Name: Pig Pickin' Cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 15.25 oz Yellow Cake Mix; 4 Eggs; 1/4 c Vegetable Oil; 12 oz Canned Mandarin Oranges (drained, reserve juice); 1/2 c Reserved Mandarin Orange Juice; 5.1 oz Vanilla Pudding Mix (such as Jello); 20 oz Can Crushed Pineapple (drained, reserve juice); 16 oz Whipped Topping (thawed (such as Cool Whip))

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Southern cooks have been baking what we affectionately call Pig Pickin’ Cake for generations. The name pig pickin’ cake is very common in the Carolinas but this cake is also known by other names, such as Mandarin Orange Cake or Pea Pickin’ Cake. This cake is a classic favorite with its luscious pineapple frosting.

If you’re not from the South you may be wondering how this cake got its name. In the South we have grand barbecues where you’ll find a whole pig being roasted. This is a classic pig pickin’ where guests pick off the cooked meat and for dessert, a piece of pig pickin’ cake of course.

“A party without cake is just a meeting” ~ Julia Child

A Southern specialty dessert such as this being so popular has made its way all over the country. It is the perfect spring and summertime dessert.

(You’ll find a printable recipe card at the end of this post)

Mandarin Orange Pig Pickin’ Cake with Pineapple Frosting

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F

Step 2: Combine cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, mandarin oranges and the mandarin orange juice together. Beat for three to four minutes. Pour batter equally into two greased and floured 9″ round pans. This cake is also commonly baked as a sheet cake if preferred.

Step 3: Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and set. Remove from oven and cool five minutes before turning out of the pans. Allow the cakes to cool completely before frosting.

Step 4: Once the cake is cool, prepare the frosting. Combine the juice from the pineapple with the vanilla pudding mix. Add the whipped topping and mix. Stir in the crushed pineapple. Frost the cake layers. Garnish the top with mandarin orange slices if desired. I reserved a heaping tablespoon of the crushed pineapple for garnish as well.

Best Orange Pineapple Pig Pickin Cake

Tips for baking your Pea Pickin’ Mandarin Orange Pig Cake

Make sure your ingredients, such as eggs, are room temperature
Always start with a pre-heated oven
Scrape the bowl to ensure all of the ingredients are mixed thoroughly
Prepare the pans by greasing with shortening (such as Crisco) and dusting with flour
Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake
Cool cake layers upside down to flatten

Pineapple Cool Whip Cake

Easy Pig Cake

Printable Recipe Card

Mandarin Orange Pig Pickin Cake with Pineapple Whipped Frosting

4.37 from 11 votes

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Pig Pickin’ Cake

The unofficial cake of Southern barbecues, potlucks and pig picking soirees, a Pig Pickin’ or mandarin pineapple cake as some call it is a delicious dessert

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Servings: Cake

Calories: 528kcal

Author: Julia Jordan | Julia’s Simply Southern

Ingredients

Cake

15.25 oz Yellow Cake Mix
4 Eggs
1/4 c Vegetable Oil
12 oz Canned Mandarin Oranges drained, reserve juice
1/2 c Reserved Mandarin Orange Juice

Frosting:

5.1 oz Vanilla Pudding Mix such as Jello
20 oz Can Crushed Pineapple drained, reserve juice
16 oz Whipped Topping thawed (such as Cool Whip)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F
Combine cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, mandarin oranges and the mandarin orange juice together. Beat for three to four minutes. Pour batter equally into two greased and floured 9" round pans. This cake is also commonly baked as a sheet cake if preferred.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and set. Remove from oven and cool five minutes before turning out of the pans. Allow the cakes to cool completely before frosting.
Once the cake is cool, prepare the frosting. Combine the juice from the pineapple with the vanilla pudding mix.
Add the whipped topping and mix. Stir in the crushed pineapple.
Frost the cake layers.
Garnish the top with mandarin orange slices if desired. I reserved a heaping tablespoon of the crushed pineapple for garnish as well.

Recommended Products

LEGERM Cake Decorating Angled Icing Spatula Set of 6 8 & 10 Inch Wooden Handle Stainless Steel Offset Frosting Spatulas

Blue Q Oven Mitt, I’ve Got a Knife. Super-insulated quilting, comfy, natural-fitting shape, 100% cotton, 12.5″h x 7.5″w

Wilton Performance Aluminum Pan 8-Inch Round Cake Pans, Set of 2

Nutrition

Piglickin Good Cake Recipe

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Shared at: Meal Plan Monday #102

Shared at: Weekend Potluck

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