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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
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Simply delicious!!! Thank you!!!
My pleasure Lana! I’m glad you love it!
Thank you very much for this simple and delicious recipe. I’ll double mango filling and cream cheese frosting next time.
My pleasure Victoria! Thanks for sharing your great review!
Looks great! Any way I can use frosting that requires sugar, not powered sugar, or can I replace powdered sugar with regular sugar? Halia
Hi Halyna, this one won’t form properly with granulated sugar. Do you have a good food processor or blender where you could make your own powdered sugar? You might look up some quick methods for homemade powdered sugar.
Love the recipe, not too sweet, simply delicious and even for immature bakers easy to make.
I’m so glad you love it Yelena! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review 😀
Hi Natasha,
The cake looks super mangolicious…cannot wait to try it out myself. I am baking a half sheet cake using this recipe. Could I please help me with an approximate idea on the measurements for sponge cake.Should I double or triple the cake recipe
Hi Neha, I’ve baked a cake roll with a half sheet baking sheet. Are you referring just to a half sheet like a cookie sheet or more of a 9×13 cake pan? Here is a similar sponge cake that I made on a baking sheet and turned it into a cake roll and here is one with proportions for a 9×13 cake.
Hey Natasha… thanks for your reply….I meant 12 by 18 half sheet cake pan. I guess I will have to double your recipe for 9 *13 cake?
Hi Neha, yes for a 9×13 cake, you will have to double the recipe and make the cake layers separately so you don’t overwhelm your stand mixer.
thanks for your help👍🏻
Thank you for your help👍🏻
Thank you so much for your help👌🏻
My pleasure Neha!
Hello 🙂
I’m just wondering if this cake can be frozen?
Looks incredible good 😁
Hi Siv, I haven’t tried freezing this cake assembled so I’m not sure how the mango puree or decoration would look/hold up after freezing. I have however frozen the sponge cake plain by itself. Let it come to room temp then cover loosely but fully with plastic wrap and freeze up to 3 months on a flat surface, making sure you don’t place anything over the top of it. I hope that helps!
Really nice recipe Natasha 🙂 Tried and it turned out awesome.
Thank you for sharing that with me, I’m glad you like the recipe 😬.
Natasha, thank you for another great tasting cake.mango and filling was good combo.
You’re welcome Joice! I’m glad you like the recipe!
You don’t show anywhere how to make the mango puree. Typically mango is hairy. So how do you do the puree without getting all that fiber into your puree? Otherwise I would love to try this recipe. Thank you.
Hi Anna you just dice up the mango and put it in a blender or food processor until smooth. If it’s pureed well, the fibers won’t be bothersome in the final product.
This cake looks so good that I had to make it! My husband really enjoyed it but for me it was a little too sweet. I was reading through the comments and looks like people like it, so maybe it’s just me… My husband ate most of it!
Hi Lesya, I’m also not a fan of overly sweet cakes which is why most of my cakes have quite a bit less sugar than most of the cake recipes you’ll find online. A good way to cut the sweetness of this cake is to omit the sugar in the mango puree, especially if your mangos are very sweet to begin with. I hope that helps! 🙂
Wow, Natasha, thank you for the recipe! It looks amazing! I just love mango and I bet this cake would be one of my favorites. Also, I would want one of the new recipes to be either a cupcake or a cookie. thank you anyway.
It is so delicious Olga! Please let me know what you think of this cake! I will keep your suggestion in mind!
Hi Natasha. I am Helen from Nigeria and I love your recipes. Mangoes are in season right now in Nigeria. The market is saturated with it. I will definitely make this recipe and let you know how it turns out.
My birthday is coming up on the 11th of June and I will be using your blackberry lemon cake as my inspiration. If I can’t get blackberries here because it is so scarce, I will use kiwi and mango or kiwi and pear. I will let you know how it turns out.
Please do Helen!
Simply delicious. I made this yesterday and had some guests over.. by the end of the night the ENTIRE cake was GONE! I love the mango flavor.. it’s just so fresh and perfect for summer. Your recipes are always a hit!! Thanks so much for putting in so much time and effort to bring us endless deliciousness! 🙂
It’s my pleasure Lidiya! I’m so glad to hear everyone loves the recipe! Thanks for following and sharing your thoughtful comments! 😀
Thank You for the recipe I saw the video of sponge cake on youtube and it was mentioned 1 cup flour i added 200gms of flour into the mixture and i was not able to fold the flour properly into the mixture .what will be the result i am tensed because my cake is in the oven right now? And also i have my batter left can i bake it after this cake batch
Hi Shalom, in US measurements, 1 cup of flour is about 125-130 grams of flour. If using the metric system for measurements, I would recommend finding an online google conversion chart to double check how the measurements convert. 200 grams is nearly double what there should be.
I made this cake for mothers day. So easy and so good. I tried a lot of your recipes and they were all very good.
I’m so happy to hear that Cami! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review 😀
this is the most delicious cake ever!!!! so easy to make. thank you Natasha, you are awesome
You’re welcome Luda! Thanks for following and leaving such thoughtful comments!
Hi Natasha, Can I use yellow cake mix instead of making sponge cake from scratch?
Hi Madhura, it would be a completely different cake but I think that would work. I would recommend enjoying it within 1 day if using a cake mix. This sponge cake base takes on moisture really well without getting soggy but a store-bought cake can get a little soggy as time goes on.
mouthwatering and most elegant recipe ..most of your recipes are saved and posted to my social media accounts
Thank you for the nice review and for sharing 😀
I made it today with my 11 year old daughter. Both of us enjoyed the process! She wants to do it all by herself next time. Kids especially liked the cream and I appreciated its natural flavors. Good job Natasha! I’m using your recipes at least few times a week. Keep up good work!
Thank you Zhanna for sharing that with me and for visiting the site 😬. Blessings to you and your daughter!
Hi, I’m wondering how good the frosting is with butter? Could I use your frosting from the strawberry cake?
Kristina, I think that would work, let me know how you like it 😀
It actually turned out really yummy! I did strawberry and mango:) it was a hit!
That sounds delicious Kristina! Thanks for sharing 🙂