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This Mexican Wedding Cake recipe is exactly what you want when making a cake from scratch – fast, easy and incredibly delicious.
Made with only six ingredients and a few simple steps, this tender and moist cake is full of pineapple flavor and topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting.
It is the perfect cake to serve for a Mother’s Day brunch, a wedding, or an after dinner dessert!
There is something so special about presenting your guests or your family with a delicious dessert that they can’t get enough of. This cake does that with very little time and effort.
When preparing for an event the last thing you want is to overcomplicate things. This simple homemade Mexican Wedding cake recipe brings a little bit of convenience and a touch of class.
This made from scratch recipe is perfect all on its own, however some people like to add nuts, such as pecans or walnuts and some even enjoy adding coconut flakes to their cake.
I prefer the simplicity of the basic recipe which has never let me down.
Using canned crushed pineapples is part of what makes this cake so convenient but the juices that the pineapples are sitting in are what makes it moist.
Sure, you could use fresh pineapple if you have the time, but without all of that extra juice it may not be as moist.
If you are looking to add mini desserts to your dessert table, cut them up into bite size pieces. If you are looking to serve your mom her favorite dessert on Mother’s Day, make sure she gets the biggest piece!
Whatever your reason is for making this absolutely delicious made from scratch cake, it will be a hit.
So, grab your ingredients and meet me in the kitchen, let’s get started!
Tools you’ll need
- Mixing Bowls – You know I love these mixing bowls with the grippy bottoms.
- Wooden Spoon – You don’t even need a mixer for the cake portion of this recipe, just a spoon/spatula.
- 9×13 Baking Dish – I love that this one comes with a lid for easy storage.
- Hand Mixer – You will want a mixer to whip up the cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.
- Flour – all purpose white flour
- Sugar – granulated white sugar, for the cake & the frosting
- Eggs – large eggs
- Baking Soda – for rise
- Vanilla Extract – try to pick a high quality one and not imitation if you can swing it – I know it’s expensive these days
- Crushed Pineapple – a can of crushed pineapple and its juice
- Cream Cheese – for the frosting
How to make a Mexican Wedding Cake
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven, grease the cake pan and set aside.
- Add the flour, sugar, eggs, baking soda, vanilla, pineapple and its juices to a large bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.
- Pour it in the cake pan and bake (yes, it really is this easy!).
- Once cooled completely, begin frosting.
How to make cream cheese frosting
- Add cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl. Mix with a hand mixer until combined and smooth.
- Once your cake has cooled, frost it & add sprinkles for an extra special touch.
Why is it called Mexican Wedding Cake?
Sometimes confused with the Mexican wedding cookie, also referred to as cakes, the history of the traditional Mexican Wedding Cake (and the cookie) is largely unknown.
There are variations in stories and ingredients that no one is really sure where it came from, whether Mexico, Europe or the Middle East.
Over time different cultures have adapted the cake recipe using similar ingredients and it has essentially become a universal dessert served at weddings, but also during the winter months and at Christmas.
As for where the name came from, to be honest, I have no idea! This is a cake my mom sometimes makes and she passed it on to me. I think she got it from an old church cookbook
Wherever it comes from and whatever is behind the name, it’s a great recipe that I know you’re going to love.
How to store leftovers
This cake will keep at room temperature for about 3 days and in the fridge for about a week when properly stored in an airtight container to seal in the moisture and not dry out.
If you have made the cake ahead of time for later use freeze the unfrosted cake, wrapped in an airtight ziploc or plastic wrap, and frost once ready to use.
Need more easy cake recipes? Try these:
Click here for my entire collection of cake recipes.
Mexican Wedding Cake
Mexican Wedding Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 16 ounce crushed pineapple + the juice
For the Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temp
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9″ x 13″ pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, eggs, baking soda, vanilla, and pineapple & juice and mix by hand with a wooden spoon until well combined.2 cups all purpose flour, 2 cups granulated white sugar, 2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 16 ounce crushed pineapple
- Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool on a wire rack before frosting.
For the Frosting
- Add the softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla to a large bowl and beat well until fully combined.8 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup granulated white sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Frost cake once cooled.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag me on Instagram @melissa_pplates so I can see!Originally published May 22, 2013
the sprinkes are adorable! sounds yummy.
I love those sprinkles!
Cream cheese frosting is my favorite!! This cake looks so dense! LOVE IT!!
Thanks for starting us off well with our cake extravaganza! Cheers
This cake looks like something I would Love:) Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines
Ohhh I bet this taste great!!!
Have always used confectionery sugar with cream cheese..does the granulated sugar work well???
It does, but you can use confectioners’ sugar if you prefer.
What is this optional butter you speak of?
Sorry, that was a typo. Removed!