Zesty Mandarin Orange Cake Recipe for Sweet Citrus Joy

Bursting with sunny citrus notes, this scrumptious mandarin orange cake recipe delivers a delightful twist on classic desserts.

Soft, moist layers infused with mandarin orange zest promise a tantalizing treat for any occasion.

Each slice offers a vibrant burst of flavor that dances across your palate.

The delicate crumb melts effortlessly, leaving behind a refreshing citrus essence.

Fresh mandarin oranges provide natural sweetness and a gorgeous golden hue to this irresistible cake.

Light, bright, and utterly delectable, this recipe turns an ordinary afternoon into a celebration of zesty goodness.

You won’t be able to resist another slice of this sunshine-packed dessert.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 25-28 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 396 kcal

Servings: 13

Ingredients for Mandarin Orange Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides sturdy structure and smooth texture for the cake's foundation.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create tender crumb with perfect caramelization.
• Butter: Delivers rich flavor and ensures moist, velvety cake consistency.
• Mandarin Oranges: Infuses bright, zesty citrus essence throughout the cake layers.
• Egg Yolks: Adds richness, moisture, and helps bind ingredients together smoothly.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile with warm, subtle aromatic notes.
• Milk: Contributes soft texture and helps blend dry and wet ingredients harmoniously.
• Baking Powder: Generates light, airy rise and ensures tender cake structure.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other ingredient flavors subtly.

• Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious, fluffy base for silky smooth frosting texture.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes whipped cream with delicate consistency.
• Fresh Pineapple: Adds tropical tang and natural sweetness to frosting.
• Vanilla Pudding Mix (Optional): Provides extra creaminess and subtle vanilla undertones.

• Optional Decorative Elements: Personalize cake with fresh fruit, citrus zest, or edible flowers for visual appeal.

Tools for Baking Mandarin Orange Cake

• Food Processor/Blender: Essential for crushing mandarin oranges and pineapple.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining cake ingredients and mixing batter.
• Stand Mixer/Electric Mixer: Great for creaming butter, beating eggs, and whipping cream.
• Cake Pans (8-inch round): Crucial for baking the cake layers.
• Sifter: Helps blend dry ingredients smoothly.
• Wire Rack/Cake Stand: Allows cakes to cool evenly.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures precise ingredient amounts.
• Spatula: Helps spread frosting and scrape bowl sides.
• Serving Dish: Presents the finished cake beautifully.

Directions for Making Mandarin Orange Cake

• Citrus Excitement Preparation

Get ready for a zesty adventure with your kitchen tools and a sunny mood. Warm up your oven and prep your baking pans with a light coating to ensure smooth cake removal.

• Orange Crush Moment

Transform fresh mandarin oranges into a juicy pulp using your trusty food processor. This step releases incredible flavors that will make your cake sing with brightness.

• Batter Magic

Blend butter and sugar until they become a fluffy cloud. Introduce egg yolks, orange pulp, and vanilla, creating a creamy base that promises deliciousness.

• Dry Ingredient Dance

Combine flour, baking powder, and a touch of salt. Gently fold these into your wet mixture, alternating with milk to create a silky-smooth batter.

• Baking Transformation

Pour the batter into prepared pans and let the oven work its magic. After 25-28 minutes, your cake will emerge golden and springy, filling the kitchen with an irresistible aroma.

• Cooling Interlude

Allow the cake layers to rest and cool completely, giving them time to settle and develop deeper flavors.

• Creamy Pineapple Dream

Whip heavy cream into dreamy peaks, then fold in powdered sugar and crushed pineapple. This filling will add tropical excitement to your cake.

• Cake Assembly

Stack the layers with generous swoops of pineapple cream between and around the cake. Chill until serving to let the flavors mingle and develop.

Mandarin Orange Cake Tips & Flavor Additions

• Use a food processor or pulse blender to crush mandarin oranges and pineapple for smooth, even texture without large chunks.
• Replace some milk with mandarin orange juice for extra citrus flavor and moisture, ensuring a tender, soft cake crumb.
• Swap pineapple cream for cream cheese frosting or whipped mascarpone for different tangy flavor profiles that complement the citrus notes.
• Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes between cake layers or on top for added crunch and exotic Caribbean-inspired dimension.
• Prepare cake layers a day ahead and store wrapped in plastic at room temperature to reduce day-of baking stress and enhance flavor development.

How to Present Mandarin Orange Cake

• Tropical Paradise Plate: Surround the cake with fresh mandarin orange segments and pineapple wedges for a vibrant, tropical-inspired presentation that highlights the cake's fruity essence.
• Citrus Companion Drinks: Pair the cake with a light mandarin orange spritzer or chilled herbal tea to complement the cake's bright, refreshing flavors and enhance the overall dining experience.
• Elegant Garnish Finish: Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes or candied orange zest on top of the cake to add texture, visual appeal, and an extra layer of sweet-tangy complexity that elevates the dessert's sophistication.
• Seasonal Side Delight: Serve alongside a small scoop of coconut or vanilla bean ice cream to create a cool, creamy contrast that balances the cake's rich and fruity profile.

Storage Instructions for Mandarin Orange Cake

• Cake Storage Solutions
• Refrigerator Sanctuary: Store the mandarin orange cake in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days, keeping the delicate texture and flavors fresh and vibrant.
• Counter Protection: For short-term enjoyment, cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap at room temperature, maintaining its moisture for 1-2 days maximum.
• Freezing Strategy: Wrap individual cake slices or the entire cake tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, allowing successful freezing for 2-3 weeks without compromising taste quality.
• Moisture Management: Place a sheet of parchment paper between cake layers during storage to prevent sticking and maintain the cake's delicate cream frosting integrity.

Sweet Mandarin Orange Cake Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Mandarin orange cake delights palates with its zesty citrus notes and tender crumb. Bakers can savor each moist slice, experiencing Mediterranean sweetness that lingers pleasantly on their tongue.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 ½ cups white granulated sugar
• 8 egg yolks
• 2 cups cake flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (room temperature)
• 1 ⅓ cups fresh mandarin oranges, crushed
• ¾ cup milk
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 16 ounces (453 g) fresh pineapple, crushed
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 box (3.4 oz or 96 g) vanilla pudding mix (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preheat Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F and meticulously coat two 8-inch round cake pans with grease and flour.
2. Fruit Processing: Transform mandarin oranges into silky puree using a food processor, ensuring smooth consistency.
3. Creaming Foundation: Whip butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until achieving a light, voluminous texture that resembles fluffy clouds.
4. Wet Ingredient Integration: Fold egg yolks, mandarin orange puree, and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture, creating a harmonious blend.
5. Dry Ingredient Combination: Sift cake flour, baking powder, and salt together, ensuring uniform distribution of leavening agents.
6. Batter Formation: Delicately incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, alternating with milk and minimizing mixing to preserve the cake’s tender crumb.
7. Baking Process: Distribute batter evenly between prepared pans, smoothing surfaces, and bake for 25-28 minutes until cake responds with springy resilience when touched.
8. Cooling Stage: Rest cakes in pans for 20 minutes, then transition to cooling rack to stabilize structure.
9. Frosting Preparation: Pulverize fresh pineapple into smooth puree, then whip heavy cream to form sturdy, defined peaks.
10. Cream Enhancement: Gently fold powdered sugar, pineapple puree, and optional vanilla pudding mix into whipped cream, creating a luscious frosting.
11. Cake Assembly: Position first cake layer on serving plate, lavishly spreading pineapple cream frosting, then carefully crown with second layer.
12. Final Decoration: Completely enrobe cake with remaining pineapple cream frosting, adding optional decorative elements, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

• Puree Precision: Ensure mandarin oranges are fully blended for smooth, consistent flavor and texture throughout the cake.
• Mixing Method: Fold dry ingredients gently to prevent gluten development, keeping the cake light and tender.
• Baking Doneness: Test cake’s readiness by lightly pressing center – it should spring back immediately, indicating perfect baking.
• Frosting Tip: Chill whipped cream mixture briefly before spreading to maintain stability and easier application on cake layers.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25-28 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 396
• Sugar: 32 g
• Sodium: 210 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 17 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 165 mg