Hummingbird Cupcakes with Pineapple Flowers
Today I’m bringing you the final recipe that Megan and I baked together at our last baking date. If you remember, we made Homemade Peeps and Hot Cross Buns for Easter and we also wanted to make something appropriate for Mother’s Day. I was flipping through my Martha Stewart Cupcakes Cookbook when I saw these cupcakes and asked Megan if she was interested in making them.
The pineapple flowers on top did cause us some problems. We ended up baking them twice as long as the recipe said and they still weren’t fully dried out. Next time I make these, I’ll definitely do the pineapple flowers a day in advance so that I’m not in a rush to get them out of the oven. A few of the slices that were thinned did completely dry out, but it’s really hard to cut a pineapple very thin so some definitely were still a bit gooey.
Even with the frustrations of the pineapple flowers, these cupcakes were a huge hit. The flavors in the cupcake reminded me of a Caribbean vacation. And of course, everyone loves cream cheese frosting! If you wanted to make these but not deal with the pineapple flowers, you could top them with candied pineapple, or just leave the garnish off all together.
Megan and I had a great time baking together again and I can’t wait until we can do it again! We’re thinking of making ice cream since she’ll be hosting next time and she has an ice cream maker! If you have any ideas of something you’d like to see us bake, let either one of us know.
One Year Ago: Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Two Years Ago: Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Hummingbird Cupcakes
Yield: 36 cupcakes
Ingredients:
For the Hummingbird Cupcakes
3 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 cups mashed ripe banana
2 cans (8 oz each) crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
1 cup unsweetened coconut
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
2/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
2 2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
For the Dried Pineapple Flowers
2 large or 4 small pineapples, peeled
Directions:
For the Hummingbird Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners.
Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Beat butter, vanilla, and sugar until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated. Scrape sides of bowl as needed. Continue to beat until mixture is pale and fluffy.
In another bowl, stir together the banana, pineapple, walnuts, and coconut. Add to egg mixture and beat until combined. Stir in flour mixture.
Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for 25-28 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
Beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes on medium-high.
Reduce to low and add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time. Add vanilla and mix until smooth, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
For the Dried Pineapple Flowers
Preheat oven to 225. Line 2 baking sheets with a silpat or parchment paper.
Using a small melon baller (or a spoon), remove and discard pineapple "eyes".
Use a sharp knife to cut pineapple into very thin slices. Place slices on baking sheets.
Bake until tops look dried, about 30 minutes. Flip slices and bake until completely dried, 25-30 more minutes (or longer as needed).
Pinch center of each pineapple slice and shape into a cone. Let cool in a clean muffin tin to form flower shape. Once cool, flowers can be stored stacked for up to 3 days at room temp in an air-tight container.
Hummingbird Cupcake Recipe from Martha Stewart Cupcakes
Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe from Martha Stewart Cupcakes
Dried Pineapple Flower Recipe from Martha Stewart Cupcakes
I’m using this cake as my monthly What’s Baking challenge. The theme this month is Something for Mother’s Day. Be sure to check out The Boys Made Me Do It for the roundup later this month.
Don’t forget about Bloggers Bake for Hope – Bloggers Bake. You Bid. 100% of proceeds go to Komen for a Cure. Register to bake by April 30th, come back for bidding May 4-6.
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Thank God for the weird flavors and for not making em the only weirdo foodie out there. This sounds heavenly, and I can’t wait to try my hand at the curd this weekend.
I am practically addicted to lemon curd, and since raspberries are by far my favorite berry I would be scared to make this, have so much left over, and pour it over everything I could eat! The breakfast sandwich also looks good, never had sweet with the eggs, but its worth a shot! Would be great with french toast, and I love cream cheese with sweet jam 🙂
Jen, that curd looks just wonderful! I LOVE raspberry!
it’s okay to have a weird tastebud. it all matters if you like it (: i think flutternutters are weird in comparison 😛 no offense, people!
Mmm, this sounds fantastic! I’m so used to curd being citrus – this would be a nice change of pace.
You’re not the only one! Growing up, when we didn’t have tomato soup with our grilled cheese, there was usually jam spread on it after it was grilled. It’s a weird combo that one of my parents inroduced, but it’s surprisingly good.
Ooh, raspberry curd sounds fantastic.
Your sandwich seems like the breakfast version of a monte cristo sandwich, and I really like monte cristos.
i have never had raspberry curd and it sounds yummy. I think it would taste great on french toast. i might just have to try this!
I actually love egg and jam sandwiches! I think it’s pretty weird…but oh so delicious. that curd looks fantastic! Gorgeous color.
Wow, this could totally solve my problem with breakfast sandwiches. I just REALLY like sweetness in my breakfast but I want to like breakfast sandwiches because egg is so filling and good for you…I am definitely going to try this!
I bet the sweet/savory combo is yummy! I’ve never made curd for a cake before but hope to soon – it sounds so delicious and versatile.
I’ve heard of this combo before and I have to say – it grosses me out and intrigues me at the same time. Maybe I’ll get the guts to try it some day. You do make it sound delicious 🙂
Oh wow, the curd looks so beautiful! The consistency looks perfect!
Funny this should come up b/c I just had a ham & egg sandwich last night and I almost always have to add strawberry jam to that! Adding raspberry curd is sure to be just as good.
🙂 Kimberly @ Poor Girl Eats Well
PS – that curd is simply gorgeous!
ooo i think i know which cake you’ll be posting soon…if it’s the one i’m thinking of, i have to say, this curd was the best filling i could imagine for that cake. this curd was just awesome (and i’m not a raspberry fan) and yours looks gorgeous!!
Wow that is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!
This certainly sounds like an interesting combination. I suppose it’s similar to a monte cristo, no? I’d love to give it a try!
I saw this recipe yesterday and immediately printed it. I made Vanilla raspberry cupcakes for a friend’s birthday and wanted to make them a little extra special. This curd is amazing. Its a little thinner than lemon curd but that was perfect for what I wanted. I didn’t want that thicker consistency. I will link to your blog when I post the cupcakes with pics and recipes to mine!
Shanna
http://acupfullofcake.blogspot.com/
I believe you when you say it tastes great with eggs. I’m not a ketchup fan, but I do like it on scrambled eggs – completely changes the flavor of both!
I’m surprised your curd didn’t thicken after being chilled.
Btw, tell you hubby that it’s true cheese and jelly seem like a strange combo, but well prepared cheese platters always include fruit selections (pears, grapes, etc) – they compliment one another beautifully.
🙂
ButterYum
(1) Raspberry curd rocks, but I’ve never had a recipe for it, so thank you!
(2) Berries are gerat on savory dishes! Every had a berry sauce on grilled rare venison meat? YUM!!!!
(3) When I make over easy eggs, I always use toast covered in butter and raspberry preserves to sop up the yolk. So good!!!
So you are in good company my dear!
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only “weirdo” that likes the jam/egg/cheese combo.
I’m also surprised it didn’t thicken up more. Even this morning, it was still the same consistency and it’s been in the fridge since I made it.
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Your raspberry curd recipe is amazing!! I made it and used it for some cupcakes. I credited and linked to your blog in my blog! Thanks for an awesome recipe
Shanna
http://acupfullofcake.blogspot.com/2010/04/vanilla-bean-cupcakes-with-raspberry.html
This certainly looks addictive, and the colour is just DIVINE! Will have to try it ….. Am curioius to see what it tastes like with egg..
I don’t know if I’m brave enough to try this one on an egg sandwich, but I did pin it 🙂
beantownbaker — March 18th, 2013 @ 8:18 am
Thanks for the pin! I hope you try it some time.
Jen, are the amounts above written the way that you made it (doubled)? Can’t wait to try it!
beantownbaker — April 1st, 2013 @ 8:36 am
I’ve never doubled this recipe before, but I don’t see why you couldn’t. Let me know how it works out for you.
I have been searching for a recipe just like this for a cake filling! Thank you so much 🙂
beantownbaker — May 12th, 2014 @ 4:55 pm
Glad to help! I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Is it possible to make this without the added sugar? I’m trying to find recipes that are good for a cancer diet. Thanks