Description
Pig Pickin’ Cake is a delightful, fruit-filled yellow cake that’s perfect for gatherings and celebrations. This moist cake combines the sweet flavors of mandarin oranges and crushed pineapple with a creamy, fluffy frosting made from instant vanilla pudding and whipped topping, creating a refreshing and crowd-pleasing dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix
- 15.25 ounce can mandarin oranges (reserve ¼ cup of juice)
- 4 large eggs
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting
- 20 ounce can crushed pineapple (well-drained)
- 16 ounces whipped cream (such as Cool Whip), thawed
- 3.4 ounce instant vanilla pudding mix
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking your cake.
- Prepare the baking pan: Lightly spray a 9×13 glass or metal baking pan with non-stick spray, then dust the bottom and edges with flour. Discard any excess flour. This will help prevent the cake from sticking.
- Mix the batter: In a mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, mandarin oranges (except the reserved ¼ cup juice), eggs, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil. Beat on low speed for about 2 minutes until the mixture is well combined and smooth.
- Bake the cake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the cake is fully baked.
- Cool the cake: Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before adding the frosting to prevent it from melting or sliding off.
- Prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, mix together the thawed whipped cream, well-drained crushed pineapple, and instant vanilla pudding mix until fully combined and creamy.
- Frost the cake: Spread the prepared frosting evenly over the cooled cake. Optionally, garnish the top with additional mandarin orange segments for a decorative touch.
- Serve or store: Serve the cake immediately or cover and refrigerate it until ready to enjoy. Refrigeration helps keep the frosting fresh and the cake moist.
Notes
- Ensure the pineapple is well-drained to avoid a soggy frosting.
- You can use fresh mandarin oranges as garnish for a fresher look and taste.
- If you prefer a less sweet frosting, reduce the amount of instant pudding slightly.
- This cake tastes best when chilled for a few hours, allowing flavors to meld.
- Non-stick spray and flour preparation is important to ease cake removal from the pan.
