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Home » Holidays & Gatherings

Sunshine Mandarin Orange Cake with Creamy Pineapple Frosting

Updated: Jul 5, 2025 · Published: May 8, 2025 by Betsy · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Mandarin Orange Cake dish image this sugar

DifficultyBeginnerYields2 Servings

This delightful Mandarin Orange Cake recipe delivers a burst of citrus sunshine in every bite, perfectly complemented by a light and luscious creamy pineapple frosting. Imagine a tender, moist cake infused with the sweet tang of real mandarin oranges, creating a flavor that's both refreshing and comforting. This is a wonderfully easy dessert recipe that utilizes a cake mix as a base, making it a fantastic option for bakers of all skill levels who want a delicious homemade treat without spending hours in the kitchen.

The addition of all-purpose flour to the cake mix enhances the cake's structure, giving it a slightly more substantial and satisfying texture. The eggs and vegetable oil contribute to its richness and moistness, while the star ingredient – a can of juicy mandarin oranges, juice and all – infuses the batter with its signature orange cake flavor. As it bakes, your kitchen will fill with a bright, fruity aroma, hinting at the delicious citrus dessert to come.

Once the mandarin cake has cooled to perfection, it's time for the crowning glory: the creamy pineapple frosting. This simple yet elegant frosting combines crushed pineapple (again, with its juice for maximum pineapple flavor), instant vanilla pudding mix for stability and a hint of vanilla, and light and airy whipped topping. The result is a smooth, tangy-sweet frosting that perfectly complements the citrus notes of the cake, creating a harmonious and irresistible easy cake recipe that's sure to be a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Mandarin Orange Cake Ingredients: What You'll Need

Cake:

 1 box (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
 4 large eggs
 ½ cup vegetable oil
 1 can mandarin oranges

Pineapple Frosting:

 1 can crushed pineapple
 1 box (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
 10 ounces whipped topping

How to Make Mandarin Orange Cake:

1

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, all-purpose flour, eggs, vegetable oil, and the entire can of mandarin oranges (including the juice).

Mandarin Orange Cake step 1

3

Mix cake batter until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Mandarin Orange Cake step 2

4

Pour the orange cake batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.

5

Bake easy cake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

6

Let the mandarin orange cake cool completely in the pan before frosting. This is important to prevent the frosting from melting.

How to Make Pineapple Frosting:

7

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the undrained crushed pineapple (including the juice), and the instant vanilla pudding mix.

8

Stir the pineapple frosting ingredients together until well combined and smooth.

9

Gently fold in the whipped topping until the creamy frosting is light and fluffy.

10

Once the mandarin cake is completely cool, spread the pineapple frosting evenly over the top.

Mandarin Orange Cake step 3

11

Refrigerate cake for at least 30 minutes to allow the frosting to set.

Mandarin Orange Cake image

Prep Time10 minsCook Time30 minsTotal Time40 mins

[cooked-sharing]

Nutrition Facts

2 servings

Serving size

2

Ingredients

Mandarin Orange Cake Ingredients: What You'll Need

Cake:

 1 box (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
 4 large eggs
 ½ cup vegetable oil
 1 can mandarin oranges

Pineapple Frosting:

 1 can crushed pineapple
 1 box (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
 10 ounces whipped topping

Directions

How to Make Mandarin Orange Cake:

1

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, all-purpose flour, eggs, vegetable oil, and the entire can of mandarin oranges (including the juice).

Mandarin Orange Cake step 1

3

Mix cake batter until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Mandarin Orange Cake step 2

4

Pour the orange cake batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.

5

Bake easy cake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

6

Let the mandarin orange cake cool completely in the pan before frosting. This is important to prevent the frosting from melting.

How to Make Pineapple Frosting:

7

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the undrained crushed pineapple (including the juice), and the instant vanilla pudding mix.

8

Stir the pineapple frosting ingredients together until well combined and smooth.

9

Gently fold in the whipped topping until the creamy frosting is light and fluffy.

10

Once the mandarin cake is completely cool, spread the pineapple frosting evenly over the top.

Mandarin Orange Cake step 3

11

Refrigerate cake for at least 30 minutes to allow the frosting to set.

Mandarin Orange Cake image

Notes

Mandarin Orange Cake
IngredientsDirections

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I’m Betsy, the cook behind Potluck Eats. Here you’ll find reliable, easy-to-follow recipes made with everyday ingredients, designed to help busy families enjoy flavorful meals together.

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