Pig Pickin' (Mandarin Orange) Cake

You might have seen this Pig Pickin' Cake called everything from Mandarin Orange Cake to Pineapple Mandarin Sunshine Cake to Pineapple Sunset Cake. This light and fluffy cake is easier than ever to make because it starts with a box cake mix. It has mandarin oranges beaten into the batter and pineapple is mixed into in the Cool Whip frosting.

Perfect for picnics, summertime potlucks, and BBQs, this old-fashioned cake originally got one its name from how popular it was to bring it along to Southern pig pickins. And, of course, North Carolina (the Harris Sisters' home state) is where this cake seems to have originated.

Pig Pickin (Mandarin Orange) Cake

Cake

1 box of yellow cake mix (plus ingredients the box mix calls for)

11 oz can mandarin oranges (drained)

Frosting

20 oz can crushed pineapple (drained)

3.4 oz box of instant vanilla pudding

12 oz Cool Whip

Garnish

marischino cherries (optional)

Mandarin oranges (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
3. Beat in the drained oranges until blended.
4. Pour into greased 9 x 13 baking dish.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Remove dish from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Allow to cool completely.
6. Once cake has cooled, prepare the frosting. In a bowl, combine the drained pineapple and dry vanilla pudding mix.
7. Fold Cool Whip into the pineapple-pudding mixture.
8. Spread the frosting over the top of the cake.
9. If desired, garnish with additional Mandarin oranges and maraschino cherries just prior to serving.
10. Store this cake in the refrigerator.

Notes

If you want larger pieces of oranges in the cake, gently mix or fold them into the batter in step 3.

You can also make this recipe as a layer cake in two 8 inch cake pans, baking for 23-27 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Keep the cake refrigerated until ready to serve. The cake can be out for about an hour, without direct heat. Refrigerate any leftovers. Cake is best 3-4 days after baking.