The Ingredients: Simple, Affordable, Brilliant
For the Cake:
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1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix — Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker, plain yellow, not butter or French vanilla
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1 (11 oz) can mandarin oranges, undrained — juice and all
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4 large eggs — room temperature
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½ cup vegetable or canola oil
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Pineapple Filling & Frosting:
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1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple, undrained
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1 cup granulated sugar
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1 (3.4 oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix — not cook-and-serve
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8 oz frozen whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed
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1 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted (optional, but traditional)
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½ cup chopped pecans, toasted — plus more for garnish
For the Citrus Glaze (Optional But Wonderful):
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1 cup powdered sugar
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2-3 tablespoons orange juice
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1 teaspoon orange zest
The Method: Retro Simple, Consistently Perfect
see continuation on next page
