Orange Dreamsicle Cake
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Remember those sunny summer days when you waited for the ice cream man to come around? And when he did, there was this delicious Orange Dreamsicle that you bought, combining orange and cream? Well, this Orange Dreamsicle Cake has all the same flavors in one easy-to-make cake.
The idea of a creamsicle cake is to bring back the fruity sweetness of those childhood treats. But instead, to have a cake that’s perfect for the whole family to share. If you let them, of course!
If you like orange cakes then you’ll love my pig pickin’ cake. It’s a Southern version of a moist mandarin orange cake.
What’s the difference between orange dreamsicle and orange poke cake?
In some ways, not a lot! But the big difference between the two is that with this Orange Dreamsicle Cake, you poke holes and fill them with Jello then top with frosting made with vanilla pudding mix and whipped topping. An orange poke cake tends to just use whipped topping.
Ingredients
- White cake mix (plus ingredients called for on the back of the box)
- Orange Jello mix
- Boiling water
- Ice water
- Instant vanilla pudding
- Milk
- Thawed whipped topping
If you don’t have the whipped topping, you can substitute this with three cups of sweetened whipped cream. The easiest way to sweeten it is with powdered (confectioners) sugar.
How to make Orange Dreamsicle Cake
- Make the white cake mix up as per the box instructions in a 9×13 inch pan.
- Remove the baked cake from the oven and let it cool.
- While it does that, make up the Jello. Add 1 cup of boiling water to the Jello and stir until it is dissolved. Then add ½ cup ice cold water and stir again.
- Poke holes in the cake using a fork or a metal skewer. I find the wide end of a chopstick does the best job.
- Pour the cooled Jello over the cake while it is slightly warm then pop it in the fridge until both the cake and Jello are totally cooled, usually 2-3 hours.
- Once cooled, make the pudding frosting. Mix 1 cup of cold milk and stir in the pudding mix until thickened.
- Add the whipped cream topping and stir again then add this to the top of the cake.
You can decorate with candy orange slices, mandarin oranges, or even candied orange zest.
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Recipe notes
I definitely find using the vanilla pudding mix is better than the others. Otherwise, the orange flavor gets overpowered.
You can use any flavor Jello you like. Go with something citrus or even test different flavors to see what you enjoy the most!
How can you store Creamsicle Cake?
You should store the Orange Dreamsicle Cake and similar recipes in the fridge. But it needs to be eaten within 3-4 days. Otherwise, the frosting will start to deflate and not taste as delicious.
How do you make the frosting orange?
You might see pictures of this kind of cake where it is bright orange in color. If you want to do this, it’s easy. Just add a couple of drops of orange food coloring to the frosting mixture as you create it. Then you can get that fun orange look.
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Orange Dreamsicle Cake
Ingredients
- 1 white cake mix plus ingredients called for on the back of the box
- 3 ounces orange Jello mix
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup ice water
- 3.4 ounces instant vanilla pudding
- 1 cup milk
- 3 cups thawed whipped topping 8 ounces
Instructions
- Make the cake in a 9 X 13 pan according to the directions on the box.
- Remove the baked cake from the oven and allow to cool while making the Jello.
- Make the Jello by adding the Jello to 1 cup of boiling water and stirring until the Jello has completely dissolved. Add 1/2 cup of ice cold water and stir.
- Poke holes in the cake using a fork or the end of a chopstick.
- Pour the cooled Jello over the slightly warm cake and place into the refrigerator until the cake and Jello are completely cooled, 2 to 3 hours.
- Once the cake is completely cooled, make the pudding frosting by combining the pudding mix with 1 cup of cold milk and stirring until the pudding has slightly thickened.
- Add the whipped topping and stir to combine.
- Frost the cake.
Notes
- Decorate with candy orange slices, mandarin oranges, or candied orange zest if desired.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. After that, the frosting will start to deflate.
- Whipped topping can be substituted with 3 cups of sweetened whipped cream. I prefer using the wide end of a chopstick for bigger holes.
- Any flavor of Jello can be used.
- I recommend using a plain vanilla pudding mix to avoid overpowering the orange flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and may vary based on exact ingredients used. For accuracy, consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
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Elizabeth (Beth) Mueller
Elizabeth (Beth) Mueller is a food journalist, CEO of Pear Tree Kitchen, and co-creator of Food Blogger Help. She also has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a registered nurse licensed in the State of Oklahoma. When she has free time between writing, blogging, and cooking, she can be found volunteering as an RN with the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps.
