One might read the title of this recipe and wonder what a Pig Pickin Cake is? Trust me when I say it is quite possibly the best cake ever created!
Ok, I may be exaggerating a bit because I haven’t tasted every cake made, but of the cakes I have tried, this cake is the best! Some years ago my Mom made this and after having one bite I proclaimed this to be the one-and-only cake for me.
A Pig Pick’n Cake is a Southern tradition for some who serve it along side other great recipes at pig roast. I cannot say who was the first to come up with this recipe, but if I did I would thank them profusely.
MY LATEST VIDEOSWhen you make the frosting, I dare you to resist the urge to nibble on it! It’s that good
Have you had a Pig Pick’n Cake before or is this your first time?
Pig Pickin Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 white cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cups oil
- 4 egg whites
- 1 oz can mandarin oranges - 8
Whipped Frosting:
- 1 oz container of Cool Whip - 16
- 1 oz can of crushed pineapple - 20
- 1 large box of vanilla instant pudding
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven according to box directions.
- Grease and flour two round cake pans.
- Follow the instructions on the cake mix EXCEPT for the water.
- Pour juice from the can of oranges into a measuring cup.
- Add enough water to the mandarin orange juice to meet the required "water" measurement.
- Add to cake mix.
- Once cake batter is mixed fold in the drained can of mandarin oranges and mix to break up orange bits.
- Bake according to package directions.
Whipped Frosting
- Whisk crushed pineapple with packet of instant vanilla pudding.
- Start folding in one half tub of cool whip at a time until incorporated.
- Once all the cool whip is folded in, place your whipped frosting back into the cool whip tub and chill until cakes are cooled and ready for frosting.
- After your cake is cooled, frost the top of the first layer and the second cake and frost the remaining cake heavily.
- You can leave it just like that or you can pretty it up with strawberries, pineapple, mandarin oranges and so on.
- Want to scale a recipe up or down? Simply type in a new serving amount and the recipe will automatically adjust!
- When a recipe call for House Seasoning Blend, you can use this recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- I always use unsalted butter in my recipes.
- I always use a meat thermometor to test for doneness when cooking meat. This one is my favorite.
- When a recipe is made in the oven, it should be pre-heated to the temperature in the recipe, unless otherwise noted.
- The nutritional information provided in this recipe is an estimate. Learn more on how I calculate nutritional information for my recipes.
Lucinda says
I made this cake for dessert tonight and everyone raved over it.
Was made for a pig roast get together. Figured a pig roast deserved a cake called pig pickin. Cake so light not too sweet either. Will definitely make again
Christina Hitchcock says
I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for sharing your feedback! 🙂
Louise says
Hi,
Should I drain the can of pineapple or does it get mixed with the pudding syrup and all?
Thanks
Marianne Karp says
unable to print. Please e mail recipie
Debi Powell says
What flavor of pudding did you use? I know that can make a big difference in the outcome. 🙂 Thanks for any details on that!! xoxo
Christina Hitchcock says
Vanilla 🙂
Pauline Taylor says
One cake mix normally makes 2 layers, so I am wondering how 2 cake mixes plus 2 cans of mandarins, all those egg whites, oil, and water, will not overflow the pans. Also the directions say to add THE can of mandarins to the batter, but the ingredients state 2 cans. Which is correct? Could you also give the size of a large container of Cool whip, and a large can of pineapple? This cake sounds really good, but I need to make sure I use the correct amount of ingredients. I would really appreciate the clarification.
Christina Hitchcock says
My apologies Pauline — there was some confusion with the recipe. The original recipe was for 2-9×13 cake pans. However, I halved all of the ingredients for a standard 2 layer round cake. Let me know if you have any more questions 🙂
Patti Dolin says
Tried this mandarin cake and it is out of this world.
Liz says
Thanks
Liz says
Thanks <3
carol says
What kind of instant pudding?
Random Musings says
This looks lovely – I love the step-by-step photos! #sundaysociallinkyparty
Debbie
http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com