Million Dollar Cake

Light and fluffy Million Dollar Cake comes together easily with boxed cake mix and instant pudding as a base. The vanilla cake with a tropical twist has just the right amount of citrus sweetness, with a creamy vanilla pineapple mousse-like filling. Fruity lightened cream cheese frosting covers the outside, and mandarin oranges on top add color and texture.

Million Dollar Cake Ingredients

To make Million Dollar Cake, you'll need:

• Yellow cake mix: This light and fluffy cake is the perfect base. You'll bake according to directions, but substitute half of the water for the same amount of juice from the canned oranges.
• A package of vanilla instant pudding and pie filling: This makes for a quick and easy filling and base for a frosting:
• Mandarin oranges: Get the oranges that are canned in light syrup.
• Heavy whipping cream: This will be used to make the frosting and filling rich and fluffy.
• Crushed pineapple in juice: For more fruity, sweet flavors.
• Cream cheese: A hint of tang makes the frosting balanced nicely with the sweet fruit.
• Unsifted powdered sugar: Adds sweetness and body to the frosting.
• Frozen whipped topping: Keeps the frosting from being too thick and rich.

How To Make Million Dollar Cake

The cake is gorgeous and impressive, but it's not at all too difficult to make. Here's a brief outline. The full recipe is further below:

• Make the cake batter: Prepare cake mix according to the package directions. Swap out half of the water with mandarin orange syrup.
• Cool the baked cakes: Cool the cakes in their pans for 10 minutes before removing them and placing on a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the filling: While they’re cooling, whisk together the cream and pudding in a large bowl to thicken. Fold in the pineapple and let stand until set. 
• Trim the cake layers: Use a serrated knife to trim off the domed tops of the cake layers. Place one layer, trimmed side up, on a plate and spread it with pineapple mixture. Top with the second cake layer and repeat.
• Make cream cheese frosting: Beat the cream cheese with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until fluffy. With the mixer still running on medium speed, gradually add in the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Gently fold the whipped topping and the rest of the pineapple mixture into the cream cheese mixture to incorporate.  
• Frost the cake: Frost the top and sides of the cake layers with frosting. Decorate the cake with mandarin oranges in a chevron pattern (or any design you like).

What Does Million Dollar Cake Taste Like?

Similar to a hummingbird cake, this is a super-sweet cake, jam-packed with flavors. The fruity flavors come from pineapple and mandarin orange slices, and the filling is super creamy and perfectly thick. The tang from the cream cheese balances the flavor profile nicely.

How To Store Million Dollar Cake

Serve this cake right away, or store it covered in the refrigerator until ready to eat. It will last three to four days in the fridge. 

Can I Freeze Million Dollar Cake?

To freeze the cake layers before frosting the cake, first wrap them in plastic wrap, followed by an outer layer of aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for as long as three months. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge before frosting them and serving the cake.

More Classic Southern Cake Recipes

Million Dollar Cake is a Southern favorite, but so are these:

• The Lane Cake
• Texas Skillet Cake
• Texas Sheet Cake With Fudge Icing
• Hummingbird Cake
• Lemon-Orange Chiffon Cake

Editorial contributions by Alesandra Dubin.