ORANGE PINEAPPLE CAKE (PIG PICKIN’ CAKE)
This orange pineapple cake, also called pig pickin’ cake, is one of my very favorite summer desserts! It’s so light, refreshing, moist, and fluffy which makes it perfect for a hot summer day gathering for an easy dessert.
It starts with a boxed cake mix (hello easy!), canned mandarin oranges, and then it’s topped in this deliciously fluffy whipped pineapple vanilla pudding frosting. You will be tempted to grab a spoon and eat the frosting straight from the bowl!
HOW TO MAKE ORANGE PINEAPPLE CAKE WITH CANNED FRUIT AND PUDDING MIX
- Yellow Cake Mix – Feel free to substitute with your own homemade yellow cake mix if wanted.
- Canned Mandarin Oranges – Do not drain! Just dump the entire can (juice and all) into the bowl.
- Sour Cream, Eggs, & Oil
- Heavy Whipping Cream – No substitutes. Use the good stuff please.
- Crushed Pineapple – If you don’t want chunks of pineapple in the frosting then add the can of pineapple into a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
- Powdered Sugar
- Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
MY TIPS FOR THIS EASY CAKE RECIPE
– This cake is best served cold. I make the cake, cool it completely, and then frost the cake. Cover it with a lid or plastic wrap and put it in the fridge overnight or at least for 5-6 hours before serving. You can make this cake the night before or in the morning of the day you need it. That way it can refrigerate all night or it can refrigerate during the day for several hours.
– For best taste, richness, and texture use full fat sour cream.
– Dump the can of mandarin oranges and pineapple straight into the mix. Do not drain. It seems weird but trust me!
– I only topped the cake with extra mandarin oranges and piped on leftover frosting strictly for the pictures. It’s easier to take food pictures when it’s not all one color like the frosting is 🙂 I always just frost the cake and serve it that way. If wanted you can decorate the top of the cake with additional mandarin oranges.
– Leftovers just get better and better and will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
TRY THESE OTHER DESSERT RECIPES THAT USE BOXED CAKE MIX
- funfetti cake batter cookie bars
- peach cobbler dump cake
- chocolate caramel dump cake
- easy chocolate cherry cake
- red velvet sheet cake
- doctored up cake mix recipe
- chocolate cream bundt cake
Orange Pineapple Cake
Ingredients
Mandarin Orange Cake
- 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
- 1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges do not drain
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 large eggs
Whipped Pineapple Pudding Frosting
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple do not drain
- 1 box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°. Prepare a 9x13 baking dish by spraying with cooking spray. Set aside.*If wanted, you can make this recipe in 3 (8" or 9") round cake pans for a layered cake. I prefer it in the 9x13 baking dish so that's what I do. The cake is so moist that sometimes it's hard to get the layers to stay together and form. The frosting is also a looser frosting (aka - not stiff like a buttercream frosting) so it's easier to frost the 9x13 cake.
- In a large bowl with a handheld mixer, or bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cake mix (do not prepare just add the dry cake mix), mandarin oranges (juice and all), oil, sour cream, and eggs. Beat together for 1-2 minutes until completely combined and oranges are broken up.
- Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until sides start to pull away from the pan and a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out with moist crumbs only.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare the frosting. Add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, crushed pineapple (juice and all), and instant pudding mix into a mixing bowl (or bowl of a stand mixer) and beat until stiff peaks form. This will take about 5 minutes.
- Spread whipped frosting onto the cake. Cake can be served right away or for best taste/texture cover it with plastic and let the frosted cake refrigerate overnight or for 4-6 hours before serving. It's best served cold but still delicious served right away.
Notes
Nutrition
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