All dressed up for a holiday fête, this cake tastes just a bit like a dreamsicle – all orange and vanilla and stuff – and the buttercream frosting has an extra surprise added…
Pepper (!)
Yep, a dab o’ black pepper helps to bring out the richness of the Irish butter and heavy cream frosting; and the cake?
Well, it couldn’t be simpler; just a yellow cake mix and a can of orange soda.
(!)
Truly, one box of cake mix and one, 12 ounce can of soda; that’s all you need.
INGREDIENTS
Cake Pan Treatment:
•1 tbsp flour
•1 tbsp solid shortening
•1 tbsp veggie oil
Cake:
•1 yellow cake mix (or white)
•1 (12 oz) can orange soda
Buttercream Frosting:
•1 cup butter, softened
•3 cups confectioners’ sugar
•1 tsp vanilla
•2 tbsp whipping cream
•1/8 tsp salt (if using unsalted butter)
•1/8 tsp black pepper
Mix the flour together with the solid shortening and veggie oil in a small bowl with a fork, then paint the mixture over your chosen cake pan(s). Once baked, your cake will pop out of just about any pan with no muss or fuss.
Pour the soda into the batter in a large mixing bowl and follow the instructions on 
the cake mix box for mixing. This cake mix said to mix at low for one minute, then at medium for two before turning into the cake pan(s) you’ve chosen. I went with a 13×9 glass pan, because this cake was for a large gathering.
Bake according to instructions on the box, then remove from the oven and cool.
Beat the butter together with the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and pepper until creamy, then beat in the heavy cream until the frosting is the consistency you want (some like thicker, some a little less so).
Note: I used unsalted butter for my buttercream, so also added 1/8 teaspoon of salt to my frosting, along with the black pepper (trust me on this, it’s good).
Frost the cake and serve.
I added some holiday-themed sprinkles to the top, but you could add nothing; or mebbe try some orange candy slices, or even a bit of shaved orange chocolate.
Tasty cake, and wicked simple to make.