Pig Cake is truly a show stopping sweet treat. This light and moist citrus cake takes just 20 minutes. The cake is easy to prep and only has 8 ingredients. It is perfect for a summer picnic!
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Why this Pig Pickin Cake Recipe is a Keeper
This recipe for pig pickin cake makes such a moist and flavorful cake that’s the perfect conversation starter at potlucks. It’s so quick and easy and will definitely be a hit with the whole family.
- 20 Minute Prep: You will need just 20 minutes to prepare this pig picking cake before the oven takes over.
- Easy Ingredients: You will need just a handful of ingredients to complete your new favorite cake.
- Family Friendly: The entire family is going to enjoy this unique citrus cake.
- Makes Great Leftovers: Store in the fridge to enjoy for a few more days.
If you’re looking for more fun cake recipes, try these Cherry Poke Cake, Orange Creamsicle Cake and Cotton Candy Cake.
Why do they Call it a Pig Cake?
The name of this cake recipe alone is intriguing. Pig pickin cake got it’s name from being frequently served at southern pig roasts. The Pig Pickin Cake, aka Pig Cake, is as fluffy, fruity, and perfect for the hot South. Alternatively to it’s name, there are no pigs harmed in the making of this sweet treat!
Ingredient Notes to Make Pig Pickin Cake
You will need just a few really easy ingredients to make your pig cake. They are all easy to find at the store, or maybe even around your kitchen!
- Box Cake: When making the cake, follow the recipe on the white cake mix box. Using room temperature ingredients is one of many secrets to a fantastic cake!
- Crushed Pineapple: Crushed pineapple is best for this recipe as it goes into the whipped topping frosting.
- Pudding Mix: Vanilla pudding mix works perfectly in this recipe when mixed with the pineapple and cool whip.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for this Recipe for Pig Pickin Cake
This cake is a staple at our family reunions for years. The recipe makes a great cake to feed a crowd.
- Combine Cake Mix: You can mix the cake batter and bake. Store in the fridge until ready to ice.
- Make the Frosting: Store the creamy frosting in a bowl or airtight container until ready to frost.
Pig Pickin’ Cake Pro Tip
Chilling your cake layers before frosting is a game-changer! It prevents the cake from crumbling and makes it much easier to handle. Plus, the cold cake helps the frosting set faster and smoother.
How to Make Pig Pickin’ Cake
This mandarin orange cake and frosting recipe comes together in just 5 steps. It can be a little tricky to work with the cool whip frosting, but once you get the hang of it you’ll be making this all the time.
These are the basic steps for making Pig Cake. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Preheat Oven & Prep Pan
Preheat oven according to cake mix directions. Grease your baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and flour two round cake pans. Follow the instructions on the cake mix, except for the water.
2. Combine Juice and Water
You will want to drain the juice from the mandarin oranges into a measuring cup and add enough water to the juice to meet the required “water” measurement on the cake mix box. Combine the rest of the cake mix ingredients.
3. Add Drained Oranges and Bake
Once cake batter is mixed, fold in the drained mandarin oranges and mix so pieces are broken up slightly. Pour batter evenly into the pan and bake according to package directions. When a toothpick comes out clean.
4. Make the Frosting with Thawed Frozen Whipped Topping
In a mixing bowl, whisk the juice from drained pineapples with the vanilla pudding mix. Fold half of the whipped topping in until it’s incorporated. Once combined, add the remaining half and mix.
Once all the cool whip is folded in, refrigerate until cakes are cooled completely and ready for frosting.
5. Assemble the Cake and Frost
After your cake has cooled for 25 to 30 minutes, spread frosting over the top of the first layer cake. Add the second cake and frost the cake heavily.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers
- Storing: It is best to store the cake in an airtight container or cake keeper.
- Using Leftovers: If your pig cake has fresh fruit or whipped cream, it’s best to consume it within a day or two for the best flavor and texture. Bring to room temperature for optimum flavor.
Variations and Substitutions
- Nuts: Try adding some crushed nuts to the frosting to up your flavor profile in this great cake.
- Different Cake Flavors: Try using different cake flavors like yellow cake mix, pineapple cake or coconut for the delicious cake.
- Different Pudding: You may love this cake even more by making the frosting with a different flavored pudding. Instead of vanilla instant pudding mix, try something like banana pudding box mix on top of cake.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
Your cake will be soggy if you add too much liquid into the cake itself or into the frosting. Also, if you underbake your cake or use the wrong oven temperature.
Yes! I like to make mine in a 9×13 inch baking pan because I find it’s much easier to transport that way. The sheet cake is easy to feed a lot of guests.
To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the middle of the pineapple orange super moist cake. If the toothpick inserted comes out clean, it’s ready! Remove from oven and cool completely before you add anything to the top of the cake.
Expert Tips for Making Pig Pickin Cake Recipe
- Double the Recipe: This finger lickin’ cake recipe uses 2 round pans or one 9×13 cake pan. To double, increase the ingredients proportionately and split into 2 batches.
- Top with Different Fruits: Use your imagination and try using blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, mandarin oranges or whatever your family likes to decorate your cake.
- Less Liquid Helps: When making the icing, make sure to use drained crushed pineapple that’s fairly dry to keep it firm.
- Completely Cool: After you pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake until golden brown and set, make sure your cake is completely cool. This is to make sure your frosting doesn’t melt off.
- Make Icing Ahead: Make the icing early and refrigerate for at least an hour before frosting.
- Whipped Cream: If your forgot to get some at the store, make your own homemade whipped cream for your sunshine cake!
- Electric Hand Mixer: Using a mixer will make combining ingredients much quicker.
- Chill Until Serving: After you frost and garnish the cake, take a cooled cake and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve, and then serve immediately.
Pig Cake
Video
Equipment
- 2 Round Cake Pans
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Ingredients
Cake:
- 15 ounces White cake mix, 1 box
- ⅓ cup oil
- 4 Egg whites
- 8 ounces Canned mandarin oranges
- Water
Whipped Frosting:
- 16 ounces Frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 20 ounces Crushed pineapple, undrained
- 5.1 ounces Instant vanilla pudding
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven according to cake mix directions.
- Grease and flour two round cake pans.
- Follow the instructions on the cake mix except for the water.
- Pour juice from the mandarin oranges into a measuring cup.
- Add enough water to the mandarin orange juice to meet the required "water" measurement on the cake mix package. 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 (and juice) with packet of instant vanilla pudding.
- Fold in half of the whipped topping until incorporated; Once combined, add the remaining half and fold until combined.
- Once all the cool whip is folded in, refrigerate 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 top it with strawberries, pineapple, mandarin oranges and so on.
Christina’s Notes
- Double the Recipe: This finger lickin’ cake recipe uses 2 round pans or one 9×13 cake pan. To double, increase the ingredients proportionately and split into 2 batches.
- Top with Different Fruits: Use your imagination and try using blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, mandarin oranges or whatever your family likes to decorate your cake.
- Less Liquid Helps: When making the icing, make sure to use drained crushed pineapple that’s fairly dry to keep it firm.
- Completely Cool: After you pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake until golden brown and set, make sure your cake is completely cool. This is to make sure your frosting doesn’t melt off.
- Make Icing Ahead: Make the icing early and refrigerate for at least an hour before frosting.
- Whipped Cream: If your forgot to get some at the store, make your own homemade whipped cream for your sunshine cake!
- Electric Hand Mixer: Using a mixer will make combining ingredients much quicker.
- Chill Until Serving: After you frost and garnish the cake, take a cooled cake and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve, and then serve immediately.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
All time family favorite and frequently requested for birthdays and holidays🥰
Light, refreshing dessert for summer family get together. It was a big success!
when I was told about this recipe at work and the person describing it had everyone in the room just drooling to have a bite. the recipe is easy enough that my 4-year-old helped me and we had fun doing it and she has requested for us to make it today for Father’s Day. tasting. this cake is just out of this world. it is absolutely delicious. you can’t believe how it is until you make it and eat it
Can this cake be made the day before?
Absolutely the flavors will just get better. Just make sure that it is properly stored in the fridge.