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Art Smith's Hummingbird Cake

Chef Art Smith's hummingbird cake for Share Kindness.
Chef Art Smith's hummingbird cake for Share KindnessCourtesy of Art Smith
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Chef notes

Make Art Smith's hummingbird cake recipe that's a favorite of Oprah and Lady Gaga.

RELATED: Chef Art Smith's kindness recipe: 'Celebrate life, be kind, eat cake'

Ingredients

  • Butter and flour, for prepping pans
  • 3 cups self-rising flour, preferably White Lily
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups chopped ripe bananas
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 8 ounces butter, at room temperature
  • 1 pound confectioners' sugar (about 4½ cups sifted)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

For the cake:

Position racks in the center and bottom third of the oven and preheat to 350°. Lightly butter two 9-inch round cake pans, sprinkle evenly with flour and tap out the excess. (If you wish, butter the pans, line the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper, then flour the pans and tap out the excess.)

In a large bowl, sift the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt into a bowl.

In second large bowl, stir or whisk the bananas, pineapple, oil, eggs and vanilla until combined. Do not use an electric mixer. Pour into the dry mixture and fold together with a large spatula just until smooth. Do not beat. Spread evenly into the pans.

3.

Bake until the cake springs back when pressed in the center, 30-35 minutes. Transfer the cakes to wire racks and cool for 10 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the racks (remove the parchment paper now if using). Turn right side up and cool completely.

For the icing:

Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until combined. On low speed, gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar, then the vanilla, to make a smooth icing.

To assemble:

Place 1 cake layer, upside down on a serving platter. Spread with about 2/3 cup of the icing. Top with the second layer, right side up. Spread the reaming icing over the top and sides of the cake. The cake can be prepared up to 1 day ahead and stored, uncovered in the refrigerator. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.