Sunshine Cake

Also known as Pig Pickin Cake, this dessert features bright pineapple flavor for a sweet and sunshiney treat!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cake, pig pickin cake, sunshine cake

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 441kcal

Author Wendie Williams

Ingredients

1 (15.5 oz) package white cake mix
¼ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 (15 ounce) can mandarin oranges in juice
1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip thawed
1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix not cook and serve
1 (28 oz) can crushed pineapple strained/drained
1 (8oz) can pineapple rings, cut into pieces for garnish
16 stemless Maraschino cherries rinsed and patted dry*

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9”x13” baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or your favorite pan release.
In a large bowl using a spatula mix the cake mix, egg and vegetable oil together until almost combined. Add the mandarin oranges with their liquid and slowly mix until fully combined.
a. Tip: Mixing by hand ensures the mandarin oranges stay intact and don’t fall apart or break into the cake mix. Don’t drain the mandarin oranges since the juice is needed in place of water, and adds free flavor!
Pour the batter into the 9”x13” pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
While the cake is baking place the crushed pineapple into a strainer
Remove the cake from the oven and cool completely.
In a large mixing bowl add the whipped topping, vanilla instant pudding and drained crushed pineapple. Using a spatula gently fold until it is fully combined. Spread the topping over the cooled cake. Place the cake in the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving.
Garnish as desired with pineapple and maraschino cherries then serve.

Notes

Cool the Cake before frosting: Adding the pineapple topping to a warm cake can cause the whipped topping mixture to melt and slide. A fully cooled cake keeps the topping thick and fluffy.

Properly draining it is important so that excess liquid does not thin out the whipped topping. It should release at least 1.5-2 cups of pineapple liquid.

Pineapple pieces and cherries look freshest when added shortly before or at serving, especially since the cherries can bleed color into the topping over time.

Refrigerate any leftovers for up to 3 days after frosting.

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