I love an easy recipe! Even though I shouldn’t admit it, if I read through a recipe and it has too many steps…I move on. This recipe for Mandarin Orange Cake is so easy that even a compete novice can’t mess it up. And it’s delicious…does it get any better than that?
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Jump to RecipeI got this recipe years ago from a teacher friend of mine. Betty taught across the hall from me and was a wonderful cook. I was newly married to a man who was such a marvelous cook that I always felt like a slacker in the kitchen. No matter what the dish, Jungle Jim could cook it better than I could. While that doesn’t bother me any more (I’ve learned to appreciate it), it bothered me quite a lot as a young wife.
Betty brought this cake to the teacher’s lounge one day. Needless to say, it was a hit. When I asked her about the recipe she told me how easy it was and I knew it was a recipe I needed. She was kind enough to share it and I’ve been making it ever since.
And Jungle Jim loves it. Funny thing is that even though Jungle Jim is a great cook, he very seldom bakes (unless it’s bread). Give Betty’s recipe a try and see if it becomes a staple in your your cooking repertoire.
Mandarin Orange Cake Recipe
Super Easy Mandarin Orange Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 4 medium eggs
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1 small can mandarin oranges (with juice)
- 1 small box instant vanilla pudding
- 1 20 oz crushed pineapple (with juice)
- 1 8-oz Cool Whip
Instructions
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Combine cake mix, eggs, and oil and beat on medium speed for 4 minutes.
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Add mandarin oranges and juice and fold in by hand (so oranges don’t get pulverized!)
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Pour in 9×13 pan sprayed with PAM. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Test for doneness with a toothpick. Remove from oven when inserted tooth pick comes out clean.
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Icing: Combine all ingredients together and spread on cake. Refrigerate cake before and after serving.
Recipe Notes
Cake may be made with 2 eggs and 1/2 cup of water as a substitution for the 4 eggs.
I always substitute applesauce for the oil when I’m baking (unless I just don’t have any applesauce in the house). I find that applesauce works just as well and it saves a few calories which none of us at my house need.
So who’s the best cook at your house?
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I’m a retired educator, mom of three adult children, cancer warrior, sandwich generation member, and lover of life!
I help older women create & live a life they love through radical self acceptance, unapologetic goal pursuit, and relishing the joys of home.
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Sorry it took so long to visit – I’ve been off on vacation! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up!
My husband doesn’t really like chocolate ( I know, what’s wrong with him?) so I am always looking for easy chocolate-free desserts. This looks like something he would enjoy and it appears to be super easy to make to boot. Win! Win!
Hi Lisa! I have a son who doesn’t like chocolate either so I get it (well, not really – I can’t imagine not liking chocolate!). Let me know what you think about this cake. I also frequently make a version of it where I poke holes in it and pour orange hello into it before adding the icing and them let it set i the refrigerator. The jello gives it some added orange “oomph” that we really like. We love it that way too!