![Southern Living Million Dollar Cake on a cake plate ready to serve](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.southernliving.com/thmb/mkeZN8qJ2nCvoUbFtpY8ejwK9XY=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/million-dollar-cake_batch56_3x2-273-3ea2b5ccf15849f18d37af21fab21a82.jpg)
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
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.
![Southern Living Million Dollar Cake ingredients](https://www.southernliving.com/thmb/OaKcecLl3Q_60lSMxLogDYrGgkk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/million-dollar-cake_batch56_step01-207-1a407be6398a48f78398759d1673769e.jpg)
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
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.
![Southern Living Million Dollar Cake sliced on plates to serve](https://www.southernliving.com/thmb/YkTjQ67MFoYsGL8k3X_6tbKBiHw=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/million-dollar-cake_batch56_3x2-286-f9e0cc2c646746f1b3418699311baea3.jpg)
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
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.
Ingredients
-
1 (15 1/4-oz.) package yellow cake mix (such as Pillsbury)
-
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges in light syrup, drained, syrup reserved
-
1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
-
1 (3.4-oz.) package vanilla instant pudding and pie filling (such as Jell-O)
-
1 (20-oz.) can crushed pineapple in juice, drained
-
1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, at room temperature
-
1/2 cup (about 2 oz.) unsifted powdered sugar
-
1 cup frozen whipped topping
Directions
-
Prepare oven and cake pans:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 2 (8-inch) cake pans with cooking spray.
-
Prepare cake mix:
Prepare cake mix according to package directions, substituting half of the amount of water with mandarin orange syrup. Divide batter between prepared pans and bake according to package directions.
-
Cool cakes:
Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes; remove cakes from pans to a wire rack to cool completely, about 45 minutes.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
-
Make pudding mixture:
Meanwhile, vigorously whisk together cream and pudding in a large bowl until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
-
Add pineapple:
Fold in pineapple; let stand until set, about 5 minutes.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
-
Trim cake layers:
Using a serrated knife, trim domed tops of cake layers, and discard scraps.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
-
Build cake:
Place 1 cake layer, trimmed side up, on a platter; spread with 2 cups of the pineapple mixture. Top with second cake layer, trimmed side up. Reserve remaining pineapple mixture.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
-
Beat cream cheese:
Beat cream cheese with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
-
Add powdered sugar:
With mixer still running, gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth and scraping down sides of bowl as needed, 1 to 2 minutes.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
-
Finish frosting:
Gently fold whipped topping and reserved pineapple mixture into cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated and no streaks remain.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
-
Frost cakes:
Frost top and sides of cake layers with frosting.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Decorate cake with mandarin oranges in a chevron pattern. Serve immediately, or store covered in refrigerator until ready to eat.