The Best Mandarin Orange Cake Recipe for Sunny Gatherings

Sweet mandarin orange cake brings sunshine to your dessert table with its vibrant citrus essence and delightful texture.

Bright, zesty flavors dance through each tender crumb, promising a refreshing culinary experience.

Soft and moist, this delectable treat captures the essence of sunny Mediterranean orchards.

Rich yet light, the cake balances sweet and tangy notes that awaken your taste buds.

Delicate citrus undertones create a sophisticated profile that elevates traditional dessert expectations.

Home bakers will adore the simplicity and elegance of this crowd-pleasing recipe.

Each slice represents a perfect marriage of comforting warmth and bright, invigorating citrus notes.

Mandarin Orange Cake That’s Bright, Moist, and Easy

• Burst of Tropical Freshness: This cake delivers an explosion of mandarin orange and pineapple flavors that transport your taste buds to a sunny paradise, creating a delightful tropical escape with every single bite.
• Effortless Elegance in Baking: The recipe offers a straightforward method that even novice bakers can master, requiring minimal technical skills while producing a stunning dessert that looks professionally crafted.
• Creamy Dreamy Texture Sensation: The combination of soft, tender cake layers and luxurious pineapple cream frosting creates an irresistible contrast of light cake and rich, velvety topping that melts perfectly in your mouth.
• Versatile Celebration Centerpiece: Perfect for summer gatherings, birthdays, or weekend brunches, this cake brings a refreshing twist to traditional desserts and guarantees to impress guests with its unique flavor profile and gorgeous presentation.

What You Need for Mandarin Orange Cake

• Butter, Sugar: Creamy base that provides sweetness and rich texture, best when using fresh, high-quality unsalted butter.
• Egg Yolks: Adds richness and helps bind the cake ingredients, room temperature eggs work best.
• Mandarin Oranges: Fresh fruit that provides natural sweetness and citrus flavor, ripe and juicy oranges are ideal.
• Cake Flour: Gives soft and tender crumb, low protein content ensures delicate cake texture.
• Baking Powder: Helps cake rise and become light, fresh and active powder ensures good volume.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness, use fine table salt.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps blend ingredients smoothly, whole milk recommended for richer taste.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides depth of flavor, pure vanilla extract offers best taste.

• Heavy Cream: Creates smooth and fluffy frosting base, cold cream whips better.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes frosting, sifted sugar prevents lumps.
• Pineapple: Adds natural fruity flavor and moisture to frosting, fresh pineapple recommended.
• Vanilla Pudding Mix (Optional): Enhances frosting's thickness and flavor, instant mix works well.

• Optional garnish ingredients for decorating and adding visual appeal to the cake.

How to Make a Mandarin Orange Cake from Scratch

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans with butter and dust with flour.

Step 2: Transform Fresh Mandarin Oranges

Use a food processor to crush fresh mandarin oranges into a smooth puree.

Step 3: Create a Creamy Base

• Softened butter
• Sugar

• Egg yolks
• Mandarin orange puree
• Vanilla extract

Mix until well combined.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

• Cake flour
• Baking powder
• Salt

Step 5: Merge Wet and Dry Mixtures

Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, alternating with milk. Mix gently until just combined.

Step 6: Bake the Cake

Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 25-28 minutes until cakes spring back when touched.

Step 7: Cool the Cake Layers

Let cakes rest for 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

Step 8: Prepare Pineapple Cream Frosting

Crush fresh pineapple in a food processor.

Step 9: Whip the Frosting

• Powdered sugar
• Crushed pineapple
• Optional vanilla pudding mix

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Step 10: Assemble the Cake

Place first cake layer on serving dish. Spread pineapple cream frosting.

Add second cake layer on top.

Cover entire cake with remaining frosting.

Step 11: Finish and Chill

Garnish as desired. Refrigerate until serving time.

Tips to Bake and Glaze Mandarin Orange Cake

• Crush Oranges Perfectly: Use a food processor or blender to ensure smooth, even mandarin orange crushing without large chunks.
• Prevent Overmixing: Fold dry ingredients gently into wet mixture, stopping just when combined to maintain a tender cake texture.
• Temperature Matters: Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature for smoother batter and more even cake rise.
• Check Cake Doneness: Lightly press cake centers- they should spring back immediately and appear golden around edges when fully baked.
• Cooling Technique: Allow cakes to rest in pans for 20 minutes before transferring to wire rack, preventing potential cracking or breaking.

Best Way to Store Mandarin Orange Cake

• Refrigeration: Store leftover mandarin orange cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days to maintain freshness and prevent drying.
• Wrapping: Cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil before refrigerating to seal in moisture and protect from absorbing other food odors.
• Reheating: Gently warm individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or let the cake sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to restore its soft texture and enhance flavor.

Serve Mandarin Orange Cake with These Options

• Pair with Tropical Tea Delight: Brew a light, refreshing mandarin orange or green tea to complement the cake's citrusy notes and enhance its fruity essence.
• Match with Creamy Coconut Beverage: Serve a chilled coconut milk drink or smoothie that echoes the tropical flavors and provides a rich, smooth counterpoint to the cake's texture.
• Serve alongside Citrus Sorbet: Offer a zesty lemon or mandarin orange sorbet as a palate-cleansing side that amplifies the cake's bright, fresh taste and adds a cool contrast.
• Complement with Sparkling White Wine: Choose a crisp, slightly sweet Moscato or Riesling that harmonizes with the cake's fruity profile and cuts through its creamy frosting.

Variations of Mandarin Orange Cake to Try

• Tropical Citrus Fusion: Replace mandarin oranges with a blend of fresh tangerine and lime zest for a bright, zesty flavor profile that adds complexity to the classic cake.
• Coconut Island Cake: Incorporate shredded coconut into the batter and replace milk with coconut milk, then top the frosting with toasted coconut flakes for a tropical-inspired version.
• Spiced Mandarin Sensation: Add ground cardamom and cinnamon to the dry ingredients, creating a warm, aromatic cake that complements the citrus notes and provides a subtle winter-inspired twist.
• Mediterranean Nutty Delight: Fold chopped pistachios into the batter and sprinkle crushed nuts between cake layers, enhancing texture and introducing a rich, nutty undertone to the original recipe.

Mandarin Orange Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Rich mandarin orange cake brings zesty Mediterranean sunshine to dessert tables. Moist crumb and tangy citrus notes create a delightful slice of sweet comfort you’ll savor with each delectable bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups cake flour
• 1 ½ cups white granulated sugar
• 1 ⅓ cups fresh mandarin oranges, crushed
• 8 egg yolks
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (room temperature)
• ¾ cup milk

Leavening and Seasoning:

• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt

Frosting and Filling Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 16 ounces fresh pineapple, crushed
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 box (3.4 ounces) vanilla pudding mix (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Activate the oven to 350°F and prepare two 8-inch round cake pans with light grease and flour coating.
2. Transform fresh mandarin oranges into a smooth puree using a food processor.
3. Whip butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until achieving a cloud-like, aerated texture.
4. Incorporate egg yolks, mandarin orange puree, and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture.
5. Sift cake flour, baking powder, and salt together in a separate container.
6. Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with milk, ensuring minimal mixing to maintain delicate cake structure.
7. Distribute batter evenly between prepared cake pans, creating smooth surfaces.
8. Bake for 25-28 minutes until cake springs back when gently touched, indicating perfect doneness.
9. Allow cakes to rest in pans for 20 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack.
10. Crush fresh pineapple into a smooth consistency using food processor.
11. Whip heavy cream until forming sturdy, defined peaks.
12. Gradually blend powdered sugar, pineapple puree, and optional vanilla pudding mix into whipped cream.
13. Position first cake layer on serving plate, spreading pineapple cream frosting generously.
14. Carefully place second cake layer atop the frosted base.
15. Completely enrobe cake with remaining pineapple cream frosting.
16. Embellish with optional decorative elements and refrigerate until serving moment arrives.

Notes

• Unlock the tropical essence of this moist, fruity cake that bursts with mandarin orange and pineapple flavors.
• Crushing fresh fruits directly into the batter ensures intense, natural sweetness and a vibrant, juicy texture.
• Room temperature ingredients help create a smoother, more uniform cake batter that blends effortlessly.
• Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent a dense, tough cake texture and maintain a light, tender crumb.
• Cool the cake completely before frosting to prevent the cream from melting and ensure a pristine presentation.
• Refrigerate the cake to help the frosting set and enhance the delightful blend of tropical fruit flavors.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 650
• Sugar: 45 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 40 g
• Saturated Fat: 25 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 60 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 200 mg