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This mango cake is bursting with fresh mango flavor! It has surprisingly simple ingredients (ONLY 9 TOTAL!) but it is a show stopper – and truly tastes as good as it looks.
This mango cake is a close relative of our wildly popular strawberry sponge cake. The fresh sweet mangos really shine in this recipe. Serve this at your next party and you will get plenty of compliments!
Watch How to Make this Mango Cake Recipe:
Mango is the real star of this cake so make sure to pick some good, sweet ripe ones (see video tutorial on selecting the perfect mango below). Mangos add a beautiful pop of color, incredible flavor, and a healthy boost of nutrients to the cake.
We just love mangos in our family and thankfully they are available year-round to satisfy the craving when it hits!
Ingredients for Sponge Cake:
6 large eggs, room temp
1 cup (210 grams) granulated sugar
1 cup (130 grams) all-purpose flour *measured correctly
1/2 tsp baking powder
Mango Cake Filling/ Topping:
1 lb or 2 medium fresh mangos, peeled and thinly sliced into strips
1 lb or 2 medium fresh mangos (1 1/2 cups puréed )
1 to 4 Tbsp sugar, if needed
Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting:
16 oz cream cheese (2 packages), softened
1 cup (16 Tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
How to Make the Sponge Cake (Click for Video Tutorial):
Prep: Pre-heat oven to 350˚F. Line the bottoms of two 9″ cake pans with parchment (do not grease pans).
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat 6 eggs on high speed 1 min until foamy. Gradually add 1 cup sugar then continue beating on high for 8 min. It will be whipped and forming thick ribbons when you pull up the whisk.
Cooks Tip: This classic European sponge cake relies on the volume of beaten eggs to rise so do not rush the mixing step. If you’re new to sponge cakes, watch our video tutorial first.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour and 1/2 tsp baking powder. Sift flour into batter 1/3 at a time, folding between each addition. Fold just until no flour streaks remain, scraping the bottom to catch any hidden pockets of flour. Divide evenly between prepared cake pans and bake at 350˚F for 23-28 min (my oven takes 25 min). Tops should be golden brown and spring back when poked slightly.
3. Run a knife or thin spatula around edges to loosen and invert onto wire rack. Peel back parchment paper right away. Place cakes right side up and cool to room temperature before cutting in half.
How to Make the Cream Cheese Frosting:
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, combine 16 oz cream cheese, 1 cup butter, 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 2 tsp vanilla. Beat on low to combine then increase to high and beat 5-6 mins, scraping down the bowl as needed. Frosting should be whipped, soft and spreadable. Transfer 1 cup frosting to piping bag fitted with large open star tip and refrigerate until ready to use for the topping.
How to Cut a Mango:
1. A mango has one long, flat seed in the center of the fruit that goes from stem to nose. Slice off the sides around the seeds of all 4 whole mangos resulting in 8 halves. Set aside 4 halves – you will need them to decorate the top. Dice remaining 4 halves and scoop them out of their skin then transfer these to a blender and process until puréed. Taste the mango purée and add sugar to taste if needed.
Watch how to pick a good mango:
A ripe mango is determined more by how it feels than how it looks. It can look completely green and be ripe. It should give a little when you push on the outsides similar to how an avocado would feel when it is ripe. It should not be bruised or feel squishy.
How to Assemble the Mango Cake:
1. Place the first sliced cake layer on a platter and spread with 1/2 cup mango purée. On the second cake layer, spread 1/2 cup frosting and place it frosting-side-down on the first layer so the cream and mango are hugging. Repeat with remaining layers then cover top and sides with remaining frosting. Pipe reserved frosting around the top border of your cake.
2. Peel and thinly slice 4 reserved mango halves, cutting some strips long ways and some wide. Layer mango slices in rings around the cake, starting with the longest pieces and overlapping each piece slightly until only a 1/2″ space is left in the center. Roll a long, thin strip of mango into a coil and place it in the center. Cake can be served right away or refrigerated 2 hours for easier slicing. It keeps well covered and refrigerated up to 3 days.
Tips for a Tastier Mango Cake:
Be sure to taste your mangos and mango filling. Sometimes you may end up with a bland mango (or even a bad mango). If your filling tastes bland, you can spruce it up with a little sugar and/or lemon juice.
Layer after layer of mangos and cream. It doesn’t get much better than this mango cake!
Mango Cake Recipe (VIDEO)
Ingredients
For the Easy Sponge Cake:
- 6 large eggs, room temp
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
For the Mango Cake Filling/ Topping:
- 1 lb fresh mangos, (2 medium) peeled and thinly sliced into strips
- 1 lb fresh mangos, (2 medium) 1 1/2 cups puréed
- 1 to 4 Tbsp sugar, if needed
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 16 oz cream cheese, 2 packages, softened
- 1 cup unsalted butter, (16 Tbsp), softened
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
How to Make the Sponge Cake (Click for Video Tutorial):
Prep: Pre-heat oven to 350˚F. Line the bottoms of two 9" cake pans with parchment (do not grease).
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk, beat 6 eggs on high speed 1 min until foamy. Gradually add 1 cup sugar then continue beating on high for 8 min. It will be whipped and forming thick ribbons when you pull up the whisk.*
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour and 1/2 tsp baking powder.
- Sift flour into batter 1/3 at a time, folding between each addition, just until no flour streaks remain. Scrape from the bottom to catch any hidden flour pockets. Divide evenly between prepared cake pans and bake at 350˚F for 23-28 min (my oven takes 25 min). Tops should be golden brown and spring back when poked lightly.
- Run a knife or thin spatula around edges to loosen and invert onto wire rack. Peel back parchment paper right away and let cakes cool right-side-up to room temp before cutting them in half.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, combine 16 oz cream cheese, 1 cup butter, 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 2 tsp vanilla. Beat on low to combine then increase to high and beat 5-6 mins, scraping down the bowl as needed. Frosting should be whipped, soft and spreadable. Transfer 1 cup frosting to piping bag fitted with large open star tip and refrigerate until ready to use for the topping.
How to Cut Mango:
- A mango has one long, flat seed in the center of the fruit that goes from stem to nose. Slice off the sides around the seeds of all 4 whole mangos resulting in 8 halves. Set aside 4 halves - you will need them to decorate the top. Dice remaining 4 halves and scoop them out of their skin then transfer these to a blender and process until puréed. Taste the mango purée and add sugar to taste if needed.
How to Assemble the Mango Cake:
- Place the first sliced cake layer on a platter and spread with 1/2 cup mango purée. On the second cake layer, spread 1/2 cup frosting and place it frosting-side-down on the first layer so the cream and mango are hugging. Repeat with remaining layers then cover top and sides with remaining frosting. Pipe reserved frosting around the top border of your cake.
- Peel and thinly slice 4 reserved mango halves, cutting some strips long way and some wide. Layer mango slices in rings around the cake, starting with the longest pieces and overlapping each piece slightly until only a 1/2" space is left in the center. Roll a long thin strip of mango into a coil and place it in the center. Cake can be served right away or refrigerated 2 hours for easier slicing. It keeps well covered and refrigerated up to 3 days.
Notes
our video tutorial first
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Hi Natasha, just wondering if you could suggest any other cream to go with this cake, I’m not a huge fan of cream cheese 🙂 but I’m sure it will be amazing!! Thanks
Oh goodness, most of my frostings have cream cheese. I always made it with this cream but maybe something like a
Swiss meringue buttercream might work but I do not have a recipe for that posted. Sorry I’m not very helpful with that.
Made this cute fruit cake for my mom today! Can’t wait to try it, it looks amazing!
Oksana, thank you for making it and please share how it turned out 😬
Love it! Going to make it right away. 😀
Please let me know what you think of the recipe!
I really liked your recipe! I made the cake and shared a picture of it with you in Google Plus. Thanks!
That is wonderful and thank you so much for sharing your photo!! 🙂 If you are on Facebook, I would love it if you joined our closed cooking group where you could share your yummy photos. Thanks Leemah!!
Hi Natasha! I love your recipes and I am totally going to make this! Mango is awesome! Do you think this would go nicely with coconut on the sides. I also have a few questions about the cake. I was wondering why it doesn’t use butter or oil and when you taste it if it tastes like eggs since there is 6. Thanks!
Hi Leemah, if you beat the eggs and sugar sufficiently and keep the cake layers away from outdoor drafty areas, it isn’t eggy :). This is a classic European sponge cake and it relies on the volume of the eggs and sugar to rise so that step is super important 🙂
Hi Natasha, thank you for the great recipe. I am just wondering whether the mango will turn brownish (oxidized) after a while, or left in the fridge?
Therase, mango holds up really well. I had a slice left in the fridge and on the third day it looked great both on top and the inside.
Hi Natasha, does the sponge cake layers turn out dry in this cake, because I’m debating whether I should soak them with a lemon syrup like you do in some of your other cakes?
Hi Lana, with the mango puree in the cake, there is no syrup necessary at all in the cake. The puree moistens the layers perfectly 🙂 I hope you love it!
Wow that look amazing!
It tastes as good as it looks too Hayley!
This cake is so beautiful! I want to try it soon. 🙂 My husband and I both love mango.
It tastes as good as it looks! Please let me know what you think Katherine!
I love mango, and this cake is stunning! I’m not really great with desserts, so it looks a little daunting to me, but I might have to try because it’s so beautiful!
It really is easy AND delicious! Let me know what you think Michelle!
Mango is one of my favorite fruits, and this cake looks spectacular! [I’m actually eating a mango right now lol]
LOL! You will love this cake! Let me know what you think Sara!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I’ve been having a huge craving to make a mango cake since some time now but couldn’t find the right kind of recipe. I had almost decided to make your cheesecake and top it with mango puree and some mango pieces until I saw this! Your recipes are so reliable and have always worked for me. 🙂
My pleasure! Thanks for the wonderful compliments! Please let me know what you think of this recipe!
Great and easy recipe! I did it!
hi . all your recipes is amazing i learning from you so many good things . but i have a question i hope you will help me . i plan to bay a mixer electronic kenwood kitchen machine with power 900 watts for making dough . my question is 900 watts power in enough for dough or no .
thank you so match .
Hi Fatema, I believe my Kitchenaid is a 600 watts mixer from Kitchenaid. It sounds like the one you are looking at is a good one if it is the stand mixer that I just googled.
Why didn’t you do a taste test for this recipe?
It’s funny, we never planned to film this recipe and at the last minute we decided it was just too pretty not to film it and show people how easily it comes together. That’s why it’s not as full length as our usual videos. I am glad to hear that you miss the taste test though! LOL
I can’t wait to make this! Our wedding cake last year was mango flavoured and it was so delicious (it was the first time I’d had mango cake)!
PS: I made your sponge for the first time last week and it was amazing! So yummy!
I’m glad you enjoy the sponge cake recipe Danielle! Please let me know what you think of the mango cake when you decide to make it!
The cake was a huge hit this weekend for Mother’s Day! Everyone seemed to be in agreement that it was one of the best cakes I’ve ever made. The mango rose on top was super impressive and easy to do!
Awesome! I’m so happy to hear that everyone loves the recipe! Thanks for sharing your fantastic review Danielle!
This cake looks incredible!! You are so talented Natasha !
It is gorgeous AND delicious! Please let me know what you think if you decide to make it Anna!
Hi Natasha, can I use frozen mangoes for the purée?
Hi Ina, I think that would be a good substitute, just be sure to taste the puree and add sugar to taste – sometimes frozen can be tart. Youu will definitely want to use fresh on top though. I hope you love it!!
I have no doubt I’ll love it.. just like the rest of the recipes on your blog 🙂
You’re so sweet Ina, thank you!
I love original and ‘edible’ decor!!
Looks so fresh and delish!!
Thank you Linda, I’m glad you like it 😀
Very elegant looking. I love mango!!
Thank you Julie! It tastes as good as it looks too!
Will the cake come out the same if I use just a hand mixer?
If you use high power electric hand mixer, add 2-3 minutes to the mixing time so that everything will be incorporated.
😋🍰☕️ yum!
It really IS so delicious Natalia!