Pig Pickin' Cake

The cake with many names!

(photo from Pinterest)

DISCLAIMER: No pigs have been harmed in the making of this cake, I promise!

LOL!  

Pig Pickin' Cake has a number of other names, including pig cake, sunshine cake, summer cake, pea pickin' cake, pic eatin' cake, orange-pineapple cake, and the most common alternative, mandarin orange cake. 

This summery, delicious cake was the go-to dessert for cookouts that served an entire pig roasted on a spit. The dinner-and-dessert combination was so common that this nameless cake soon became known, not for its own flavors, but for the main course the locals felt it paired so well with.

This traditional southern dessert is made with yellow cake infused with whole or chopped mandarin orange slices and topped with a Cool Whip frosting that’s laced with shredded pineapple. It’s either served plain or garnished with reserved mandarin orange slice, maraschino cherries, chopped pecans, or shredded coconut. It’s still a popular southern dessert for potlucks, picnics, and barbecues.

Cake Ingredients:

1 box (yellow cake mix)

1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick) or vegetable oil (your choice)

14 oz. can Mandarin oranges (drain and reserve 1/2 cup juice)

4 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350'F.

Combine cake mix, softened butter, 1/2 cup reserved Mandarin orange juice, eggs and vanilla. Beat four minutes on medium-high.

Add drained oranges and beat again until the pieces are broken up and small.

Pour batter into greased and floured 9x13" baking pan or 2 8" round cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and set.

Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes, then turn onto cake rack and cool completely. 

Topping:

20 oz. can crushed pineapple (reserve 3/4 cup juice and drain the rest really well)

3/4 cup juice from the crushed pineapple

4 oz. box vanilla instant pudding mix

1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

8 oz. Cool Whip

 

Once cake is cool, blend juice from drained pineapples with the vanilla pudding mix. Add confectioner's sugar and mix, then fold in whipped topping.

Stir in drained pineapple and spread on cooled cake.

Refrigerate several hours, and refrigerate any leftovers.

Serve cut cake squares and top each square with a mandarin orange slice. (So pretty.)

A Tip from Grammy:

-Buy an extra small can of mandarin oranges for garnishing, if desired

-Refrigerate at least an hour before serving to set up the frosting.

-Make this cake in 2 (8") round pans and bake for 17-21 minutes or until toothpic inserted comes out clean.

Be encouraged!

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity.  -Psalm 133:1