Pig Pickin' Cake

Pig Pickin' Cake is a classic North Carolina dessert made famous by being widely served at picnics, pig roasts and barbecues. It features a flavor combination of mandarin oranges and crushed pineapple making it a delicious dessert choice for any occasion.

Easy Pig Pickin' Cake Recipe

What is a Pig Pickin' Cake? If you've never heard of this cake with it's fun, whimsical name, I'm delighted to introduce this traditional Southern dessert to you. Don't worry, there's no actual pig in the cake. My home state of North Carolina is known for pulled pork barbecue, much like Texas is known for beef barbecue. A pig pickin' is a communal gathering of friends and family for a picnic, pig roast or barbecue. This simple cake is a cake mix hack that's commonly served for those sorts of events, and often it makes an appearance during the holidays as well.

How to Make the Best Pig Pickin' Cake Recipe

• Ingredients you'll need to make homemade Pig Pickin' Cake: One box of yellow cake mix, self rising flour, one can of mandarin oranges for the cake, vanilla extract, 4 large eggs and vegetable oil.
• For the easy cream cheese frosting you'll need: Plain cream cheese, crushed pineapple, one box of instant vanilla pudding, toasted chopped pecans and frozen whipped topping, thawed.
• Kitchen gadgets you'll need: A hand mixer or a stand mixer, measuring cups and spoons, three 8 or 9 inch round cake pans, a cooling rack, an offset spatula and a large silicone spatula or spoon to scrape the frosting from the bowl. You'll also need a sheet pan to toast the pecans.
• Why add self rising flour? Cake mixes have continued to dwindle over the years in volume resulting in smaller cakes. The addition of flour ensures you'll have enough batter for this Pig Pickin' Cake.
• To make your own self-rising flour: Add ½ cup all purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder and ¼ teaspoon salt to the cake mix. Proceed with the recipe as written.
• This recipe starts with a cake mix. Please follow the recipe for amounts and ingredients and not the instructions on the box.
• Cream cheese isn't typically used for the frosting, but I find a whipped cream topping can be finicky if not stabilized with cream cheese. Plus, it's delicious.
• Place strips of wax paper on the cake stand or cake carrier, to keep the pedestal clean when frosting the layers. Gently pull out when you're finished frosting and the base will remain clean.
• I've known some bakers to prick holes into the cake layers and drizzle with some of the mandarin orange juice. I actually use enough mandarin oranges in my recipe that this step isn't necessary for added moisture.
• The frosting for this cake is generous by design. Add half of the whipped topping then assess adding more to your liking. The cake pictured was made with the full 16 oz whipped topping.
• Allow ample time for this cake to chill thoroughly before slicing.
• Store leftover Pig Pickin' Cake chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Is it Worth Toasting the Pecans?

Toasting the pecans for the frosting takes such little effort, I recommend that you take the time to do it for the most intense flavor. Simply spread them onto a baking sheet and place into the oven while the cake layers bake for 6 minutes, then cool.

More Southern Style Cake Recipes to Make

It doesn't have to be a special occasion for me to bake a cake. Cooking and baking for my family is my happy place and I look for opportunities to do so everyday. More Southern cake recipes you may like to try:

• My Easy Strawberry Layer Cake is stunning piled high with fresh strawberries.
• German Chocolate Cake is classic and this recipe our favorite when made with the Coconut Pecan Frosting my way.
• My recipe for Banana Pudding Layer Cake is a showstopper.
• Chocolate Sour Cream Pound Cake is made in a loaf pan.
• Another iconic Southern flavor is red velvet. You won't want o miss out on impressing your friends and family with my Red Velvet Layer Cake recipe.
• Million Dollar Pound Cake recipe is always a winning choice.
• You may also enjoy reading more about North Carolina's Pork Barbecue on Our State Magazine.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Round Cake Pans
• Stand Mixer
• Cake Set with Ribbed Dome
• Elegant Cake Server Set

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5 from 3 votes

Pig Pickin Cake

Prep Time25 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Chill time4 hrs

Total Time4 hrs 50 mins

Course: Cakes, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: mandarin-orange-cake, pig-pickin-cake, southern-pig-picking-cake

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 551kcal

Ingredients

• 1 cup roughly chopped pecans toasted
• 1 15.25 oz box yellow or butter cake mix
• ½ cup self-rising flour See Cook's note
• 1 15 oz can mandarin oranges drain, reserve ½ cup juice
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Frosting:
• 1 8 oz block cream cheese softened
• 1 20 oz can crushed pineapple do not drain
• 1 3.4 oz box instant vanilla pudding
• 1 16 oz frozen whipped topping thawed

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour three 8 or 9-inch round cake pans or spray with baking spray. Spread pecans on a baking sheet in a single layer. Set aside.
• Using an electric mixer, beat together, cake mix, flour, mandarin oranges plus ½ cup reserved juice, oil, eggs and vanilla. Beat tor 1-2 minutes until fully combined and mandarin oranges are roughly chopped.
• Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes back clean. Cool completely in pans. (While layers are baking, toast pecans for 6 minutes, then set aside to cool.)
• To make frosting: Using an electric mixer, cream together cream cheese and pineapple. Add dry vanilla pudding mix. Continue to whip for 1-2 minutes or, just until fully combined.
• By hand, fold in whipped topping and toasted pecans. Frost between layers, top and sides of cake.
• May garnish with additional mandarin oranges and whole pecans, if desired.
• Chill for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
• Store leftovers chilled.

Notes

• Do not follow the instructions on the back of the cake mix, follow the recipe.
• You may set aside 4 mandarin orange slices for garnishing prior to adding the remainder to the cake batter, if desired. 
• To make your own self-rising flour: Add ½ cup all purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder and ¼ teaspoon salt. Proceed with the recipe as written.
• The frosting for this cake is generous by design. Add half of the whipped topping then assess adding more to your liking. The cake pictured was made with the full 16 oz whipped topping. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 551kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 474mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 96IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

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