Description
Pig Pickin’ Cake is a moist, fruity Southern-style dessert made with mandarin oranges and pineapple. This easy sheet cake is topped with a creamy whipped pudding frosting and is perfect for summer gatherings or potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (15 oz) can mandarin oranges (reserve 1/2 cup juice, drain the rest)
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup mandarin orange juice
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple (reserve 3/4 cup juice, drain well)
- 3/4 cup reserved pineapple juice
- 1 (3.4 oz) box vanilla instant pudding mix
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 4 oz Cool Whip (half a regular tub)
- Extra mandarin orange slices (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Drain the mandarin oranges, reserving 1/2 cup of the juice. Discard the rest.
- In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, softened butter, reserved orange juice, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed for 3–4 minutes.
- Add the drained mandarin oranges and stir gently, keeping some chunks intact.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- For the frosting, drain crushed pineapple well, reserving 3/4 cup juice.
- In a bowl, mix the reserved pineapple juice with the pudding mix. Stir in powdered sugar.
- Fold in Cool Whip, then stir in drained pineapple. Add more Cool Whip if needed for a thicker consistency.
- Spread frosting over the cooled cake and refrigerate for 2–3 hours to set.
- Before serving, slice into 12 pieces and top each slice with a mandarin orange segment. Keep refrigerated.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter once you add the mandarin oranges to retain some texture.
- Chilling the cake helps the frosting set and enhances the flavor.
- Add extra Cool Whip to thicken the frosting if it seems runny.
- Best served cold and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Perfect for potlucks, picnics, and warm-weather desserts.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 29 g
- Sodium: 270 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
