Tropical Pineapple Banana Cake (Humming Bird Style Bundt)

My pineapple banana cake is definitely one of those cakes that just feel like they belong at every family gathering, church potluck, and holiday dessert table

It has that old-school, comforting Southern dessert energy where nothing is overly fancy, but somehow everybody keeps sneaking “just one more little slice.” After years working in restaurant kitchens, I can tell you those are usually the desserts people remember most. Not the complicated plated desserts—the super moist cakes somebody’s grandma used to make that magically disappeared before dinner was even over.

Recipe Snapshot

• Tropical Twist on Classic Cake: This pineapple banana cake combines sweet ripe bananas and juicy pineapple for an ultra moist homemade cake packed with bright fruity flavor.
• Soft and Tender Texture: The pineapple helps keep the cake incredibly moist while the bananas add natural sweetness and that cozy bakery-style texture everyone loves.
• Easy Everyday Dessert: Using simple pantry ingredients, this cake comes together easily for family gatherings, potlucks, brunches, or casual weekend baking.
• Best For: Potlucks, brunch tables, summer desserts, bake sales, casual family gatherings, coffee break treats, and using up overripe bananas.

David’s Tip: Drain the pineapple well before mixing it into the batter. Too much extra liquid can weigh the cake down and make the center overly dense instead of soft and fluffy.

This pineapple banana cake lands somewhere between banana cake and a classic Southern hummingbird cake, with sweet bananas, crushed pineapple, and that rich, ultra-moist texture that somehow tastes even better the next day. Pineapple has long been a staple ingredient in Southern baking because it adds moisture without making cakes heavy or dense. This is one of those recipes that feels comforting the second you smell it baking.

If your family already loves cozy desserts like banana pudding, pineapple desserts, or classic Southern-style cakes, this one is going to fit right into your dessert rotation.

Why You’ll Love This Cake

This recipe takes the best parts of a Southern Hummingbird cake and simplifies it into a reliable, one-bowl masterpiece. It’s designed to be approachable for any skill level while delivering the kind of professional, moist crumb you’d expect from a high-end bakery.

Top Tip for a Perfect Releas

This recipe takes the best parts of a Southern Hummingbird cake and simplifies it into a reliable, one-bowl masterpiece. It’s designed to be approachable for any skill level while delivering the kind of professional, moist crumb you’d expect from a high-end bakery.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Tender Banana Pineapple Cake Bundt Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Bundt Pan

Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Take your time greasing and flouring your fluted bundt pan—be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. I highly recommend using a baking spray that already contains flour (like Baker's Joy) for the most reliable results. Proper pan prep is the insurance policy for all your hard work!

Step 2: Whisk Together Your Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Spend a good 30 seconds whisking here to ensure the baking soda and spices are perfectly distributed throughout the flour. This prevents any “salty bites” and ensures the cake rises evenly across the whole ring.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Wet Components

In a separate mixing bowl, beat your softened butter for about 30 seconds until it's smooth. Add in your mashed bananas, the entire can of undrained crushed pineapple, the eggs, and the vanilla extract. Beat these together well. Don't worry if it looks a little “lumpy” at this stage—that's just the texture of the fruit and it will smooth out once the flour is added.

Step 4: Combine to Create the Batter

Gradually stir your flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Once they are combined, use your hand mixer to beat the batter on medium speed for exactly one minute. This step is crucial; it develops just enough structure to hold the heavy fruit in suspension so it doesn't all sink to the bottom of the pan during the long bake.

Step 5: The Long, Slow Bake

Pour the batter into your prepared bundt pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Place it in the center of the oven and bake for 60 to 70 minutes. Because this is such a moist cake, it needs that low-and-slow heat to cook all the way through to the center. To check for doneness, insert a long wooden skewer; it should come out with just a few moist crumbs attached.

Step 6: The Critical Cool and Flip

Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a wire rack to cool for exactly 10 minutes. After those 10 minutes are up, place the wire rack over the top of the pan and carefully flip it over. Lift the pan straight up to reveal your golden-brown cake. Allow it to finish cooling completely on the rack before adding your finishing touches.

Step 7: The Final Flourish and Storage

Once the cake is cool to the touch, use a fine-mesh sieve to dust the top with a generous layer of powdered sugar. If you're feeling fancy, you can whisk a pinch of extra nutmeg into the sugar before dusting. Store any leftovers tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days, or slice and freeze individual pieces for an easy tropical treat whenever the craving hits!

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• Instant Pot Raspberry Peach Cheesecake
• Coconut Lime Sugar Cookies
• Panda Cookies Recipe
• Instant Pot Lava Cake
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David Murphy

Pineapple Banana Cake

This Tropical Pineapple Banana Cake is an incredibly moist, easy-to-make bundt cake that's perfect for using up overripe fruit. Inspired by the classic Southern Hummingbird cake, it features a tender crumb spiced with nutmeg and cloves, and packed with the natural sweetness of bananas and crushed pineapple. It’s a simple, one-bowl dessert that’s elegant enough for a party but easy enough for a Tuesday night at home.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Additional Time 1 minute min

Total Time 1 hour hr 11 minutes mins

Servings: 1

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: Dessert

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 3 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter softened
• 2 cups ripe bananas about 6 bananas
• 1 can 8oz crushed pineapple (do not drain)
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• powdered sugar for dusting

Equipment

• 1 Bundt Cake Mold
• Hand Held Mixer

Instructions

 

1. Preheat oven to 325 and grease and flour a fluted round tube
   pan.
2. In a large bowl, add flour, sugar, baking soda, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Mix well. Set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, beat butter for about 30 seconds. Add
   bananas, pineapple, eggs and vanilla and beat well. Stir in flour mixture and then beat for 1 minute on medium.
4. Pour into prepared pan and bake 60-70 minutes or until
   golden brown. Let set for 10 minutes in pan and flip over onto a cooling rack.
5. Serve with sifted powdered sugar.

Notes

David's Tips

• Use super ripe bananas. Like, the ones you forgot in the fruit bowl. Trust me—they’re perfect.
• Don’t overbake. Start checking around the 60-minute mark. You want it moist, not dry.
• Want to dress it up? A quick glaze made with powdered sugar and a splash of pineapple juice would be delicious drizzled over the top.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

FAQ: Solving Your Bundt Cake Failures

My cake stuck to the pan! What happened?

This is usually caused by two things: not greasing the pan well enough or trying to flip the cake while it’s still too hot. Give it that 10-minute rest on the counter—it's the “magic window” for a clean release.

Can I use fresh pineapple?

Yes, but you have to mimic the can. Finely chop the pineapple and make sure you include about 1/3 cup of the juice. If the pineapple isn't very juicy, add a splash of orange juice to the batter.

Can I make this in a loaf pan instead?

You sure can! This batter will fill two standard loaf pans. Just keep an eye on the bake time—it will likely be closer to 45–50 minutes.

What’s the difference between pineapple banana cake and hummingbird cake?

Hummingbird cake usually includes pecans, spices, and cream cheese frosting, while pineapple banana cake is often simpler and more straightforward.