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Homemade mandarin orange cake recipe with cream cheese frosting, photographed from above on a white kitchen table

Mandarin Orange Cake Recipe

Moist mandarin orange cake with fresh citrus flavor and creamy frosting, perfect for any occasion.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups All-purpose flour sifted
  • 1 ½ cups Granulated sugar
  • 3 large Eggs room temp
  • ½ cup Vegetable oil
  • 1 can (11 oz) Mandarin orange segments drained
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoon Baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ cup Butter softened
  • 8 oz Cream cheese softened
  • 2 cups Powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Orange zest fresh
  • 2 tablespoon Orange juice fresh
  • 2 tablespoon Heavy cream optional, adjust
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon juice

Equipment

  • 2 9-inch round cake pans greased
  • 1 Electric mixer stand or hand
  • 2 Large mixing bowls
  • 1 Wire cooling rack
  • 1 set Measuring cups/spoons
  • 1 Rubber spatula
  • 1 Offset spatula for frosting
  • 1 Fine-mesh strainer for juice

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease cake pans.
  2. Mix dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, salt).
  3. Whisk wet ingredients (eggs, oil, vanilla, orange juice).
  4. Fold wet into dry, then add mandarin oranges.
  5. Divide batter into pans, bake 25–30 mins.
  6. Cool cakes fully on racks before frosting.
  7. Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy.
  8. Add powdered sugar, zest, juice, vanilla, cream.
  9. Frost cooled cakes evenly.

Notes

Chill the frosted cake for 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to set.