{easy & yummy} orange strawberry cake

{sorry for the blurry, no flash, night photo}

So I have gotten a couple of emails asking about the cake I posted last Wednesday {'cake decor'}... So here is my very easy yet yummy spin on Trader Joes Vanilla cake:

Ingredients:

2 Trader Joes Vanilla Box Cake (one box = an 8x8 cake so I used 2 boxes)

4 eggs

milk (I don't have the box anymore but do want ever it says for 2 boxes)

2 cans of mandarin oranges, drained

1 heaping scoop of strawberry jelly

4 little baskets of Strawberries, sliced (I know it seems late in the season but I am still getting them in my CSA basket... If Strawberries at the market are $8 a basket and from the other side of the planet maybe try raspberries or blueberries or no berries)

Mix the box, eggs, milk & 1 can of mandarin oranges. Put this mixture in 2 greased and floured pans and cook for the suggested time and temp (sorry I don't have the box).

I think that the cakes take around 40 minutes and you need to let the cakes cool down before you do the topping so I actually made the cakes before bed and then did the rest in the morning.

Once the cakes are cool mix 1 can of mandarin oranges and jelly over low-med heat. Mash/ stir until they are hot and runny (about 8 minutes). Take the first cake out and place on your cake dish. Layer 1/2 of the sliced strawberries all of the top of the cake (especially on the edges because that is really what you see). Drizzle 1/2 of the orange/strawberry mixture over strawberries. Place the second cake on top and repeat. Once your cake is all done you can sift powdered sugar on top... and viola... super yummy... super easy cake...

*Tip: I made this cake for a birthday party and had no idea how I was going to carry it on our way, so I stopped at our local donut shop and they gave me a box for free.