Mandarin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Looking for a cake recipe that's sweet, tangy, and bursting with citrusy goodness? Look no further than this Mandarin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting! With its zesty mandarin flavour and rich, creamy frosting, this cake is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and your craving for something a little bit different. So go ahead, indulge in a slice (or two) of this delicious seasonal cake! And don’t throw away the peel, head over to our previous blog to learn how to make some Preserved Citrus Peels!

Serves: 8 to 10 slices

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 35 minutes

Ingredients for the cake:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup fresh mandarin juice (from about 2 mandarins)
  • 1 tbsp mandarin zest

For the cream cheese frosting:

  • 220 gms cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method for the cake:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a 23 cms pan with butter or oil..
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  5. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, mandarin juice, and mandarin zest.
  6. Gradually add the dry ingredients and the milk mixture to the butter mixture, alternating between the two and starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth out the top.
  8. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  9. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.

Method for the cream cheese frosting:

  1. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  2. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and beat until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Spread the frosting over the cooled cake.
  4. Garnish with additional mandarin zest or mandarin slices, if desired.
  5. Slice and serve.