Orange Crunch Cake

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Servings: 10
Yield: 10 servings

Description

A refreshing orange cake with a nutty crunch layer, orange-lemon frosting, and mandarin orange garnish. Perfect for the citrus lovers in your life!

Ingredients

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (18 1/4 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
1 (16 ounce) can prepared vanilla frosting
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 tablespoons grated orange zest
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9-inch pans. Combine graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, walnuts, and butter. Divide mixture evenly between the prepared pans. Set aside.
2 In a medium bowl, mix together cake mix, water, orange juice, and oil until blended. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in orange zest. Pour mixture evenly over crunch layer in the pans.
3 Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean. Allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes; invert onto a wire rack and cool completely before frosting. Frost (crunch-side up) between layers, on top and sides. Arrange mandarin orange segments on top; refrigerate.
4 To make frosting: In a medium bowl, beat vanilla frosting until light and fluffy; mix in whipped topping. Stir in orange and lemon zest. Use frosting on completely cooled cake layers.