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Orange Pineapple Cake is a light, fruity cake with an island flair. You will love the delicious whipped creamy topping! This is the perfect dessert to bring to potlucks and parties.
Featured with this recipe
This Orange Pineapple cake is a perfect dessert for summer gatherings with family and friends. Light and fluffy lemon cake with citrus orange and pineapple flavors, topped with a fluffy, fruity topping that is always a crowd pleaser. Our dear family friend, Mary Alice, brought this cake to us and we loved it so much I had to get the recipe. It’s our favorite summertime dessert because it’s easy to put together, feeds a crowd, and just tastes fresh and fruity, just like a summer treat should taste on a hot night.
Ingredients in Orange Pineapple Cake
We have made it many times since and it always turns out great every time! It is so light and fruity. This is a versatile recipe that can be made up in several ways. But here’s the original recipe to start:
- Lemon or yellow boxed cake mix – You can even use a vanilla or white cake mix, whatever you have on hand. I love the fresh lemon flavor, but any cake mix will work.
- Eggs – four large eggs works great for this recipe.
- Vegetable oil – half a cup
- Mandarin oranges – one 8-ounce can. Do not drain the juice.
- Vanilla instant pudding mix – one 3.9-ounce box.
- Crushed pineapple – one 15-ounce can. Again, don’t drain that yummy pineapple juice.
- Whipped topping or whipped cream – I use a 16-ounce tub of Cool Whip
Tips for Baking Light and Fluffy Cake
- Make sure your eggs are room temperature. Use a hand mixer to beat each egg slowly into the cake mixture.
- Preheat your oven to the correct temperature BEFORE placing the cakes inside.
- Consider sifting the cake mix before adding it to a large mixing bowl. Sifting adds air into the flour and will make your cake lighter.
- Grease your baking pans liberally with cooking spray or flour and butter before adding the cake batter.
- Give the cake plenty of time to cool on a wire rack before assembling and frosting.
How to Adjust the Cake Size
The recipe listed below is for an Orange Pineapple Sheet Cake. It serves a large piece of cake to 20 people! If you need to serve a smaller crowd, it can easily be made as a 9×13 cake or a two layer cake with a simple adjustment to the baking time.
- If you prefer to make a 9×13 cake, bake the cake at 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
- Use round cake pans for a gorgeous two round layer cake. Adjust the baking time to about 20 minutes.
Tips for Making the Orange Pineapple Cake
I’ve made this cake a time or two (or twenty…) and I’ve got a few tips to help you make this cake perfectly, every single time.
- For the cake, you can use either a lemon or a yellow cake mix. I prefer the lemon cake mix because it brings out the citrus flavor of the oranges as well as the lemon in the mix, and I think it is delicious with the pineapple in the frosting.
- You will know when the cake is done when it is just turning a light brown on top, and a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- This recipe makes a ton of frosting! The frosting is not a heavy, rich frosting, but more light and creamy so I generously heap it on the cake.
- It is a nice touch to add mandarin orange slices, pineapple slices, or strawberry slices to the top of the cake when serving.
Frequently Asked Questions about Orange Pineapple Cake
Yes! Adding the juice will give a plain yellow or vanilla cake mix lots of tropical flavor and will pair perfectly with the creamy topping.
I have seen a Duncan Hines version of an orange cake, but you can also add a couple of drops of orange extract to a yellow cake mix for a good orange flavor.
A slice of this cake will run about 340 calories. See our nutrition facts in the recipe card below.
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More Cake Recipes
There are very few problems a slice of good cake won’t fix. Try some of our favorites next time you need a treat:
- Texas Sheet Cake
- Strawberries and Cream Cake
- Coconut Cream Cake
- Better Than Sex Cake
- Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake
- Chocolate Cherry Cake
How to Make Orange Pineapple Cake
Orange Pineapple Cake
Equipment
- 12×18 Pan
Ingredients
- 1 lemon or yellow cake mix
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup oil
- 8 ounces mandarin oranges do not drain
- 3.9 ounces instant vanilla pudding mix
- 15 ounces crushed pineapple do not drain
- 16 ounces container of whipped topping or whipped cream I use Cool Whip
Instructions
Cake:
- Mix the first four ingredients in a large bowl.
- Pour cake batter into a 12×18 pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cake cool before adding frosting.
Frosting:
- In a mixer, or with a blender, beat pudding mix, crushed pineapple, and whipped topping together.
- Spread frosting generously over the cooled cake. The frosted cake should be kept in the refrigerator until it is served.
Notes
- For the cake, you can use either a lemon or a yellow cake mix. I prefer the lemon cake mix because it brings out the citrus flavor of the oranges as well as the lemon in the mix, and I think it is delicious with the pineapple in the frosting.
- You will know when the cake is done when it is just turning a light brown on top, and a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- This recipe makes a ton of frosting! The frosting is not a heavy, rich frosting, but more light and creamy so I generously heap it on the cake.
- It is a nice touch to add mandarin orange slices, pineapple slices, or strawberry slices to the top of the cake when serving.
this is an easy delicious cake – I usually make for birthdays and holidays celebrations. I am planning on making it for Christmas. Yum!
Been making this cake for years. It’s my son’s requested cake for every birthday. Great summer cake!
I was thinking of adding coconut flavoring to my yellow cake mix. What do you think? If I were to, how much do you suggest? This recipe is delicious, I’ve had it but never made it. Can’t wait to try it!
We haven’t tried adding coconut before, so I can’t say for sure! But it sounds delicious!
I have made this for years and I add a small box of dry orange jello to the cake batter. It adds flavor and color! I also put half of the oranges and half pineapple in both the batter and the topping.
This looks so delicious and yummy! I can’t wait to give this a try! So excited! My family is going to enjoy!
The flavors are so refreshing in this cake! It’s so light & fluffy & I love the creamy, fruity frosting!
If I wanted to add coconut, where do you think it would be best?
I would maybe stir it into the cool whip frosting? Or you could toast it and sprinkle it on top!
A neighbor has requested that I make this cake because he loves it so. He asked me if I would use a bundt pan for it. What is your opinion and directions for baking in a bundt pan?
You will most likely have to cook it longer. Try adding 15 minutes to the cooking time and check every 5 minutes after that. Hope this helps!
Thank you for this delicious recipe! It is easy to follow and quick to make.
I make this cake using orange supreme cake mix instead of the lemon. But I may try the lemon to see if my dad can tell the difference. This is his absolute favorite!
Do you make the pudding and then add, or just add the dry ingredients?
Just add the dry ingredients – you do not make the pudding with milk as directed on the package. Thank you for asking!
I could not find 8 oz mandarin organs. Only 11oz. how will this affect the liquid portion.
Also, could not find 15 oz of crushed pineapple only 20 oz. Again, I am sure this will affect liquid portion.
I think my cake is doomed……
Don’t worry – it’s not doomed. Sometimes it is hard to find the right size can. All you need to do is measure out what is in the can. 8 oz is approximately 1 cup, so just measure out 1 cup of oranges and liquid from your 11 oz can. For the pineapple, measure out just under 2 cups from your 20 oz can. This should work just fine in your recipe. Good luck!
What are the ingredients amounts for a 9×13 pan?
They are the same as for the sheet cake size in this recipe. The cake made in the 9×13 pan will just be thicker like a regular cake and not a thinner sheet cake slice of cake. Thanks for asking!
You put the oranges in whole or diced?
Put the mandarin orange slices in whole. They break up as you stir the batter. Thanks for asking!
Can you use peaches instead??
I’ve never tried that, so I’m not sure!
I add 1 tsp. orange extract to the cake to give it more orange flavor. Could also use a orange cake mix instead of the yellow or lemon.
Great idea! Thank you!
how long to bake it in at 9X13 pan?
For a 9×13 cake, bake at 325 for 30-35 minutes. Thanks for asking!
Thank you! Lol
Will make tomorrow for friends
How long do you think the cupcakes might take to bake? Thanks
For cupcakes, bake for 18-20 minutes. Every oven is slightly different so keep any eye on them after 15 minutes, and use the toothpick test for doneness. Thanks for asking!
I remember my great-grandma and my grandma making this cake all the time for gatherings. It is my favorite! They called it pig-lickin’ cake. I’ve also heard it being called pig-picking cake, redneck wedding cake, and sunshine cake lol.
I love the names! So creative! I think my favorite is redneck wedding cake lol
Thanks so much for posting this recipe , my BFF’s mother inlaw is Hawaiian and she makes this cake and it is so delicious (: however if she shared her recipes and we all learned how to make them then she wouldn’t need to bake for us anymore so we just humor her and don’t ask for her recipes, love her to pieces❤️
haha that is a great way of thinking! I like it! lol
i t’s hard to find crushed pineapple in 15 oz. cans,
The crushed pineapple I usually use is a generic brand. It will not affect the recipe that much to use a little more or less. Use the closest size you can find, or double the small can size. Thank you for your comment!
Do you use instant pudding?
Yes! I use instant pudding. Thank you for asking that question! I will update the recipe.
Do we make pudding with the milk r just pinapple juices
Just the pudding mix 🙂
I love this cake, and I’ve made it for years. I use a pineapple cake mix for it instead of yellow. People think it’s made from scratch!
This only bakes for 15 min?
Yes, because the cake is so thin it takes less time to bake. Thank you for asking!
Do we make the pudding as directed are do we only empty inbowel with juices from pinnapple
No, it is not prepared pudding. No milk is involved. You just want the powdered mix. Hope this helps!
Can I make this into cupcakes? And are the oranges mixed into cake batter as the “first four ingredients” or just garnish?
Yes, you can easily make this into cupcakes. The oranges are mixed into the batter with the juice. It gives the cake a delicious citrus flavor!
How can you bake this orange pineapple cake in 1/2 cookie sheet.explain
I’m sorry for the confusion. It can be baked in a 12×18 pan, which is the same size as a half sheet cake pan. A full size sheet cake pan is 18×26. I’ll take that off the recipe!
9 x 13″ is what you’ll need.
Just reading All your great recipes have put weight on my body. hee hee