Kid-friendly Hummingbird Cake Pops + Fast Pineapple Icing + Pineapple Smoothies Recipe - Sticky Fingers Cooking
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Family Meal Plan: Hummingbird Cake Pops + Fast Pineapple Icing + Pineapple Smoothies

Family Meal Plan: Hummingbird Cake Pops + Fast Pineapple Icing + Pineapple Smoothies

Hummingbird Cake Pops + Fast Pineapple Icing + Pineapple Smoothies

by Erin Fletter
Photo by Jelena Yukka/Shutterstock.com
prep time
30 minutes
cook time
14 minutes
makes
6-12 servings

Fun Food Story

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Hummingbird Cake Pops

Cake Pops and Hummingbird Cake! Our Hummingbird Cake Pops have many similarities to Hummingbird Cake. They're made with the same ingredients, banana, pineapple, and cinnamon, and both are named after something that can fly! Hummingbird cake is named for Jamaica's national bird, a swallow-tail hummingbird, nicknamed the Doctor bird, the original name for hummingbird cake. A hummingbird is also the smallest bird, has two wings, and can move amazingly fast! Kids will have fun sticking Popsicle or lollipop sticks in their cake pops, drizzling them with Fast Pineapple Icing, and even more fun eating them!

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Chef Erin, Food-Geek-in-Chief
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Shopping List

  • FRESH
  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 1 fresh pineapple or 1 16-oz can pineapple
  • DAIRY AND EGGS
  • 1 egg **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 2 C whole milk **(see allergy subs below)**
  • PANTRY
  • 1 1/2 C all-purpose flour **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 1/2 C granulated sugar
  • 1/2 C packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2/4 tsp salt
  • 5/8 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 3/4 C vegetable oil **
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 2 C powdered sugar
  • HAVE ON HAND
  • popsicle or lollipop sticks
  • 1 C ice

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

  • drizzle :

    to trickle a thin stream of a liquid ingredient, like icing or sauce, over food.

  • fold :

    to gently and slowly mix a light ingredient into a heavier ingredient so as not to lose air and to keep the mixture tender, such as incorporating whipped egg whites into a cake batter or folding blueberries into pancake batter; folding is a gentler action than mixing or whisking.

  • mash :

    to reduce food, like potatoes or bananas, to a soft, pulpy state by beating or pressure.

  • whisk :

    to beat or stir ingredients vigorously with a fork or whisk to mix, blend, or incorporate air.

Equipment Checklist

  • Liquid measuring cup
  • Blender (or pitcher + immersion blender)
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Dry measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Whisk
  • Oven
  • Mini-muffin pan
  • Pastry brush (optional)
  • Large mixing bowls (2)
  • Cutting board + kid-safe knife
  • Potato masher
  • Wooden spoon
  • Toothpicks
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Ingredients

Hummingbird Cake Pops

  • 1 1/2 C all-purpose flour **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY sub gluten-free/nut-free all-purpose flour)**
  • 1/2 C granulated sugar
  • 1/2 C packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 1 egg **(for EGG ALLERGY sub 1 T ground flax seeds + 3 T warm water—more info below)**
  • 2 very ripe bananas
  • 1/2 C fresh or canned pineapple (drained with juice reserved)
  • 1/2 C vegetable oil **
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor—check label)**
  • popsicle or lollipop sticks

Fast Pineapple Icing

  • 2 C powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil **
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor—check label)**
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free cream cheese or dairy-free/nut-free butter)**
  • 1 tsp pineapple juice from can (or 1 T puréed fresh pineapple)

Pineapple Smoothies

  • 1/2 C fresh or canned pineapple
  • 1 ripe banana, peeled
  • sugar/honey to taste
  • 1 pinch cinnamon
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2 C whole milk **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free milk)**
  • 1 C ice

Food Allergen Substitutions

Hummingbird Cake Pops

  • Gluten/Wheat: Substitute gluten-free/nut-free all-purpose flour. Use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor. 

  • Egg: For each egg, substitute 1 T ground flax seeds + 3 T warm water. Whisk them together and set aside for 5 minutes or until fully absorbed and thickened.

  • Soy: Substitute canola oil or other nut-free oil for vegetable oil.

Fast Pineapple Icing

  • Soy: Substitute canola oil or other nut-free oil for vegetable oil.
  • Gluten/Wheat: Use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor. 
  • Dairy: Substitute dairy-free/nut-free cream cheese or dairy-free/nut-free butter for cream cheese. 

Pineapple Smoothies

  • Dairy: Substitute dairy-free/nut-free milk (like coconut milk) for whole milk.

Instructions

Hummingbird Cake Pops

1.
preheat + grease

Preheat your oven to 350 F. With a pastry brush, brush the insides of the wells of a mini-muffin pan with oil.

2.
measure + mix

Measure and mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl: 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon allspice.

3.
chop + mash

Chop 1/2 cup pineapple and 2 very ripe bananas into tiny pieces and combine in a second large bowl. Mash the chopped fruit with a potato masher.

4.
crack + whisk

Crack 1 egg in with the mashed fruit, add 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and whisk it all up until well incorporated.

5.
combine + fold

Combine the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and fold until thoroughly blended together.

6.
fill + bake

Fill the muffin pan wells about ¾ full with batter. Bake at 350 F for about 9 to 14 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean.

7.
cool + poke + drizzle

Remove your cake pops from your muffin pan and place them on a cooling rack to cool. Next, make Pineapple Icing (see recipe) and, when the cake pops have cooled, poke a popsicle or lollipop stick into each one, then drizzle icing on the top.

Fast Pineapple Icing

1.
measure + whisk

Measure 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 pinch of salt, and 4 ounces of softened cream cheese into a large bowl and whisk together until creamy.

2.
add + whisk

If you're using canned pineapple for your cake pops, add 1 teaspoon of pineapple juice from the can OR, if using fresh pineapple, blend it and add 1 tablespoon pineapple purée** to bowl. Whisk again until smooth, and the juice or purée is incorporated.

3.
adjust + drizzle

Add more pineapple juice or puréed pineapple as needed to make the frosting nice and smooth. Then drizzle onto your cooled cake pops and enjoy!

Pineapple Smoothies

1.
measure + combine

Measure and combine 1/2 cup pineapple, 1 banana, sugar to taste, 1 pinch of cinnamon, 1 pinch of salt, and 2 cups of milk in a blender (or a pitcher for use with an immersion blender).

2.
blend + adjust

Blend until smooth. Then, add 1 cup of ice and blend again. Taste and adjust if it needs more sugar, milk, or other ingredients.

Surprise Ingredient: Pineapple!

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Photo by 9comeback/Shutterstock.com

Hi! I’m Pineapple!

"When you see me, you can't help but think of a tropical paradise! I'm Pineapple, possibly the queen of tropical flavors—I even wear a crown! Of leaves, that is. Try slicing me and making a pineapple upside-down cake, or grill me to serve with pork or seafood. Also, I pair well with another tropical favorite, Coconut, in salads, desserts, and drinks!"

History & Etymology

  • Pineapple is one of the world's favorite tropical fruits. The wild pineapple plant is native to South America, originating in a river drainage area between southern Brazil and Paraguay. There is evidence that indigenous people cultivated and used it in Peru as early as 1200 to 800 BCE. The Aztecs and Mayas grew it in Mexico sometime between 200 BCE and 700 CE.
  • Spanish and Portuguese explorers eventually discovered pineapple and introduced it to European and other countries in the east. In 1493, during Columbus' exploration of the Caribbean Islands, he came across pineapples growing on the island of Guadalupe. 
  • The Spanish may have introduced the pineapple to Hawaii. Today, one-third of the world's pineapple comes from Hawaii.
  • The botanical name for pineapple is "Ananas comosus." It was called "ananas" by an indigenous South American people. European explorers may have called it pineapple because of its resemblance to the pine cone. The English word "pineapple" was first written down in the 17th century. Several languages still have the word "ananas" for pineapple.

Anatomy

  • Pineapples are the only edible members of the bromeliad family of plants.
  • The pineapple is not a single fruit but a multiple or collective fruit, with a cluster of 100 to 200 tiny fruitlets or berries.
  • A pineapple plant produces only one pineapple. The fruit grows slowly and can take up to two years to reach full size.
  • Unripe pineapples are incredibly sour and can be quite toxic. Pineapples do not ripen after harvesting, but they might turn more yellow if they were green. 
  • You can grow a pineapple at home! If you want to give it a try, twist off the crown of a store-bought pineapple, allow it to dry for a few days, and then plant it.

How to Pick, Buy, & Eat

  • Bromelain, an enzyme in pineapples, breaks down proteins, which means you can use pineapple or pineapple juice as a meat tenderizer. For this reason, you can't add fresh pineapple to jelly or jello because it will break down the gelatin. To prevent this, you can boil pineapple chunks in their juice or use canned pineapple, which was heated during the canning process.
  • If you find yourself on a sailing trip in the tropics without any powdered cleanser, you could use pineapple juice mixed with sand instead.

Nutrition

  • Pineapples are good for you! They are an excellent source of vitamin C, which aids the body's immune system and wound healing, and manganese, which assists with bone formation and nutrient metabolism. In addition, the pineapple's natural enzymes help you digest all of your food!

 

History of Hummingbird Cake!

Photo by Lilly Trott/Shutterstock.com
  • Hummingbird cake originated in Jamaica with traditional ingredients like bananas, pineapple, pecans, and cinnamon, and often topped with a cream cheese frosting. The fruit makes the cake incredibly moist and delicious.
  • When the cake was first created in the 1960s, as a tourism campaign, it was called Doctor Bird Cake because the national bird of Jamaica is the Doctor bird, otherwise known as the Swallow-tail Hummingbird. The Jamaican tourist board sent out press kits including native recipes, including one for Doctor Bird Cake, to attract tourists to the island. Eventually, the cake became commonly known by the name Hummingbird Cake; however, it also sometimes goes by the names Bird of Paradise Cake, Cake that Doesn’t Last, Jamaican Cake, Never Ending Cake, or Nothing Left Cake. 
  • The first published recipe is said to have come from Mrs. L. H. Wiggin and appeared in Southern Living magazine in February 1978. Later that year, the cake won the Favorite Cake Award at the Kentucky State Fair. The original recipe was for a tube cake with no icing. Recipes evolved in the United States to become a three-layer cake with cream cheese icing, topped with chopped pecans, now the most popular version in the Southern US today.

Let's Learn About Jamaica!

Photo by LBSimms Photography/Shutterstock.com
  • Jamaica is an island nation in the Caribbean, just south of Cuba and West of Haiti. The capital and largest city is Kingston.
  • Jamaica is 4,244 square miles in size, and its population in 2018 was over 2.7 million. That is a little smaller than the state of Connecticut with about 1 million less people.
  • The currency is the Jamaican dollar. The official language is English, but Jamaica's primary and de facto national language is Jamaican Patois (PATwa), an English-based creole.
  • Spain claimed Jamaica after Spanish explorers landed in 1494; however, in 1655, it became an English colony before gaining its independence in 1962.
  • The original inhabitants of Jamaica were the Arawak people. The Arawak grew corn and yams. Today, none of the crops grown in Jamaica are native to the island, including sugar cane, bananas, and mangoes. Bamboo, coconut palms, and breadfruit were also imported to the island.
  • Jamaica's climate is tropical. It can be hot and humid and prone to damage caused by hurricanes.
  • The Blue Mountain range is the longest in Jamaica, and Blue Mountain Peak, at 7,402 feet, is the highest spot on the island.
  • Jamaica has eight native snake species, but none are venomous.
  • In Jamaica, as in England, they drive on the left-hand side of the road.
  • Reggae music originated in Jamaica, home of well-known musician Bob Marley.
  • Over one million tourists visit Jamaica every year.
  • Jamaica produces many talented athletes, especially in track and field, where runners Usain Bolt, Johan Blake, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have excelled.
  • In 1988, Jamaica became the first tropical country to enter a Winter Olympic event. It was the four-man bobsled event. 
  • The biggest and the tiniest butterflies found in the New World are in Jamaica: the Homerus Swallowtail and the Pygmy Blue.
  • Pimento trees, which grow in Jamaica, produce allspice. The name "allspice" originated from the popular notion that the pimento berry contains the characteristic flavor and aroma of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper, all combined in one spice. Jamaican allspice is of the highest quality, and the country is the largest allspice exporter worldwide. 
  • Jamaican cuisine uses a local spice mixture that has become famous, Jamaican jerk spice. It includes ground allspice and Scotch bonnet chili peppers. You can use it as a spice rub or in a marinade for meat, especially chicken or pork. Like many Caribbean countries, the cuisines of several countries influenced Jamaican foods over the years, such as African, Spanish, Portuguese, Cornish, Chinese, and East Indian.

What's It Like to Be a Kid in Jamaica?

  • Kids go to school from 8 am to 2 or 2:30 pm. School is taught in English in Jamaican schools. After six years of primary school (grades 1-6), students go on to Lower School (junior high) for three years and then to Upper School (senior high) for three years. Uniforms are the required dress code.
  • Jamaican kids participate in sports like football (soccer), track and field, cricket, tennis, netball, and basketball. They may play a game called "Dandy Shandy" that is similar to dodgeball. "Bull Inna Pen" is a game with children playing the parts of the bull, the mother hen, or the chicks she protects from the bull.
  • Kids may eat "ackee and saltfish" (fruit and codfish) for breakfast, along with boiled green bananas and fried dumplings. Ackee is the national fruit used more like a starch or veggie, and "ackee and saltfish" is considered the Jamaican national dish. 
  • At Christmastime, due to British influence, families may serve "black cake" or Christmas pudding. Other popular treats are the Jamaican spiced bun; "gizzada," a tart filled with sweet, spicy coconut; "coconut drops," a toffee-like sweet made with coconut chunks and sugar; and a coconut and ginger candy called "busta."

The Yolk's On You

What kind of fruit do trees like the most?

Pine-apple!

That's Berry Funny

"Knock, knock!" 

"Who’s there?"

"Ben and Anna."

"Ben and Anna who?"

(no answer—Ben and Anna (banana) split)

Lettuce Joke Around

Why are bananas never lonely? 

Because they hang around in bunches!

The Yolk's On You

Why did the students eat their homework? 

Because the teacher said that it was a piece of cake.

That's Berry Funny

What kind of key opens a banana? 

A mon-key!

Lettuce Joke Around

When is an apple not an apple? 

When it’s a pineapple!

THYME for a Laugh

What would you call two banana skins? 

A pair of slippers.

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