Mandarin Orange Cake with Citrus Mousse and Ganache

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This mandarin orange cake recipe 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 Recipe

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 light and fluffy 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!

Key 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!

mandarin orange mousse cake ingredients- jello, flour, eggs, sugar, baking powder, vanilla, heavy whipping cream, chocolate, and mandarins.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Step 5: Prepare Mandarins

Meanwhile, strain one can of mandarins and separate the juice and fruit into separate bowls.

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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.

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Step 7: Beat Cream and Sugar

In a medium-sized bowl, beat heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar until it’s stiff.

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Step 8: Combine

Combine the heavy whipping cream and sugar mixture with the cooled jello mixture on the lowest speed.

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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.

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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.

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Step 11: Ganache

Melt unsalted butter and stir in chocolate chips until it’s smooth. Pour it over the cake.

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Note: You can also dip fresh mandarin slices into the ganache for decorating.

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Expert Tips

When making layer cakes, feel free to make the sponge cake layers a day ahead to save time when assembling the cake and making the cream. This can save time if cooking for a big holiday!
Opt for semi sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips for the ganache chocolate topping. Chocolate melts won’t work for this cake.
Chill the mandarin cake in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to make sure the ganache chocolate topping sets before serving!
Feel free to make a simple and light cream (like from this biskvit recipe) to use on the outside of the cake for more decorating!
Make sure you use identical size cake pans for the cream and the cake batter. It’s difficult to adjust the size of the cake to fit together if the pan sizes are different!
Don’t put the mousse layer onto the sponge cake until it can hold its shape very well.

Recipe FAQs

What’s the difference between orange and a mandarin orange?

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.

How healthy are mandarin oranges?

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.

What is the difference between frosting and ganache?

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!

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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!