Description
This Mandarin Orange Pineapple Cake is a moist, fruity delight featuring a tender butter cake infused with mandarin oranges and finished with a creamy pineapple and Cool Whip frosting. Perfect for gatherings or a refreshing dessert, this cake combines bright citrus flavors with a light, fluffy texture to impress any crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 1 box Duncan Hines Butter Cake mix
- 1/2 cup Wesson oil
- 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, with juice
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
Frosting Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) tub of Cool Whip
- 1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 (16-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained (reserve juice)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease, flour, and line three round cake pans with wax paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix the Batter: In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, Wesson oil, mandarin oranges with their juice, granulated sugar, and eggs. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes until the batter is smooth and well blended.
- Bake the Cakes: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Place them in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the center of each cake springs back when gently pressed.
- Cool the Cakes: Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then, take them out of the pans and allow to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
- Prepare the Frosting: Drain the juice from the crushed pineapple and set it aside for thinning later if needed. In a medium bowl, mix the crushed pineapple with the instant vanilla pudding mix, then fold in the Cool Whip until smooth and evenly combined.
- Adjust Frosting Consistency: If the frosting feels too thick for spreading, gradually add some of the reserved pineapple juice to reach the desired consistency for easy frosting application.
- Assemble the Cake: Once the cakes are completely cooled, spread the pineapple-Cool Whip frosting evenly over each layer, stacking the cakes as you go to create a layered dessert.
- Chill and Serve: Place the assembled cake in the refrigerator to set. For the best flavor and texture, let it chill overnight before serving.
Notes
- Ensure cakes are fully cooled before frosting to prevent the icing from melting.
- Use wax paper lining for easy removal and tidier cake layers.
- Reserve pineapple juice for adjusting frosting consistency as needed.
- This cake keeps well refrigerated and is ideally served the next day for flavors to meld.
- You can substitute Cool Whip with homemade whipped cream for a fresher topping, but it may be less stable.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
