Description
Delightful orange dreamsicle cake blends creamy vanilla and zesty citrus notes into a nostalgic dessert. Refreshing layers combine tangy orange flavor with smooth cream cheese frosting, promising a sweet escape for dessert enthusiasts.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (15.25 oz / 432 g) white cake mix
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 mL) cold milk
- 0.5 cup (120 mL) orange juice
- 0.5 cup (120 mL) vegetable oil
- 1 oz (28 g) French vanilla pudding mix
- 3 oz (85 g) orange Jello
- 8 oz (227 g) whipped topping
- 1.5 cups (300 g) white sugar
- 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
- 20 oz (567 g) can crushed pineapples, drained
- 1 cup (85 g) shredded coconut
- 0.5 cup (60 g) finely chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C), grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans to prevent adhesion.
- Batter Creation: Combine cake mix, whole milk, orange juice, vegetable oil, instant pudding mix, orange gelatin, and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly until achieving a smooth, homogeneous texture.
- Pan Filling: Evenly distribute batter between prepared pans, ensuring level surfaces and consistent volume.
- Baking Process: Place pans in preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Verify doneness by inserting a toothpick into the cake’s center – it should emerge clean without raw batter.
- Cooling Technique: Allow cakes to rest briefly in pans, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling to room temperature.
- Frosting Preparation: Blend crushed pineapples, coconut, sugar, sour cream, and whipped topping in a medium bowl. Incorporate chopped pecans for additional depth and crunch if desired.
- Cake Assembly: Position first cake layer on a serving plate, spread half the frosting evenly. Carefully place second layer on top, covering entire cake with remaining frosting in a smooth, uniform manner.
- Finishing Touch: Optionally garnish with additional chopped pecans and shredded coconut to enhance visual appeal and texture.
Notes
- Optimize Baking Precision: Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth batter and even cake texture, preventing lumps and promoting better ingredient integration.
- Control Moisture Balance: Check cake doneness precisely with the toothpick test; slightly moist crumbs are acceptable, but raw batter indicates need for additional baking time.
- Prevent Cake Sticking: Thoroughly grease and flour cake pans, using parchment paper as an extra safeguard to guarantee clean cake removal without breaking.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Allow cake to cool completely before frosting to maintain structural integrity and prevent frosting from melting, ensuring a professional-looking final presentation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 312
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 289 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 54 mg