This Orange Crush Cake, also called Orange Soda Cake, is made a light and fluffy cake with a dreamy whipped topping infused with more orange soda flavor.
If you’re looking for more fun cake ideas, try my Root Beer Float Cake or this Cherry Surprise Cake for a fun and tasty treat!
Ingredients for Orange Soda Pop Cake
This delicious cake recipe comes together even easier than you think it does, thanks to a box of cake mix and a couple of cans of orange crush soda.
Ingredients:
- Cake Mix : just a standard white or yellow cake mix will work
- Orange Soda: Insert your favorite orange pop here.
- Canola Oil: You could swap with vegetable oil if that’s what you have on hand.
- Eggs: Two large eggs, please!
- Dream Whip: Found in the baking aisle or on Amazon.
- Mandarin Oranges: The canned version, drained.
How to Make Orange Crush Cake
This fluffy cake is packed with summery flavors that no one can resist.
PREHEAT OVEN
While your oven preheats to 350 degrees F, lightly grease a 9 x 13 cake pan with cooking spray and set aside.
COMBINE INGREDIENTS
Combine the box of white cake mix, cold orange soda, canola oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl.
WHISK
Whisk for 30 seconds on low, then for 2 minutes on medium until smooth and fully incorporated.
PRO TIP – Beating the cake for the full time is important to get air into the cake and help it rise nice and tall when baked.
BAKE ORANGE SODA CAKE
Slowly pour the cake batter into the previously greased pan.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Make sure to toothpick test the center of the cake to ensure it’s fully cooked.
MAKE DREAM WHIP FROSTING
As your cake cools, pour the remaining orange soda and Dream Whip mix together in a bowl. Mix on low for 30 seconds, then on medium until soft peaks form.
The frosting may seem to take a few minutes to get those soft peaks, so don’t give up! It’ll happen!
FROST CAKE
Once the cake is completely cool, begin frosting to your heart’s desire!
FINAL TOUCH
Gently place mandarin orange slices in a pattern of your choice! I like placing them so that each slice has an orange in the center. My kids love it too!
Mix It Up
We all know that a slice of cake and a can of soda go hand in hand at any birthday party, but think about all the other ways you can improve on these family favorites.
- Swap out the brand of orange soda or switch the kind of soda you use entirely! Try my Root Beer Float Cake version!
- Add a drop of orange extract to your cake mix or frosting for an extra boost of citrus.
- Have any oranges hanging around? Sprinkle orange zest over the frosting before you add the mandarin orange slices for an almost too beautiful presentation.
Can I make this Orange Soda Cake ahead of time?
You sure can! This cake can be made up to three days ahead of time before it starts losing moisture and becomes dry.
PRO TIP: cakes last longer if you store them in the fridge. Make sure to store the pre-made cake or leftovers in an airtight container.
What does the soda do in the cake?
The soda acts as a rising agent, much like baking soda! The carbonation and sugars make the cake airy while also providing a concentrated orange flavor.
What is the best orange soda brand to use?
Whatever brand you like! I’ve used Orange Crush, Sunkist, and even Fanta in this recipe, but whatever you prefer will work just as beautifully.
Is this the same as those orange bundt cakes in the grocery store?
Almost! Bundt cake is specifically made in the fluted bundt cake pan and is usually topped with an orange glaze. Depending on the recipe, the flavor will be similar.
What to Serve with Orange Crush Soda Cake
Perfect for a weekday summer night, this cake is a delicious end to a great cookout.
Orange Crush Cake
Ingredients
- 1 white cake mix, box
- 2 1/4 cups orange soda, cold (divided)
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 envelopes Dream Whip, whipped topping mix
- 1 mandarin oranges, small can (drained)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13" cake pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- Combine the cake mix, 1 1/4 cups of cold orange soda, canola oil and eggs in a large bowl. Whisk on low speed for 30 seconds then increase speed to medium for 2 minutes.
- Pour cake batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cake cool completely.
Frosting:
- Combine 1 cup of the cold orange soda with 2 envelopes of the Dream Whip topping mix in a large bowl and beat on low for 30 seconds, then medium speed until soft peaks form. Spread topping over cooled cake and garnish with mandarin orange segments. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
PIN THIS IMAGE TO SAVE THE RECIPE:
Hi Shawn,
Can I use a 9×9 baking pan rather than 9×13?
I am making this for my birthday, looking forward to it.
Thank you,
Margaret
There is too much batter for a 9×9 cake pan. I would recommend using the 9×13.
I made the recipe as directed and we had a hard time with the frosting. We used brand new Dream whip and orange soda but after 3 minutes, we didn’t see soft peaks at all. We kept at it , high speed for 15 minutes and it still wasn’t setting. In the end , my father decided to add cool whip and just use that. We were making a birthday cake for my brother. We weren’t sure if we needed another pack of dream whip or if we did something wrong.
Hmm.. I’m not sure why it didn’t want to set for you? Could it be very humid where you’re at? I know that dream whip can be finicky at times, but I think the cool whip was a great substitution. I hope your brother enjoys the cake!
Where did you find dream whip? We cannot find it in any of our stores! (kroger, walmart, aldi)
I’ve found it at Walmart and Kroger stores. But you can also find it on Amazon if you can’t get it locally. https://amzn.to/3QlHdQs
I agree with Sarah, I can’t find any dream whip at any grocery stores, staff claim it was dropped a couple of years ago.
Is there a sub that anyone tried.
Hi Shawn – I’ve made this cake last summer for the kids and it was a huge success – thanks! Can it be adjusted for cupcakes? Any changes I need to make?? Thanks in advance.
My mom always froze cakes when I was little especially with 7 children, she would individually freeze the pieces they would be dessert! We all loved it!
I’ve made this before and it didn’t taste very orangey. This time I added orange extract and it was really orange flavored. Love this very simple cake!
Would this be good with vanilla buttercream? My kiddo wants orange cake, but she’s obsessed with buttercream like here mama lol.
Yes, vanilla buttercream would be great on this cake. I have a great recipe here: https://iwashyoudry.com/candy-corn-layer-cake/
I’m going to use pineapple soda, and then make it into a Banana Pudding Poke Cake. Can’t wait to eat it!
Sounds fantastic!
made it because of a facebook video and loved it, super yummy and tastes like orange crush for sure
Sweet! That’s awesome that you enjoyed the cake Allison!
Thanks for the recipe. I altered a bit using applesauce instead of oil (1:1). I also added 1 TBSP of pure orange extract and 2 TBSP of confectioners sugar to the frosting recipe.
So yummy!!
Nice! Thanks for your comment!
Do I need to refrigerate it?
Yes, with that frosting I would keep it refrigerated.
Has anyone tried this recipe using other flavored sodas? eg. strawberry/raspberry flavored soda
I haven’t tried it with different flavors, but I’ve heard Rootbeer is a great flavor option!
Once the cake is done does it need refrigerated? THanks.
I would refrigerate this cake.
Can I use cream cheeses for frosting Also
yes
I could not get the frosting to set!! I ended adding real whipping cream Andy sticking it in the freezer for a while. Any ideas about what I did wrong?? How do you mess up 2 envelopes and a cup of soda? The soda was cold and so was the bowl!
Argh! I’m so sorry you had troubles with the frosting Erin. Could it be that the dream whip was old? Or maybe it didn’t get enough air into it when it was being whipped?
Shawn, I had the same issue. Frosting would not set up. I used store brand dream whip vs real dream whip. So there may be a slight difference in that. Otherwise, I put the soda in ‘frig the day before, used a metal bowl, which was well chilled along with the beaters. I have used Dream Whip before and have done the exact same things with success.
Sounds like a bad batch of dream whip? Sorry you didn’t have good luck with it!
going to try this cake … another easy cake recipe is 1 spice cake or any flavor cake mix will do use 9×13 pan … chill in fridge over night 2 cans cherry pie filling … put filling on top of cooled cake.. and place in fridge until ready to serve.. after piece is cut top with whipped cream.. pretty, easy and good !!!
chill the cherry pie filling night before cake is made… kind of blew what i wrote above lol
can the topping be put on a day before serving?
Hi Kathy, yes, you can put it on the day before and refrigerate. Personally, I think it’s best fresh, but it does last a day or two in the fridge.
Well I did it fresh.. it was delicious.. everyone that tried it loved it,, so moist and so light..I will be making this for our church birthdays,,
I was looking for a light topping for some cupcakes I made for Easter dessert – they were just vanilla cupcakes – half I filled with lemon filling and the other half lime. I used your frosting recipe using lemon lime soda instead of the orange and wow it tastes good.! I can’t wait to try the orange on the orange cake! I’m sure it’s amazing )
Do you have nutrition info for this recipe. I need to know the sugar content
This looks like the perfect cake to try this Spring!
You’ll love it! 🙂
OMG, and spelling. DONE
Making this now but pondering about making it a pike cake with vanilla pudding so it’s more dreamscicle like. We’ll see if that works.
Poke caki, not pike, lol.
Darn it, cake not caki. Need a typing class apprently.
That sounds great Michele! Let us know if it turns out! 🙂
Could I use diet orange crust pop
I think diet would work just fine!
Can you use vegetable oil instead of the canola oil in the orange crush cake?
We used vegetable instead and it turned out perfect. I think you could use any oil.
How do you think this would work name tube pan with e frosting as a filling?
Hi Linda, I’m not sure if the filling would hold up being baked. It’s really light and airy, like a whipped cream.
Has anybody tried freezing this cake? Sounds great but I’m a single and a 13×9″ cake lasts forever for me. Thanks
I have not tried freezing this cake, but I’m sure it would be great as long as it was wrapped tightly. 🙂
Thanks
try it with a Jiffy cake mix, you know, those little boxes of mix we used (back in the day) with our easy bake ovens. Makes a small amount. Or, if you have one, check the Dollar tree store. Typically thier cake mixes are for 8×8 pans. use one package of dreamm whip & half the soda for the topping.
make the cake but use 2 8×8 cake pans.. freeze 1 cake and use 1 pkg dream whip with 1/2 cup orange crush…
Why is the fork all jacked up in the final picture ? Cake that tough ?
Can you use cool whip instead of of dream whip. thank you
No, the dream whip is a powder that is blended with the soda. If you would like just Cool Whip without the soda, then you can do that. Hope you enjoy!
Looks delicious! Do you think it would work as cupcakes?
That would be awesome, I’m sure it would taste great!
Going to use an orange cake mix with the orange soda. Pike holes and add vanilla pudding down the holes, then spread orange marmalade on top. Make the frosting the way you do with the soda and dream whip. Going to do the orange zest on the frosting before the oranges.
Can I use two 9 inch round cake pans for this recipe ???
Yes, that should be just fine!