Pig Picking Cake is an easy cake that starts with a boxed cake mix, mandarin oranges and crushed pineapple. It's sunshine in a cake!
EASY PIG PICKIN' CAKE
HOW-TO VIDEO INCLUDED BELOW:
ALSO CALLED MANDARIN ORANGE CAKE
This cake has a lot of different names. I have no idea how it became called Pig Pickin' or Pea Pickin' Cake (as my Momma remembers it being called.) But whatever you call it - I know you'll call it delicious! This cake does to be stored in the refrigerator because of the whipped topping.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
For the cake:
yellow cake mix
butter
can of mandarin oranges
large eggs
vanilla extract
For the topping:
vanilla instant pudding mix
crushed pineapple
powdered sugar
whipped topping (COOL WHIP)
extra mandarin orange slices, for garnish
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE PIG PICKING CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.For the cake, combine cake mix, margarine, ½ cup juice from the mandarin oranges, eggs, and vanilla. Beat for four minutes on medium-high.
Add drained oranges and stir until pieces are broken up and small.
Pour batter into greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan or 2-8 inch round pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes for 9X13 pan or 17-21 minutes for 8 inch pans. 
Basically you want the cake to be lightly golden brown and set. Remove from oven and cool completely. Once cake is cool, blend juice from drained pineapples with the vanilla pudding mix. 
Add powdered sugar and mix, then mix in whipped topping. 
Stir in drained pineapple. 
Spread on cooled cake (or layers if making a round cake) and refrigerate several hours before serving.
Enjoy!
Originally published: June 2011
Updated & Republished: March 2020
PIG PICKIN' CAKE
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 stick unsalted butter (½ cup) softened
- 1 (14 oz) can mandarin oranges drained, ½ cup juice reserved
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the topping:
- 1 (4 oz) box vanilla instant pudding mix
- 1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple (juice reserved)
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 4 ounces Cool Whip (half a regular tub)
- extra mandarin orange slices, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- For the cake, combine cake mix, butter, ½ cup juice from the mandarin oranges, eggs, and vanilla. Beat for 3-4 minutes on medium-high.
- Add drained oranges and stir until combined.
- Pour batter into prepared baking dish and bake for about 20-25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and cool completely.
- Once cake is cool, blend juice from drained pineapples with the vanilla pudding mix.
- Stir in powdered sugar. Then mix in whipped topping.
- Finally, stir in drained pineapple.
- Spread frosting on cooled cake. Optional: Top with slices of mandarin oranges.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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EASY GREEN PISTACHIO CAKE
It makes sense that this cake also goes by the name "pig pickin' cake" since it would be a perfect dessert for a pig roast. I love that it's so easy to make!
Happy Birthday to your Mom!
Looks and sounds delicious. I am going to make this cake this week for my Granddaughter Vanessa who is returning after a five month stay in Spain. Hope she likes it.
PS, I hope your MOM has a wonderful birthday and many many more to come.
I have been making this cake for years. It is my daughters favoriate cake and I bake it every year for her birthday.
The family loves it and there is never any left.
Can you use peaches instead of Mandarin oranges?
Dear Rae, what a great story and recipe. Thanks for sharing it. I look forward to making it for my family/friends.
I've heard such fabulous things about this cake...it may be on my menu this weekend...as, shocking as this may seem, we're running low on dessert!!! Happy birthday to your sweet mom, Brandie...and thanks again for allowing me to share one of my recipes with all your friends and fans. It was great fun (and you have the NICEST followers...truly :)). xoxo
Happy birthday to your mom, great story. This cake looks very fluffy and tasty. Since it has so many names-it must be delicious. The idea of individual servings makes this recipe even better. Thanks for sharing
Yup, this recipe is a classic!! Our family calls it Pig Pickin' Cake. Happy, happy birthday to your Mom! Oh, and I made your strawberry bread ... divine.
I love this cake, whatever you call it! My mom didn't make this one, but I always looked for it at church when we had covered dish dinners. Happy Birthday to your mom!! 🙂
Happy Birthday to your mama! This cake sounds delicious and perfect for these summer days. So bright and cheery. Yummy!
Im going to attempt this for dessert tonight sounds very refreshing.....Happiest of Birthdays to your Mom may all her Birthday Wishes come true this year!!!
We call it Mandarin Orange Cake and no matter what it's called... it is GOOOOOD! Even for breakfast!!!!! Well, I wouldn't know, I'm just speculating. lol 🙂
Ok fine! I know it's good for breakfast from experience. Confession is good for the soul, right? Oranges are healthy, and cool whip is like having milk and butter is a good fat....oh never mind.
I combined this with a jello poke cake and dubbed it Pig Pickin' Poke Cake, lol!
Enjoyed hearing your memories...and the cake sounds wonderful. Happy Birthday to your Mom!
You gals are just the sweetest folks in the world. Thank you for the birthday wishes for my Momma. She reads this blog (she better!) so I know she is loving all your well-wishes!
Tonya - you crack me up!
Siggy, love that idea!!!
Happy birthday to your mom. 60 is very young. I love the cake, It is called by all the names everyone mentioned. It really is good.
Happy Birthday Brandi's Mom! 🙂
This cake sounds really good! Thanks so much for sharing it!
Brandi, This is such a great post and I enjoyed reading it so much. This cake looks wonderful and I hope your Mom has a wonderful birthday. I can tell by your post how close you and your Mom are and I love that about you. My girls and I have so much fun together, too. Have a great weekend and thanks for sharing your Mom and your recipe with us today.
Happy Birthday to your mom. My mama's birthday was yesterday. This is the second birthday since her passing and I sure miss her! She would have been 69. Cancer took her home too early. Anyway, don't mean to be a party pooper! Glad you still have your mom and glad y'all got to celebrate together! 🙂
Aw, so sweet! My friend has made this in a 9x13 pan but it looks really pretty as a two layer cake!
I have definitely been living under a rock since I never heard about this cake :((
Sounds so great for summer, with those mandarins.
Happy birthday to your mother Brandie and thanks for sharing this amazing cake 🙂
Happy Birthday to your mom! Enjoy! Cake looks amazing. Yummy! I'll have to try this. Thanks.
Oh my gosh, I just found your blog through a linky party. Every single recipe on your side bar is mouthwatering! I LOVE this cake - except I call it "Pig Pickin Cake". I have only ever done it as a sheet cake. I love the idea of making it a layer cake. I will have to try that next. I am a new follower - I LOVE your blog. Check out mine if you're interested. http://eatcakefordinner.blogspot.com
Happy Birthday to your Moma. Nice to make a easy cake and be enjoyable. Sounds wonderful. Have a great week Andi
God bless your Mama and enjoy her as long as you can. She raised a smart girl, didn't she?
Happy bday to your mom - the cake looks delicious
Mary
Happy B-day to your mom..your cake look amazing..and I love all the names..I cant say that I ever heard of it but I have to try..looks like my kind of cake..