Creamy Mandarin Orange and Pineapple Cake

Pineapple and orange are the perfect combination in this cool and creamy cake recipe. Just the thing for summer gatherings or any time you need a light and refreshing dessert. Sometimes, an easy cake mix recipe is just what you need. It’ll be our little secret.

If you’re new to doctoring up cake mixes, this recipe is the perfect introduction. It shows how just a couple of simple additions can transform a basic box mix into something that tastes like it came from a bakery.

What You’ll Need For This Cake

Yellow Cake Mix: The canvas for our creation. Any brand works, but I find that French vanilla cake mixes add a nice extra dimension of flavor. (Look for mixes that don’t contain pudding in the mix for the best texture.)

Mandarin Oranges: These sweet little segments bring brightness and moisture. Use canned in juice (not syrup) for the best flavor.

Whipped Topping: The stabilized nature of store-bought whipped topping is key to this frosting’s success. It holds up much better than regular whipped cream would.

Vanilla Pudding Mix: Must be INSTANT pudding mix, not the cooking kind. The dry mix acts as a stabilizer and flavor enhancer without needing to be prepared separately.

Crushed Pineapple: Don’t drain it! The juice is an essential part of the frosting, adding flavor and the perfect consistency.

9×13 Baking Dish: A glass baking dish works particularly well as it allows you to see when the edges are browning nicely.

Tips for Success

Don’t Overbake the Cake: Check it at 25 minutes. You should have a few crumbs on the cake tester.
Layer Cake Variation: If you prefer a layer cake, you can bake the batter in round cake pans instead of a 9 x 13-inch pan. Adjust the baking time accordingly.

Don’t rush the cooling process! A warm cake will melt the whipped topping and create a soggy mess. The cake should feel completely cool to the touch before frosting.

Chill thoroughly: While 30 minutes is the minimum chilling time, letting this cake set up in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours or overnight makes a huge difference in flavor development.

Make It Your Own

There are so many to customize this!

• Use drained fruit cocktail instead of mandarin oranges in the cake for a different medley of fruit flavors while keeping the same texture and moisture.
• Add 1 tablespoon of orange or lemon zest to the cake batter for extra citrus flavor without changing the texture.
• Replace the mandarin orange garnish with maraschino cherries for a pop of color and slightly different flavor profile.
• Sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts on top for a simple crunch that complements the fruity flavors.
• Cut the completely cooled cake into squares before frosting and plate individually with a small dollop of extra whipped topping and a mandarin segment for a more elegant serving option.

If you’ve been looking for the perfect potluck dessert that doesn’t require fancy ingredients or special equipment, you just found it. This is the kind of cake that disappears first at gatherings and has everyone asking for the recipe – which you can decide whether to admit is almost embarrassingly easy!