Hummingbird Bread is a moist, flavorful quick bread with tropical flavors, featuring sweet bananas, crushed pineapple, chewy coconut, and crunchy pecans. It’s a wonderful treat that can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, or as a dessert. Topped with tangy cream cheese frosting, it’s a delightful twist on traditional banana bread.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Bread:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3-4 bananas)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple with juice

• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.

3. Make the Batter: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract.

4. Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Fold in the crushed pineapple (with juice), shredded coconut, and chopped pecans.

5. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading evenly. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Cool: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

7. Make the Frosting: Beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually mix in powdered sugar until the desired consistency is reached.

8. Frost and Garnish: Spread the frosting over the cooled bread and sprinkle with chopped pecans. Slice and enjoy!

Nutrients

• Calories: 358 kcal per serving

• Carbohydrates: 49g

• Protein: 3g

• Fat: 18g

• Saturated Fat: 7g

• Cholesterol: 45mg

• Sodium: 324mg

• Potassium: 228mg

• Fiber: 2g

• Sugar: 29g

• Vitamin A: 295 IU

• Calcium: 28mg

• Iron: 1mg

The Bread: Sweet, Moist, and Full of Flavor

Hummingbird Bread starts with a base of ripe bananas, which not only sweeten the bread naturally but also provide a moist texture. The mashed bananas are the perfect foundation for this quick bread, contributing to its softness and deliciousness. You’ll need about 3-4 ripe bananas to get 1 1/2 cups of mashed fruit, and it’s best if the bananas are quite ripe so they are sweet and full of flavor.

In addition to bananas, the bread features a few other key ingredients that create its signature tropical flavor. Crushed pineapple (with juice) adds natural sweetness and moisture, making the bread extra tender. The sweetened shredded coconut contributes a chewy texture and a hint of coconut flavor that pairs beautifully with the fruit. Chopped pecans add a nice crunch and a nutty flavor that balances the sweetness of the bananas and pineapple.

The spices in the bread, including ground cinnamon, create a warm undertone that complements the tropical flavors. The combination of cinnamon with the sweetness of the fruit and coconut makes the bread incredibly flavorful without being overwhelming.

Making the Batter: Easy and Quick

To start, you’ll mix together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. These ingredients ensure the bread rises beautifully and has a light texture. Set the dry ingredients aside while you work on the wet ingredients.

In a separate bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. This step helps to incorporate air into the batter, ensuring a tender and fluffy texture. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract, which form the flavor base of the bread.

Once the wet ingredients are ready, gradually add the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can make the bread dense. Finally, fold in the crushed pineapple, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans, ensuring that they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Baking the Bread: Golden Perfection

Once the batter is ready, pour it into a 9×5-inch loaf pan that has been greased and lined with parchment paper. This will prevent the bread from sticking and make it easier to remove once baked.

Bake the bread at 350°F (175°C) for about 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven, so it’s important to start checking around the 60-minute mark. If the top of the bread is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminum foil to prevent it from overbaking.

Once the bread is baked, allow it to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. This helps it set and makes it easier to remove from the pan without breaking. After cooling slightly, transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting: Tangy and Sweet

While the bread is cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a bowl, beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract for flavor and powdered sugar to sweeten and thicken the frosting. Continue mixing until the frosting reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency.

This frosting is the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, complementing the flavors of the bread beautifully. It adds a rich, creamy finish that takes the Hummingbird Bread from delicious to extraordinary.

Frosting and Garnishing the Bread

Once the bread has cooled completely, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Be generous with the frosting for that perfect creamy layer. For an extra touch, sprinkle chopped pecans over the frosting to add a bit of crunch and a nutty flavor that ties in beautifully with the bread’s filling.

Serving Suggestions

Hummingbird Bread is perfect for a cozy breakfast, an afternoon snack, or a special treat for guests. Its rich, tropical flavors make it an ideal addition to a brunch spread or as a dessert for a dinner party. You can serve it as is or pair it with a cup of coffee, tea, or a tropical drink like a smoothie for an even more delightful experience.

If you have leftovers, you can wrap the bread in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container. It stays moist and delicious for several days, and the flavors continue to develop, making it just as good on the second or third day.

Nutritional Breakdown

Each serving of Hummingbird Bread contains 358 calories, which makes it a moderately indulgent treat. With 17g of carbohydrates, it provides energy without being overly heavy. The 18g of fat comes from the butter and cream cheese, contributing to the rich texture, while saturated fat accounts for 7g due to the cream cheese and butter. The 3g of protein comes from the eggs and nuts, providing a small amount of protein in each slice.

This bread also contains 2g of fiber, which helps with digestion and adds some nutritional value to this otherwise indulgent treat. The sugar content is 29g, which comes from both the fruit and the frosting, so it’s sweet without being overly sugary. Additionally, the bread provides Vitamin A (295 IU), important for vision and skin health, and iron (1mg), supporting healthy blood.

Conclusion: A Tropical Twist on Classic Banana Bread

Hummingbird Bread is a moist, flavorful, and indulgent treat that brings together the best of tropical flavors in one delicious loaf. The combination of ripe bananas, crushed pineapple, coconut, and pecans creates a unique flavor profile that’s both comforting and exotic. The tangy cream cheese frosting adds the perfect finishing touch, making this bread not only a treat for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes.

Whether you’re making it for a special occasion, a weekend brunch, or just as a sweet snack, Hummingbird Bread is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Its tropical flavors and rich texture make it an unforgettable treat that will have everyone asking for the recipe!