This week my kiddos are out for Spring Break. I know spring is just around the corner, but I can't help myself from thinking about summer as well. You can blame my lingering thoughts of summer on that yummy Mandarin Orange Cake pictured above.
I am a sucker for most any dessert, but Southern and Old Fashioned Cakes & Pies are always on the top of my list. A few of my favorites are Hummingbird Cake, Coconut Cake , Vanilla Pound Cake , Moms Strawberry Cake and this delicious Mandarin Orange Cake. Some folks call this cake a Pig Pickin Cake, but I know it as a Mandarin Orange Cake.
This is my oldest son's absolute favorite dessert. He could probably eat the whole cake all by himself if I left him alone with it. This pretty orange infused cake is the perfect summer treat. Mandarin oranges are baked into a yellow or butter cake mix (I prefer butter). And the frosting is a fluffy cool whip frosting that has the addition of vanilla pudding & crushed pineapple. This light fluffy frosting makes this the perfect summer cake.
You can prepare this Mandarin Orange Cake days in advance of your get together or party. Because the longer this cake sits the better it taste. If you have never had a taste of a Mandarin Orange cake don't you think it's due time? In usual fashion I have included some step by step photos of just how easy this cake is to make. The full recipe is at the end of this post. Enjoy!
Add the cake mix, oil, eggs and mandarin oranges to a large mixing bowl. Place a few of the mandarin oranges aside for garnish (about 6-8 segments). Mix together the cake ingredients using an electric mixer. Pour into two greased and floured round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until cake is golden brown and springs back. Remove from oven and let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on a baking rack. Frost when cakes are completely cooled.
While the cakes cool, prepare the frosting. Mix the dry pudding mix and un drained pineapple together with spoon. Fold in cool whip until well blended. Add some frosting to the first cake layer and
spread the frosting to the edges. Add the second cake layer and use the rest of the frosting to frost the sides and the top of cake.
Finish off by garnishing with the remaining mandarin orange segments.
Mandarin Orange Cake
1 - 18.25 oz butter recipe cake mix
1/2 - cup vegetable oil
1 - can (15 oz ) mandarin oranges, undrained & separated
3 - eggs
Add the cake mix, oil, eggs and mandarin oranges with liquid to a large mixing bowl. Separate a few of the mandarin oranges aside for garnish. (about 6-8 segments). Mix together the cake ingredients using an electric mixer. Pour into two greased and floured round cake pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until golden brown and the cake springs back. Remove from oven and let cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on a baking rack. Frost when cakes are completely cooled.
Frosting:
1 - can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, undrained
1- 3.4 oz box vanilla or french vanilla instant pudding mix
13 - ounces cool whip (thawed) whipped topping
Prepare the frosting by adding the dry pudding mix and un drained pineapple together and mix with a spoon. Fold in cool whip until well blended. Frost both layers and sides of cake. Garnish with remaining mandarin orange segments. Keep refrigerated before serving.
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Before I go I wanted to ask a favor of my readers. If you have a moment could you stop by Babble.com. Mommy's Kitchen was nominated for the Babbles Top 100 Food Blogs. I am so honored that someone nominated my site. If you have time I would love for you to give MK a vote. I'm at number 14 but would love to move up on the list. Thank you in advance for you vote!
38 comments:
I voted ~ good luck Tina, hope you rise to the top!
I am going to make thiss for Easter...looks wonderful.
Would this same recipe work for a 9x13 cake?
Sounds delish... and oh so easy. Can't wait to make it! :^)
Tina, I've never had a piece of Mandarin Orange Cake and you're right I think it's time! Your pictures are lovely.
I can see why it's your oldest son's favorite!
Krista I have seen them baked in a 9x13 inch baking pan. I think it would be fine.
I make a variation of this cake and it is called "Tropical Fruit Cake" among other names. Yes, I fix mine in a 13 x 9 and it works great. This is one of my favorites too. I sub sweetened with Splenda Dole crushed pineapple, sugar-free vanilla pudding, sugar-free whipped topping and reduced sugar cake mix. It makes it diet and diabetic friendly. Thanks for sharing. BTW, last night I brewed coffee for iced coffee. I strained the coffee this morning and the coffee concentrate fit perfectly in two "recycled" Starbucks frappuccino glasses. I use them to make homemade frappuccino to bring to the office and now I know two are perfect size for storing my coffee concentrate. I love your blog and voted for you today. ~Darlene
I just made this in a 9X13 pan this morning for my daughter's birthday. We are traveling this afternoon and I only have a carrier for the big pan. It turns out fine and has lots of yummy frosting on top :)I keep mine in the fridge, it tastes good cold!
I had this years ago and never knew the recipe...now I do, thanks :) I voted for you too!
Thanks ladies. I thought it would, but wanted to make sure:) I love cold cake too, Elise--especially "fruity" ones!
Seeing this recipe brought back excellent family memories! In my family it's called "Pig Lickin' Cake" I have no clue where that name came from - but this cake is wonderful!
I think it is so interesting at all the names this yummy cake has. Pig Pickin, Mandarin Orange and Now Pig Lickin. I know one thing whatever you call this cake it's delicious.
Looks so yummy and easy!
omygoodness! I know this cake as a Mandarin Orange Cake, as well. Let me go ahead and testify to how wonderful this cake is. My mom made this every year for my birthday at my request. I'm a chocolate person on most everything; but this was my very favorite cake. I completely agree that it is better if it's made in advance. Thank you for the wonderful reminder that my mom hasn't made one for me in a number of years and I'm long overdue! :)
I just voted for you and you are up to #11 now. And seriously I looked at all the blogs above you and I can honestly say I like yours the best. I want to try that Hummingbird cake.
Thank you everyone for all the votes. :) There is just no words for this cake. It is so light and lucious. Ann the Hummingbird Cake is another great one.
oh my gosh! i haven't heard anyone talk about hummingbird cake in forever (i moved to the north to be with my husband and no one here knows anything about good southern food ;) )..i may just have to make him one..and of course, this cake another week!!
I have a possibly stupid question - Do I prepare the vanilla pudding and THEN add the pineapple or do I just mix the pudding powder with the pineapple?
BTW - this looks delicious. As always, I know I can come to Mommys Kitchen for a wonderful treat!
@jayjayspeaksout:
you just mix the dry pudding mix with the pineapple and then fold in the cool whip.
This looks so good!
I've made this cake more times than I can remember...I found the recipe in our local newspaper. I make it in a 9x13 dish which is what the recipe said to do. Supposedly, according to the news article...the father of Newt Gingrich made it for Connie Chung when she went down to Atlanta, GA to interview the parents of Mr. Gingrich. The father called it "Pig Lickin' Cake". Whenever I make it, it disappears quickly. :) I keep mine in the refrigerator too.
yummmyyyyyy !!! love the name :D
do check out my food blog :
http://aspoonfulofyumm.blogspot.com/
I'd love to make a cake like this but I'd have to eat it myself. My husband only likes chocolate stuff. Ugh!
Its so delicious and i cant wait to have it. This is something i have never tasted before. I would love to try Mandarin Orange Cake.
Delish! My family loved it. Thank you!!
I made this last weekend and it was wonderful! I made it in a 9x13 pan instead though. It is a nice dense cake that has a crisp (if that makes sense) taste! This would be an awesome summer dessert. Everybody loved it! Kristin
My Daughter Brandie "the Country Cook" is making this for my Birthday, I have been making this cake for 20years and I love it.
This is soooo what I needed to see today!!! We have had nothing but rain for as long as I can remember!! I love the smell of fruit baking!! Thanks for the glimpse of sunshine and thanks for linking to 2 Maids a Baking!!
I have been making this cake for years and I love it!! My mom used to make it and, to us, it's known as "Pig Eatin'Cake" . The name has been explained as, "it's so good, you'll make a pig of yourself" kinda cake! :)
I made this to bring to a lunch with my husband's family. It was a big hit and I blogged about it
here. It even survived an hour long transport. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I have this Mandarin Orange cake in the oven as we speak. I can't wait to try it! I love this site! Your recipes sound so good, I want to try them all!
This is a fantastic "summer" cake! I've been making it since I was a teenager........which was not so long ago I like to pretend. ;)I've always heard it called "Pig Lick'n" cake as well and it will certainly cause you to make a pig of yourself if you're not careful. I love how it is versatile enough for a regular diet or a diabetic diet and both still taste great! I've made it in both layers and 9x13 sizes. I have to say the layer cake has a prettier presentation, but the taste is so good, no one will care what it looks like in the end. It's always been a hit at potlucks too.
This is my new favorite cake! YUM is all I can say!! Okay, maybe that's not all I can say..... What I love about this cake is the lightness of it and it's not too sugary like most cakes. I will be making this one a lot! Thanks Tina!!
Such a great shortcut recipe! I love stuff like this. I NEED to make this.
I am so glad to find you. I am making your sauted green beans as I write. Just picked my first green beans from my first garden and this will compliment them. I can't wait to make your Mandarin Orange cake and loved all the comments. I'm looking forward enjoying your sight.
I made this cake last summer and it was WONDERFUL!!! My whole family loved it. I brought it to work to share and it was a hit. I have passed the recipe on to many others. This is very easy to make and the perfect hot weather treat. It's light and cool and fruity. Doesn't get much better than that! Enjoy! Kristin
Would the icing be good with some cream cheese added?
I have never added cream cheese to a mandarin orange cake. The frosting is already pretty thick as it is. I haven't seen one with cream cheese before.
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