the wet. Apparently that can sometimes have an effect, as can humidity. I really hope you give this another go and that you can’t taste the soda this time!
yamini says
Absolutely delicious and moist cake! i had 2 ripe bananas and a tin of crushed pineapple…it was divine! I had some orange cream cheese frosting in the fridge that I needed to finish as well..which made for a great topping. Thank you!!!!
Helen says
Hi Yamini, thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback. I’m so happy you liked the recipe – it’s divine, isn’t it? This truly is one of my favourite cakes! I like your idea of orange cream cheese icing. Mmmmmm!
plasterer in bristol says
My all time favourite, this looks soooo good
Helen says
Thank you!
plasterer bristol says
Oh boy we made this yesterday. turned out great and tasted delicious. Thanks for this.
Simon
Helen says
Thanks so much for taking the time to come and give your feedback, Simon – and such great feedback too! You’ve made me want to make this again now too!
Marissa says
This looks wonderful, Helen! I’d gladly eat it at breakfast, lunch or dinner! Love the warmth of cinnamon and ginger in it too…perfect partner to all of those wonderful tropical flavors!
Helen says
Thanks, Marissa. I think I did eat it for all 3 of those meals – it didn’t last very long!
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
Ha! Ha! This sounds just like Boston. People are so anxious for summer that they are walking around half nude. . .but not me. . .I’m still wearing my down puffer jacket. Despite these breezy temperatures. . .I’m still A-OK with pretending the warm breezes of summer are here if It means I can have a big slice of this cake. I absolutely adore cake that is infused with pineapple and coconut. And let’s not talk about that divine frosting. . .because I might be tempted to spoon it all off and into my mouth.
Helen says
Hi Lynn! I’m glad we’re not the only ones! We went hiking on Saturday and it was SO cold – even started snowing and then hailing at one point. But yeah, I’m with you – I’m all for pretending!
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
Oh Helen – I am so jealous of your colleague! She got to enjoy this cake and I’m here drooling and trying my best not to lick the screen! I adore that you used pineapple, bananas and coconut in this – each slice must be a slice of summer indeed!
Helen says
Hi Shashi! Hope you’re well. I love that – a slice of summer! Let’s hope real summer is not too far behind. 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
I loooove Hummingbird cake! And hehe I’m in denial of the cold weather although I turned on the heater the other night. I’m being a baby though because it really isn’t that cold 🙂
Helen says
Yes, but your homes get pretty cold over there in Winter – I remember huddling by the radiator sometimes!
Janette@CulinaryGinger says
This is my kind of cake. I love all the flavors going on. I’ll be making this soon.
Helen says
Hope you do, Janette – it really is one lovely cake!
Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom says
Oh… my…. gawd!!! I LOVE spice cakes! I am generally not a big sweets person. But put any type of spice cake in front of me, and I can’t help myself! I love the pineapple juice you added to keep it naturally sweet and totally moist! And that cream cheese frosting – you can’t skimp on that! I could just spoon that into my mouth, spoonful after spoonful!
Helen says
Thanks, Kathleen!!! I surprised myself with this one. It was a bit of an experiment, but worked first time. I love it! So glad you like it too!
Nagi@RecipeTinEats says
YES it seems like a summery cake to me! 🙂 And I totally agree that pineapple juice + oil is a fab way to make cakes moist, it’s exactly how the carrot cake I posted last week is moist too!!! 🙂 I love your cakes, your Swedish chocolate cake is always my “go to” for a fast dessert recipe!
Helen says
This is the first time I’ve used that pineapple juice trick, but it really works! I was expecting to have to experiment with this a lot before it worked, but nope, seems like a pretty fool-proof cake – so perfect for people like me!
And thanks so much for the compliment on my cakes, Nagi! 🙂
Bam's Kitchen says
I have a secret fascination with eating your pineapple banana cake for breakfast. I ask is there anything really wrong with that.I look at your recipe lets see we have pineapple, bananas and coconut. Heck it practically diet food!!! LOL I would just need a hot cuppa to go along with it and I would be sorted. Sharing and pinning!
Helen says
Love this, Bam! I really really hope you do satisfy your craving to have cake for breakfast some time very soon. If not this cake, another delicious one! 🙂
Loris Ayoub says
This just went into the oven. I am crossing my fingers … I am not sure I will do the icing as it will add many calories and I suffer from cholesterol
Helen says
Hi Loris! I really hope this turned out OK for you! So happy you gave it a go! I just replied to your comment on Facebook. I had a feeling the grape molasses would work just fine. Hope it did!! 🙂
Keith @ How's it Lookin? says
I gotta try this. The combo sounds so flavorful, thanks for sharing
Helen says
Hi Keith! Thanks for visiting and for the compliment. This really is a great cake and hope you give it a go some time. 🙂
Marilyn says
This cake my mother made in the 70s. It is called hummingbird cake.. Her name was marjorie
Helen says
Hi Marilyn, thanks so much for visiting. You’re right, this is very like a Hummingbird cake (just without the walnuts in the batter, but you could go ahead and add the walnuts if you wanted to). I think I’ll add a note to my recipe – thank you! And thank you to people like your mom Marjorie who’ve passed recipes like this down!
cheri says
Looks like a delicious summery cake to me, love the combo of ingredients that you used. It’s in the 80’s and 90’s here now, yikes!
Helen says
Oooh, don’t make me jealous Cheri – we had snow yesterday! 🙁
Andus says
This looks great, but I don’t understand American measurements. What size cup do you use?
Helen says
Hi Andus! Just click on the ‘metric’ button next to the ‘Ingredients’ heading in the recipe. You can find grams and ml measurements there. I hope you enjoy the cake. It’s delicious!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
What a unique twist on banana bread. I love the pineapple and coconut in it- it makes it really tropical.
Helen says
Thanks, Dannii! We really love this cake – hope you give it a go!
Eva says
Eh oui! Définitivement il me pareil un cake d’été et je veut le réaliser très vite pour faire venir le beau temps plus vite ! Il a l’air incroyablement bon Helen!
Helen says
Tres bonne idee, Eva – ici il neigeait hier!! 🙁