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Nut Free
Mandarin Orange Cake with Citrus Mousse and Chocolate Ganache
This mandarin orange cake is the fluffy and light mousse cake of your dreams! This elegant dessert is made with a classic sponge cake, a citrus mousse, and topped with rich chocolate ganache. Add slices of mandarin to the top for a burst of orange in each bite!
Why You’ll Love Mandarin Orange Cake
Every bit of this cake melts in your mouth! The moist sponge cake sandwiches a layer of citrus mousse, and then the cake is draped with rich chocolate ganache. Once you take a single bite, you’re going to be changed forever.
When I was a kid, we used to make this cake for the holidays since mandarins are in season in the winter, but now I whip this up no matter the time of year. Everyone who tastes this mandarin orange cake falls in love with the incredible balance of citrus and chocolate flavors!
The Secret to Making The Best Sponge Cake
This classic sponge cake base is made with just a few ingredients that are usually in my pantry. It’s one of the recipes I use as the jumping-off point for many of my cakes because it’s simply a no-fail recipe. I also have a little secret to make it extra moist!
First, when making the sponge cake, make sure to whisk the eggs and sugar well, until they’re voluminous and almost white in color. Add the dry ingredients by folding gently from the bottom of the bowl.
Then, to make the sponge cake even more moist, follow this trick! Bake the cake, allow it to cool, and then drizzle simple syrup over it! I mix a teaspoon of sugar and a couple of tablespoons of water, then gently pour it over the cake (especially on the edges) so it soaks in and gives it a boost of moisture. Enjoy!
Ingredients To Make Mandarin Orange Cake
There are three components to this cake: the sponge, citrus mousse, and chocolate ganache. Don’t let that overwhelm you – the ingredients are actually pretty simple!
Sponge Cake Ingredients
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Baking powder
- All-purpose flour: make sure it’s unbleached
Citrus Mousse Ingredients
- Mandarins in juice: from a can
- Jello: Lemon-flavored
- Heavy whipping cream: Cool whip will work too, just skip the step of whisking it
- Powdered sugar: Also known as confectioner sugar
Chocolate Ganache Ingredients
- Butter: Unsalted
- Chocolate chips: Semi-sweet
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
How To Make Mandarin Orange Cake With Ganache
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9-inch round cake form.
Step 2: Start Sponge Cake
Use a hand or stand mixer, and on high speed beat 5 large eggs with sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy and turns a pale yellow color. Add in vanilla extract.
Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients
Lower the speed to low and add baking powder and flour. Mix for one minute and then transfer the mixture to the cake form.
Step 4: Bake Cake
Bake the sponge cake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when it’s inserted. Allow the cake to cool down completely.
Step 5: Prepare Mandarins
Meanwhile, strain one can of mandarins and separate the juice and fruit into separate bowls.
Step 6: Make Citrus Mixture
Add one packet of lemon-flavored jello to the bowl of mandarin juice. Microwave this mixture for 3 minutes, stirring after each minute. Allow it to cool and set it aside.
Note: You could also bring this mixture to a boil in a saucepan.
Step 7: Beat Cream and Sugar
In a medium-sized bowl, beat heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar until it’s stiff.
Step 8: Combine
Combine the heavy whipping cream and sugar mixture with the cooled jello mixture on the lowest speed.
Step 9: Set and Refrigerate
Transfer the mixture into a form exactly the same size and shape as the one you made the sponge cake in. Add slices of mandarin to the mousse and refrigerate it until it’s completely set, which should take about 45 minutes.
Step 10: Add Mousse to Cake
Slice the sponge cake horizontally through the middle. Take the set mandarin mousse and put it on top of the bottom, then sandwich with the top slice of cake. Refrigerate until the ganache is ready.
Step 11: Ganache
Melt unsalted butter and stir in chocolate chips until it’s smooth. Pour it over the cake.
Note: You can also dip fresh mandarin slices into the ganache for decorating.
Recipe FAQs
Mandarin oranges fall until the umbrella of “regular” oranges! Mandarins are smaller, a bit sweeter, and are a little easier to peel because their skin isn’t as thick.
Mandarin oranges are a healthy fruit! They contain lots of vitamin C, antioxidants, magnesium, and more. Some studies say they also aid in lowering cholesterol.
Ganache is a type of icing/frosting! It’s not as fluffy or sweet as typical frosting that you’d find on a cake. Instead, it’s denser and richer in flavor. Plus, it hardens a little bit when it sets so your cake will be covered in a creamy chocolate casing!
More Citrus Recipes You’ll Love
- This Summer Fruit Salad with Citrus Mint Dressing is a unique salad that you’ll be making over and over!
- Enjoy this Sweet Persimmon Pomegranate Fruit Salad in the fall! It has honey and ginger in it.
- Try this Healthy Dairy-Free Orange Creamsicle Smoothie for when you need something light and delicious!
- Easy Cranberry Sauce with Citrus is a great addition to scones, bagels, or your holiday table.
- This Yogurt Lemon Cake is so light and refreshing!
Tasty dessert recipes to try
If you tried this Mandarin Orange Cake with Citrus Mousse and Chocolate Ganache or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Mandarin Orange Cake with Citrus Mousse and Chocolate Ganache
Equipment
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bowl
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Cake spatula
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Stand mixer
Ingredients
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, unbleached
- 10 oz can mandarines, in juice, strained, divided into separate bowls
- 3 oz package jello, lemon flavored
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, 473 ml
- 2 Tbsp powdered sugar
- 2 fresh mandarines, for decor, optional
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9″ round cake form.
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On high speed, beat the eggs with sugar until a pale yellow color. Add in vanilla extract.5 large eggs, 1 cup sugar, ¼ tsp vanilla extract
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Lower the speed to the lowest and add baking powder and flour. Mix for one 1 minute then transfer mixture to ready cake form.1 tsp baking powder, 1 cup all-purpose flour,
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Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a tooth pick comes out clean when inserted. Cool down completely.
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Strain one can of mandarines and separate the juice and mandarines into separate bowls.10 oz can mandarines,
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Into the bowl with the juice add lemon flavored Jello. Microwave for 3 minutes, stirring after each minute. Or you could go the healthier way and bring it to a boil in a sauce pan. Let it cool down.3 oz package jello,
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In a medium sized bowl beat heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar until stiff.2 cups heavy whipping cream,, 2 Tbsp powdered sugar
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Combine with jello, on lowest speed.
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Transfer into a form exactly the same size and shape like you made the sponge cake in. Add slices of mandarin to the mousse. Refrigerate until completely set, 45 minutes.
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Slice the sponge cake horizontally in the middle. Take the mandarine mousse and put it on top of the bottom slice of cake, cover with the other half. Refrigerate until the ganache is ready.
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Melt unsalted butter and stir in the chocolate chips until smooth. Pour over cake. Optional: dip fresh mandarine slices into ganache for decorating.4 Tbsp unsalted butter, ½ cup chocolate chips, 2 fresh mandarines,
Notes
- Other fruit can be substituted, like peach or pear.
- Make sure the mousse is completely set before pouring the ganache on.
