Description
A moist and refreshing Mandarin Orange Pineapple Cake featuring a tender cake base infused with juicy mandarin oranges and crushed pineapple, topped with a light and fluffy whipped cream and vanilla pudding frosting. Perfect for dessert lovers who enjoy fruity, tropical flavors in a soft cake.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
- 3 large eggs
- 1 can (11 oz/310 g) mandarin oranges, with juice
- 1 can (8 oz/227 g) crushed pineapple, with juice
Frosting Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
- 1 package (3 oz/85 g) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 small can crushed pineapple, drained (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or, if you prefer, two 9-inch round cake pans to prevent sticking during baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the granulated sugar with the vegetable oil or melted butter. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure a smooth batter.
- Add Fruits: Stir in the canned mandarin oranges and crushed pineapple, including their juices, into the wet mixture to infuse the cake with fruity flavor.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overmixing and ensure a tender crumb.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan(s) and bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare the Frosting: In a chilled bowl, whip the cold heavy cream until soft peaks form. Then add the instant vanilla pudding mix and powdered sugar, continuing to beat until firm peaks develop for a stable and fluffy frosting.
- Add Pineapple to Frosting (Optional): For added texture and sweetness, gently fold in the drained crushed pineapple into the whipped frosting.
- Assemble the Cake: Spread the prepared frosting evenly over the cooled cake surface, ensuring full coverage.
- Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate the assembled cake for at least 1 hour to allow the frosting to set and flavors to meld. Garnish as desired before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute vegetable oil with melted butter for a richer flavor.
- Using fresh mandarin oranges instead of canned is possible but adjust the juice quantity accordingly.
- Ensure the heavy cream is very cold before whipping to achieve the best consistency.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the cake light and fluffy.
- Refrigeration before serving enhances the texture and taste of the frosting.
