Hummingbird Cake

Ingredients

• plain flour
• caster sugar
• bicarbonate of soda
• cinnamon
• salt
• eggs
• vegetable oil
• vanilla extract
• crushed pineapple
• ripe bananas
• walnuts
• cream cheese
• butter
• icing sugar

Steps

1. 1Heat the oven to 170°C / 340°F and line two 22 cm round tins.
2. 2Whisk the flour, sugar, bicarb, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.
3. 3In a second bowl, whisk the eggs, oil and vanilla. Stir in the pineapple (with juice), bananas and walnuts.
4. 4Tip the wet ingredients into the dry and fold gently until just combined — no need to beat.
5. 5Divide between the tins and bake for 45–50 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack.
6. 6For the frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Sift in the icing sugar and beat to a fluffy, spreadable cream.
7. 7Sandwich the cooled layers with frosting, then cover the top and sides. Scatter extra walnuts to finish.