Imagine slicing into a tender, golden cake that bursts with juicy mango and sunshine in every bite — that’s exactly what you get with this Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight. Sweet, tropical, and impossibly soft, each layer is infused with fresh mango puree and a fluffy mango buttercream, making it the ultimate dessert to brighten any celebration or simply to savor a little getaway at home. Whether you’re a mango lover or just craving something special, this inviting cake simply radiates joy and color.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe is a testament to how a handful of well-chosen ingredients can create something truly magical. Every element, from the sweet mango puree to the creamy butter, plays a key role in giving Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight its signature flavor, softness, and radiant hue.
- All-purpose flour: Offers structure to your cake, ensuring soft yet steady layers that slice beautifully.
- Baking powder: Helps the cake rise to fluffy, light perfection.
- Baking soda: Works hand-in-hand with baking powder for just the right lift and a tender crumb.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances every tropical flavor.
- Unsalted butter (for cake and frosting): Essential for richness in both the cake and the dreamy mango frosting.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens and moistens every bite.
- Large eggs: Bind everything together and add unbeatable tenderness.
- Vanilla extract: Warmly rounds out the mango and butter notes.
- Mango puree (fresh or canned): The star! Delivers juicy mango flavor and a beautiful natural hue. Alphonso puree especially intensifies the tropical aroma.
- Buttermilk: Ensures a delicate, soft crumb and slight tang that pairs gorgeously with mango.
- Diced fresh mango (optional): Adds pops of fruit in each slice for the ultimate mango experience.
- Powdered sugar (for frosting): Creates a cloud-like, melt-in-your-mouth mango frosting.
- Pinch of salt (for frosting): Cuts the sweetness and lets mango flavor shine.
How to Make Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight
Step 1: Prepare Your Pans and Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans, or line them with parchment circles. Take a quiet moment to assemble all your ingredients — nothing derails baking joy faster than a forgotten egg or missed mango!
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. This quick upfront mixing ensures everything is evenly dispersed, so your Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight turns out light and even throughout.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture looks very pale and fluffy — this is where much of your cake’s delicate crumb and volume comes from, so don’t rush!
Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Then stir in the vanilla extract, infusing the batter with a hint of aromatic sweetness that pairs so well with mango.
Step 5: Incorporate Mango Puree
Stir in your luscious mango puree, watching as the batter takes on a gorgeous golden color. This is one of those moments that brings the magic of Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight to life.
Step 6: Combine Dry Ingredients and Buttermilk
Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with buttermilk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing gently after each addition. This keeps the cake tender — over-mixing at this step is the enemy of airy layers!
Step 7: Fold in Diced Mango (Optional)
For an extra punch of real mango, gently fold in the diced fresh mango. This step is optional, but it gives bursts of flavor and lovely pockets of fruit in every slice.
Step 8: Bake the Cakes
Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean. As the kitchen fills with the aroma of baking mango, you’ll know something special is on the way!
Step 9: Cool the Cakes
Let the cakes rest in the pans for 10 minutes before turning out onto wire racks. Allow them to cool completely before frosting — patience here will be rewarded with seamless layers and a perfect finish.
Step 10: Make the Mango Frosting
Beat softened butter until smooth, then add powdered sugar, mango puree, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Whip until the frosting is light, fluffy, and luxuriously creamy. The scent alone will make it tough not to sneak a taste!
Step 11: Assemble and Frost
Place one cake layer on your serving plate and spread with a generous layer of mango frosting. Top with the second cake and frost the top and sides until billowy and beautiful. Chill the assembled cake for 20 minutes – this ensures every slice comes out clean and picture-perfect.
How to Serve Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight
Garnishes
For the ultimate finish, decorate the top with fresh mango slices, curls of shredded coconut, or delicate edible flowers. These bright garnishes not only highlight the tropical flair of Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight, but also make it irresistible for both eyes and taste buds.
Side Dishes
Pair each slice with a scoop of tangy passion fruit sorbet or a spoonful of lightly sweetened whipped cream. The cool, creamy, or citrusy elements amplify the cake’s tropical notes and provide a delightful contrast in texture.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight as a towering centerpiece, or go mini by cutting the cake into small cubes and layering them in parfait glasses with extra mango puree and cream for a playful dessert bar. For parties, try decorating slices with individual mango rosettes or tropical sprinkles for a truly unforgettable look.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Place any leftover Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. The flavors meld beautifully, and the cake remains soft thanks to the moisture from the mango puree and frosting.
Freezing
Both frosted and unfrosted cake layers freeze well. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then foil to prevent freezer burn. Store for up to one month. When you’re ready to indulge, thaw the layers overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheating
While this cake is best served at room temperature, you can bring chilled slices back to their best by letting them sit out for about 30 minutes before serving. Avoid microwaving, as it can change the texture of the buttercream and cake layers.
FAQs
Can I use frozen mango for the puree?
Absolutely! Just thaw the frozen mango completely and blend until smooth. It’s a convenient and reliable way to enjoy Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight all year round.
Is it possible to make this cake gluten-free?
Yes, simply swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. Keep in mind that texture may vary slightly, but the mango flavor will still shine.
Can I prepare the frosting ahead of time?
Definitely! Mango buttercream can be made a day ahead and kept covered in the fridge. Let it come to room temperature and re-whip briefly for the silkiest result before frosting the cake.
How do I get the brightest mango flavor?
Seek out Alphonso mango puree if you can find it—the flavor is peppy, intense, and ideally suited for Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight. Otherwise, ripe, in-season mangoes make all the difference.
Can I make this as cupcakes instead?
Of course! Divide the batter among lined cupcake pans and bake for about 18–22 minutes. Top with swirls of mango frosting for individual Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight treats.
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving a showstopper dessert that feels like a sunny vacation in every bite, Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight is waiting to dazzle you. Gather your favorite mangoes and dive in — I promise, your taste buds will thank you!
Print
Mango Layer Cake: A Tropical Delight Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tropical, American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the tropical flavors of this Mango Layer Cake, a delightful dessert that combines the sweetness of mango with a moist, fluffy cake and a luscious mango frosting. Perfect for any occasion, this cake is a true tropical delight.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mango puree (fresh or canned)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup diced fresh mango (optional)
Mango Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup mango puree
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare cake pans.
- Mix dry ingredients: Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar: Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, then add eggs and vanilla.
- Combine wet and dry: Mix in mango puree and alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk.
- Add mango: Fold in diced mango and divide batter between pans.
- Bake: Bake for 30–35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cakes.
- Make frosting: Beat butter, powdered sugar, mango puree, vanilla, and salt until fluffy.
- Assemble: Frost between layers and on top and sides of cakes. Chill before serving.
Notes
- For a more intense mango flavor, use Alphonso mango puree.
- The cake layers can be baked ahead and frozen for up to a month.
- Optional garnish: fresh mango slices or shredded coconut.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 40g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
