The sweet and nutty classic Southern dessert now with a gluten-free and vegan recipe! Gluten-Free Hummingbird Loaf Cake topped with a delicious dairy-free cream cheese frosting and packed with pecans, banana, and pineapple!
Have you ever had some Hummingbird? Haha, don't be silly, you know what I mean π I had never had this classic Springtime Southern American cake until last month. I felt like carrot cake, morning glory cakes, and hummingbird cake all fall in that same sweet-filled breakfasty cake category. This hefty loaf cake is packed with banana, pineapple, pecans, sweet and spice, and of course a killer cream cheese frosting (essential, again, to that trio!)
I have some more food history fun facts for you. The Hummingbird Cake was first created in Jamaica (they also call is Doctor Bird Cake) in honor of their national bird, the Hummingbird! Then in the last 1970s the recipe crept its way up to the Southern States of the US and it took off! It grew popular through various press and media publications and the rest is some sweet delicious history! Obviously, it took even longer to make its way up to MY taste buds, but alas, it was a glorious first experience!
I do love the sweet nutty taste of the raw pecans with the tang of the pineapple and creamy sweetness of the banana. Such a great combo, but really over the top with that dairy-free vegan cream cheese frosting I made! This could totally pass of an indulgent weekend breakfast cake or a dessert with a nice piping hot mug of coffee! Right after I baked this hummingbird loaf cake, I texted my mom that I'd need her to be my taste-tester. To my surprise, she had no idea what a hummingbird cake was either. I got to bake and teach that weekend...perfect way to feel accomplished...and be rewarded with some gluten-free hummingbird loaf cake!
If you want something similar without nuts, try this easy pineapple dump cake!
Gluten-Free Hummingbird Loaf Cake (Vegan)
Gluten-Free Hummingbird Loaf Cake (Vegan)
The sweet and nutty classic Southern dessert now with a gluten-free and vegan recipe! Gluten-Free Hummingbird Loaf Cake topped with a delicious dairy-free cream cheese frosting and packed with pecans, banana, and pineapple!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 1 8x4 Loaf 1x
- Category: Dessert, Breakfast, Bread
- Cuisine: Jamaican, Southern
Ingredients
- Cake Batter:
- 2 Cups Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Flour
- 1 TB Psyllium Husk Powder
- 1 Tsp Baking Powder
- 2 Ripe Bananas (mashed, about Β½ cup)
- Β½ Cup Crushed Pineapple in Juice
- Β½ Cup Crushed Raw Pecans (plus more for topping)
- Β½ Cup "Brown Sugar" (mix Β½ Cup Erythritol + 2 Tsp Molasses)
- ΒΌ Cup Erythritol
- Β½ Tsp Cinnamon
- Β½ Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
- Β½ Cup Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk
- Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 oz Vegan Cream Cheese (I like Daiya or Kite Hill)
- Β½ Cup Powdered Erythritol
- ΒΌ Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375Β°F.
- In a large bowl, mix together all the cake batter ingredients until combined.
- Pour the batter into a greased 8x4 loaf pan and smooth out the top.
- Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, remove, and let the loaf cool on a wire rack.
- In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese frosting ingredients until smooth.
- Lightly pour the frosting over the top of the loaf cake and sprinkle on more crushed pecans if desired.
Β 
So cozy! Definitely a fantastic weekend baking project to try out if you've never had anything Hummingbird! I love when a random assortment of flavors work so perfectly with each other! And don't worry, no Hummingbirds were harmed in the baking of this loaf cake π
So tell me:
+ Have you ever had Hummingbird Cake? It's kind of like a banana bread 2.0!
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Clare Knighton
This looks so yummy!
mmmmmm cake!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes!
Menaka Bharathi
That cake definitely looks inviting and delicious..Never had a humming bird cake but this looks divine
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You must give it a try then!
Miz Helen
Your Hummingbird Loaf Cake looks amazing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Leslie Soto
Hummingbird cake is one of my favorite cakes ever. I love that you made it simple though by making it a loaf cake. This is going on my Pinterest to make soon! Thank you for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! I'm not all into big layers cakes, but a nice quick loaf cake...my jam!
Kathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle
The cake looks so moist and inviting me to have a piece. Very yum.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is delish! Thanks!
Akaleistar
That looks so yummy, and I love that it's gluten free!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Emma Shearer
Looks really tasty. I have pinned on pinterest π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Emma!
Carol
Even with all my allergies, if I leave out the nuts I can eat this. Sounds delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Danielle @ A Sprinkle of Joy
That looks sooo yummy!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks so much!
Montana Modderman
This looks amazing! Can't wait to try it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Nicole Taggart
hummingbird loaf is so great. Love the texture. beautiful loaf
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea! Thank you!
Nat - Awaybies
Omg that sounds and looks amazing! I love banana bread...I really want to bake a hummingbird cake now, right away.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Banana bread as nothing on Hummingbird!
Alyssa Mosher
That vegan cream cheese frosting looks divine!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So addicting! It "makes the cake" π
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
Hummingbird cake has always been one of my favorites!!! This looks so good.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Ducks n a Row @SineaPies
Rebecca, this sounds amazingly good. I really will make it!
Sineaβ₯
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic! Let me know, I would love to see π
Linda @ Veganosity
I love Hummingbird Cake! So great that you made a gluten-free version.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
GF and vegan just as it should be!
Andrea
I had never heard of hummingbird cake! It certainly does look delicious though and I do love recipes with pecans!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is fantastic and the pecans go so well with the tangy fruit!
Farrah
Yeahhhhh hummingbird cake! <3 This looks so good! I've made hummingbird muffins before but it's been ages! I love that frosting too! :]!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You must make some!
Julianne
I've never head of hummingbird loaf, but it sounds interesting. I am always looking for gluten free and dairy free recipes for my son and I, so I am excited to find your blog.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic! Let me know if you give it a try!
Chloe
Hi, I love this loaf and this is a great alternative to enjoy with a nice cup of tea
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea, thanks!
Yeukai
Ummm this loaf sounds amazing! I love banana bread and the addition of pineapple would be delicious. I also love that it's vegan. Thank you
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much!
Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy
yum!! I love banana bread and this another great variety!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
This is not banana bread, not even a variety of it.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
The flavors in this recipe sound amazing!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The magic of hummingbird!
Megan
Loaf cakes are the best! I think I'd love the spices in this.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So easy and delicious!
Amanda
I've never heard of hummingbird cake, but now I need to make it! This sounds delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is fantastic!
Manju | Cooking Curries
That looks so very delicious and lovely pictures too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Michelle | A Latte Food
I love hummingbird everything! This is so pretty!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much!
Aish Das-Padihari
I always thought why this is called a hummingbird cake. Looks super tempting and its gluten free too. Yay!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I was surprised by the origins π
Luci
This is looks so delicious. I am going to try in making this one day, maybe not gluten free.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Lol, then you wouldn't be making this recipe then, would you?
Uma Srinivas
This kind of loaf cake is always winner π Looks delicious.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I agree there!
Rachel (LittleChefBigAppetite)
This cake looks incredible!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you, Rachel!
Lizet
Love your pictures! makes me want to take a bite. Luckily I have all the ingredients in my pantry!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic! I hope you make it then!
Georgianna Dolan-Reilly
I've never heard of hummingbird cake before! It sounds so delicate and delicious.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Delicate and delicious it is!
Justine
this looks great, thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you enjoy it!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
I'd really like a piece of this hummingbird loaf cake please Rebecca.
Your close up photographs are so tempting and show just how moist and tasty a slice looks! Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thank you, Neil! It is one delicious loaf!
Belinda
Looks delicious!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Excellence
I never knew the origins behind the hummingbird cake! Your version looks incredible!
Thanks.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Enjoy it!
Alisa Fleming
This looks so delicious. I've been dying to make this kind of cake.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is delicious!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
I love that you took such a beautiful and classic dessert and made it GF! Thank you!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Liv
oh this is lovely! this loaf is wonderful for breakfast or a brunch!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Dessert, mostly!
Gluten Free With Emily
Never heard of hummingbird cake till today. Looks good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's surprising!
Baker by Nature
This would be perfect for breakfast!!! Especially with a cup of coffee. YUM!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
A very sweet start to the day!
Erica D.
I never knew the origins behind the hummingbird cake! Your version looks incredible!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Gentle Joy Photography
I've never had this kind of cake, but it does sound good. π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is a random assortment, but so delicious!
Chef Mireille
what a beautiful cake - perfect for mothers day
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That would be a great idea!
Hannah
Hummingbird cake is one of my favorites! I think of it as fancy Easter cake, because we usually had it in layer cake form then π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea! It's so spring! (Easier to make as a loaf...and then it can pass for a breakfast cake) π
Prasanna Hede
I need to try more of vegan recipes. This looks so delicious.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You will love this cake!
Nicole Dawson
This sounds amazing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Casey the College Celiac
I've never had hummingbird cake ut I love cake and I love hummingbirds, so it sounds like a winner to me! π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
A cake for Celiac Awareness Month π
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
This cake is so pretty and perfect for spring! I bet it's delicious and I love that it's sugar-free too.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Naturally fruity and sweet!
Tasting Page
I've never heard of hummingbird loaf, but I like the looks of it, so I'm ready for a little bird!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha π
Chrystal @ Gluten-Free Palate
I just made a hummingbird cake too. I love that yours is vegan. My vegan friends will love it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea, well vegan is the only way to do it!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
Such a gorgeous combination of flavors here, Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Sus // roughmeasures.com
I have never heard of this Hummingbird cake before but it sounds delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is a new favorite!
Josy A
This looks gorgeous!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
jen
I've never had humming bird cake, but this might be the day! looks delish!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope so! It is delicious!
Mari
I've never had Humming bird cake before and now I think I will π it looks so delicious, and ingredients are all the right one! Thank you for posting this recipe, Rebecca, and I'm glad to have found your beautiful blog! xx
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Aw, thank you so much Mari! You're so sweet!