Mandarin Orange Cream Cake

My son always picks this for

his birthday cake in December.

But this cake is awesome in the

summer because the icing is light and creamy.

Mandarin Orange Cream Cake

1 box yellow cake mix

1/2 cup vegetable oil. (I use canola)

15 oz. can of mandarin oranges including juice

4 eggs

Orange Cream Frosting

15 oz. can of crushed pineapple plus juice

15 oz can mandarin oranges drained

1 small box instant vanilla pudding

1  8-ounce container of Cool Whip thawed

Preheat oven to 350-degrees.

Start by preparing the cake pans.

I use two 9-inch round pans to make

a two-tiered cake, but you can make a 9 X13" cake.

If you need to remove the cake from the pan

to make the round layer cake,

rip off two sheets of waxed paper.

and stack them one on top of the other.

Trace around the bottom of

the cake pan you are using.

Cut out the two rounds

of waxed paper at the same time.

Place a waxed paper round

into the bottom of each cake pan.

Spray with Pam over the

waxed paper and sides of the pan.

Now mix up the cake ingredients in a large bowl.

The electric mixer will pulverize the mandarin

oranges and that's fine and yummy.

Divide the batter

among the two prepared pans

and bake according to the directions

on the cake mix box.

Allow cakes to cool about one minute,

then run a knife around the edge to loosen.

Place a cooling rack over the top of the pan...

Then, using oven gloves, flip the cake over

onto the rack and lift the pan.

The cakes will easily slide out.

Now, peel off the waxed paper.

While the cakes cool completely

whip up the cream frosting.

Mix together the fruits.

Add the pudding mix.

Use a large spoon to fold in the Cool Whip.

To frost the cake,

lay three small sheets of waxed paper onto

your cake plate as shown:

Place the first layer on top.

Spread with the orange cream.

Place the second layer on top and

frost the entire cake with the orange cream.

Carefully slide out the waxed paper

and you will have a clean cake plate.

I love seeing that smile

when Sonny sees his

Orange Cream cake!