Hummingbird Cake Loaves

This yummy recipe is from Southern Living.  It really strikes me as more of a quick bread than a cake, not that it matters what category it falls under since it tastes so good.  ;)  The pineapple and banana blended so nicely together that one flavor didn't really stand out from the other.  I was actually surprised the combo of fruit was so tasty...I never considered mixing pineapple and banana together.

These mini loaves are just too adorable.  I actually just made a few loaves to give my mini loaf pan a test run.  I was going for a layer cake for the rest of the batter.  Seriously.....grease the heck out of your cake pans.  My cake stuck like crazy.  Ahem....I ended up with more of a cake chunk kind of deal...it was total carnage.  It was pitiful, but quite amusing.  So my test run min loaves became the main attraction.  ;)


Hummingbird Cake Loaves with Cream Cheese Frosting

3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 large eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 cup roasted unsalted sunflower seeds
2 cups chopped bananas

Mix together eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar.  Stir in flour, soda, salt, and cinnamon until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in pineapple, 1 cup sunflower seeds, and bananas.  Pour batter into greased loaf pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz reduced fat cream cheese
1/2 cup Smart Balance 50/50 butter blend
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla.  Slice loaves in half.  Spread frosting in between layers.  Spread frosting on the top of the loaves.  Chill.


Another pic of the loaves...

Not the most attractive thing in the world is it?  I shall comfort myself with the fact it tastes yummy.  Seriously though, the most I thought I would do to the mini loaves would be drizzle a citrus glaze over top.  I never intended to frost the little buggers...ehehehehe.