Description

Pig Pickin Cake is a light and vibrant Southern dessert featuring a moist yellow cake infused with pineapple juice and mandarin oranges, topped with a creamy vanilla pudding and whipped cream frosting mixed with crushed pineapple. This refreshing and fruity cake is perfect for gatherings and celebrations, offering a delightful combination of citrus flavors and a fluffy texture.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake

20 ounces unsweetened crushed pineapple (1 can, drained, juice reserved)
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup pineapple juice (drained from crushed pineapple)
3 large eggs
11 ounces mandarin oranges (1 can, drained)

Frosting

3.4 ounces dry instant vanilla pudding mix (1 small box)
12 ounces Cool Whip (or stabilized whipped cream)
Reserved crushed pineapple (from the cake ingredient)

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans or alternatively a greased 9×13-inch cake pan to prevent sticking.
Prepare Pineapple: Drain the crushed pineapple and reserve the juice for use in the cake batter. Set aside the drained pineapple for the frosting use later.
Mix Cake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, vegetable oil, 3/4 cup of the reserved pineapple juice, eggs, and drained mandarin oranges. Use a hand or stand mixer to mix until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed for uniform batter.
Bake the Cake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake’s center comes out clean. Once baked, cool for 10 minutes in the pans before transferring the cakes to wire racks to cool completely.
Make Frosting: In a separate bowl, mix the reserved drained crushed pineapple with the dry instant vanilla pudding mix. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until fully combined and creamy.
Assemble the Cake: Place one cooled cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a generous portion of the pineapple pudding whipped cream frosting over the top. Add the second cake layer on top.
Frost the Cake: Cover the top and sides of the assembled cake with the remaining frosting. Garnish with additional mandarin orange segments or pineapple chunks if desired to enhance appearance and flavor.

Notes

Be sure to fully drain the canned fruit to avoid excess moisture in the batter and frosting.
This cake tastes best when chilled for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Using stabilized whipped cream such as Cool Whip helps maintain the frosting’s texture longer.
If using a 9×13 pan instead of two 8-inch rounds, adjust baking time slightly and check doneness earlier.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Southern American

Keywords: Pig Pickin Cake, pineapple cake, Southern dessert, mandarin orange cake, yellow cake, creamy frosting, fruit cake