Hummingbird cake was created in Jamaica. The Doctor Bird Hummingbird is the island’s national bird, which is where the name came from (the original name for this cake was Doctor Bird Cake).
Hummingbird cake is a banana, pineapple, walnut, and spice cake finished with a luscious and decadent lime cream cheese frosting. This cake is similar to a carrot cake in texture, but the flavor leans toward a banana bread with a whole lot more. It takes me back to Jamaica, and makes me relive the best times I've had on the island.
In 1968, Air Jamaica, a Jamaican airline, sent this recipe to the USA as part of a marketing package aimed at American consumers to build brand recognition. The hummingbird cake was a perfect choice, given that the airline's logo was a Jamaican Doctor Bird hummingbird. The original cake Mrs. L. H. Wiggins submitted the recipe to the 1978 issue of Southern Living magazine, which quickly became their most requested recipe in 51 years. The cake also went on to win the "Favorite Cake Award" the same year at the Kentucky State Fair.
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