This mango cake is bursting with fresh mango flavor! An impressive, show-stopping mango cake recipe with only 9 ingredients. It is surprisingly simple. | natashaskitchen.com

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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!

This mango cake is bursting with fresh mango flavor! An impressive, show-stopping mango cake recipe with only 9 ingredients. It is surprisingly simple. | natashaskitchen.com

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

Three bowls and six eggs on the table, ingredients for a mango cake

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

This mango cake is bursting with fresh mango flavor! An impressive, show-stopping mango cake recipe with only 9 ingredients. It is surprisingly simple. | natashaskitchen.com

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.

Four photos of mixing bowls with batter for mango cake

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.

Four photos of cake batter for a mango cake being poured into cake pans

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.

Two photos one of sponge in a cake pan and one of the sponge cut 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.

Four photos two of cream being mixed in a bowl and two of a piping bag being filled

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.

How to Cut a Mango, How to Remove a Mango Seed, How to Slice a Mango, Mango Cake, Mango Recipes

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.

This mango cake is bursting with fresh mango flavor! An impressive, show-stopping mango cake recipe with only 9 ingredients. It is surprisingly simple. | natashaskitchen.com

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.

This mango cake is bursting with fresh mango flavor! An impressive, show-stopping mango cake recipe with only 9 ingredients. It is surprisingly simple. | natashaskitchen.com

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.

This mango cake is bursting with fresh mango flavor! An impressive, show-stopping mango cake recipe with only 9 ingredients. It is surprisingly simple. | natashaskitchen.com

Layer after layer of mangos and cream. It doesn’t get much better than this mango cake!

This mango cake is bursting with fresh mango flavor! An impressive, show-stopping mango cake recipe with only 9 ingredients. It is surprisingly simple. | natashaskitchen.com

Mango Cake Recipe (VIDEO)

4.87 from 201 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
This mango cake is bursting with fresh mango flavor. It is layer after layer of mangos and cream. It doesn't get any better than this and the entire cake only has 9 ingredients!
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 12 slices of cake

For the Easy Sponge Cake:

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:

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

    *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

    Nutrition Per Serving

    547kcal Calories64g Carbs7g Protein31g Fat18g Saturated Fat164mg Cholesterol157mg Sodium246mg Potassium1g Fiber54g Sugar1917IU Vitamin A28mg Vitamin C73mg Calcium1mg Iron
    Nutrition Facts
    Mango Cake Recipe (VIDEO)
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    547
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    31
    g
    48
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    18
    g
    113
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    164
    mg
    55
    %
    Sodium
     
    157
    mg
    7
    %
    Potassium
     
    246
    mg
    7
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    64
    g
    21
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    54
    g
    60
    %
    Protein
     
    7
    g
    14
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1917
    IU
    38
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    28
    mg
    34
    %
    Calcium
     
    73
    mg
    7
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: mango cake
    Skill Level: Medium
    Cost to Make: $$
    Calories: 547

    Filed Under

    Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

    If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

    This mango cake is bursting with fresh mango flavor! An impressive, show-stopping mango cake recipe with only 9 ingredients. It is surprisingly simple. | natashaskitchen.com

    This mango cake is bursting with fresh mango flavor! An impressive, show-stopping mango cake recipe with only 9 ingredients. It is surprisingly simple. | natashaskitchen.com
    4.87 from 201 votes (82 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment

    Recipe Rating




    Comments

    • Emily
      July 23, 2019

      Awful taste. The mango does not go well with this cake. Will not make! Being fair to those who will make it the first time for their guests, don’t do it! Tastes awful
      Like most of Natasha’s recipes, but this one is very unsuccessful.

      Reply

      • Natasha
        July 23, 2019

        Hi Emily, I’m sorry it didn’t turn out for you. Did you by chance taste the mango to make sure it was good before adding it to the cake? It could be that you had a bad mango which can throw the flavors off. That has happened to me in the past which is why I always taste the mangos before using them in any recipe.

        Reply

        • Emily
          July 26, 2019

          I’m a professional baker and yes, I tasted the mango before using it. My friend also tried this recipe and wasn’t happy with the taste. Suggest making it, trying it to make sure you like the blend, because my family didn’t want to eat it. For those who liked it, good for you. We are used to super tasty cakes 🙂 Good job on the other recipes, Natasha, you’re doing a great job!

          Reply

          • Natashas Kitchen
            July 26, 2019

            Thank you for sharing that with us, Emily!

            Reply

        • Claudia
          April 20, 2020

          Hi Natasha! I made this cake for my family and friends and they loved it. It’s a great recipe and the flavor it’s amazing. Thank you for your dedication and hard work. Blessings

          Reply

          • Natasha's Kitchen
            April 20, 2020

            Super! So great to hear that Claudia, this recipe is one of our favorites too, thanks for giving a great feedback.

            Reply

      • S
        July 24, 2019

        I made this cake about 10 times now and everybody loves it! It goes away in no time. People ask for a recipe and some people even asked me to make it for sale.

        Reply

      • Cindy
        July 25, 2019

        I think your issue with the cake must have been due to “pilot error”! I made this cake for a family reunion and it was a HUGE hit! Everyone commented that I should have made two because it went so fast and no one had an opportunity for seconds!

        Reply

    • Candace
      July 21, 2019

      We made this for my husband’s birthday and were licking the plates! Thank you for this recipe. I can see it being a family favorite, easily

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        July 21, 2019

        That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!

        Reply

    • joseph angelillo
      July 21, 2019

      I made this cake. was a big hit in my house. will definitely make it again.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        July 21, 2019

        That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Joseph!

        Reply

    • Suzy
      July 14, 2019

      Hi Natasha,

      I just made your mango cake for a friend’s daughter’s 1st birthday, and it was a big hit! The cake turned out amazing and the mango flavor really shines through. I used your recipe for whipped cream frosting from your ‘Russian tirimisu’ post because I wanted something ‘lighter’ than cream cheese buttercream. Will definitely be making it again – in fact, I got many requests at the party to make it for other special occasions.
      Thanks so much Natasha for the delicious recipe!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        July 15, 2019

        You’re welcome! I’m happy you all enjoyed that! Happy birthday to your daughter!

        Reply

    • A.
      July 6, 2019

      Hi,
      I love your recipes. I want to make this cake for my child’s birthday, can I make it in the evening, a day before the birthday?
      Thanks

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        July 6, 2019

        Hi! Yes, and it helps to refrigerate the cake until ready to serve.

        Reply

      • A.
        July 7, 2019

        Thank you Natasha ❤️
        The cake was soooo delicious. Everybody really loved it and thought it was a bakery cake 😮
        I love the way you explain each thing, you make the process so simple ❤️

        Reply

    • PeiQin
      June 30, 2019

      Hi,can you tell me the recipe for 5inch pan?

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        June 30, 2019

        Hi! I haven’t tested that in a 5-inch pan but here is what one of our readers wrote about using a 6-inch pan “I just made this cake for my husband’s birthday tomorrow. I divided the recipe in half and made little 6inch sponge cakes.” I hope that help.

        Reply

        • alba
          September 10, 2019

          Hi, do sponge cakes hold up well? Can I make a tall 6″ cake with this recipe and use the cream cheese frosting insude but frost outside with ermine or flour buttercream to make decorating easier?

          Reply

          • Natashas Kitchen
            September 10, 2019

            I haven’t tested that specifically but I think that should work. We have made so many cakes with the sponge cake base! If you experiment, please let me know how you like the recipe.

            Reply

      • Irene
        July 19, 2019

        Hi Natasha,

        How would the sponge cake recipe change for a 10″ cake pan?

        Thanks!
        Irene

        Reply

        • Natasha
          July 19, 2019

          Hi Irene, I would bake for slightly less time since the cake layers will be thinner.

          Reply

    • A
      June 19, 2019

      Can I substitute the vanilla extract in the cream cheese frosting with mango extract?

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        June 20, 2019

        I haven’t tested that but I think that should work! If you experiment please let me know how you like this recipe!

        Reply

    • Shea
      May 13, 2019

      Hi,
      Can I make the mango puree ahead of time to assemble the cake at the destination or will it turn brown?
      Thank you,
      Shea

      Reply

      • Natasha
        May 13, 2019

        Hi Shea, the sugar will help to prevent browning but also, make sure you store it without any air touching it; i.e. place it in a ziploc bag and push out all the air before sealing. Air is what will cause the browning.

        Reply

    • Kim
      April 22, 2019

      Hello Natasha. I was wondering is that too sweet for the frosting? What if I cut down the powdered sugar? Thanks

      Reply

      • Natasha
        April 22, 2019

        Hi Kim, we also don’t appreciate overly sweet desserts and found this to be the right balance of sweet to tangy mango.

        Reply

    • Pinaki
      March 26, 2019

      Hi Natasha,

      Thanks for the recipe! As I did not find fresh mangoes available, I bought sweetened mango puree’ from the store. I was wondering whether I should cut down the amount of sugar in the cream cheese or the sponge cake to tone down the overall sweetness.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        March 26, 2019

        Hi Pinaki, without testing that I cannot advise, if you experiment however please let me know how you like that!

        Reply

      • Iris Do Rosario
        May 21, 2019

        Hi Natasha, my cake turned out very rough. The cake itself wasn’t very good what could i have done wrong? It tasted bumpy.

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          May 21, 2019

          Hi Iris, I am always happy to help troubleshoot. If the cake does not rise properly (due to under-beating eggs and sugar usually), there won’t be much of a sponge cake to absorb the moisture and it may end up dense. Were any substitutions or changes made?

          Reply

    • Jane
      March 16, 2019

      Hi Natasha,

      I’m hoping to make this cake this weekend, but I only have one cake pan. Is it okay to make one layer first, cool it, then make the second layer?/How long do you recommend leaving it to cool?

      Thanks so much!

      Reply

      • Natasha
        March 18, 2019

        Hi Jane, with the sponge cake, it is definitely best to bake right away after the batter is made. It could deflate and not rise properly if you left the batter out that long. If making in 1 pan at a time, it would be best to make the cake batter twice (making half the recipe each time for a single layer). You can also use 1 9″ cake pan and 1 9″ springform pan if you have one of those on hand.

        Reply

    • CS
      March 9, 2019

      Hi,
      There isn’t a large selection of fresh mangoes where I live. Can I use frozen mangoes for any part of this recipe?

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        March 9, 2019

        Hi Christina! I think that would be a good substitute for the puree, just be sure to taste the puree and add sugar to taste – sometimes frozen can be tart. You will definitely want to use fresh on top though. I hope you love it!!

        Reply

    • Sabina
      January 13, 2019

      I made this cake for my son’s first birthday and it came out dry. I followed step by step instructions however the cake inside was too dry. I made the strawberry cake many times and it came out most, so I was hoping for the same but unfortunately it did not.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        January 14, 2019

        Hi Sabina, I am always happy to help troubleshoot. Normally the mango puree adds plenty of moisture (and we sure love moist cakes!), but if the cake does not rise properly (due to under-beating eggs and sugar usually), there won’t be much of a sponge cake to absorb the moisture and it may end up dense. Substituting whipping cream for cream cheese would cause the frosting to not sit well since the cream cheese will help stabilize the frosting.

        Reply

    • Areej
      December 31, 2018

      Hey Natasha,

      I just made this cake for my husband’s birthday tomorrow. I divided the recipe in half and made little 6inch sponge cakes. However.. when i was layering the cake.. i realized my cake started to tilt/slide one way. I don’t know why but i did follow your instructions.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        January 1, 2019

        Hi Arrej! Did it seem to slide due to a soft cream or too much mango filling between the layers? Resting it in the refrigerator may help with firming that up a bit.

        Reply

    • Cassie
      November 18, 2018

      Can I use mango pulp instead of liquifying the mango?

      Reply

    • Kiki
      November 6, 2018

      Hi Natasha, I watched the cake in the oven and it deflated in the centre at the 8-minute mark. There is a shallow crater in the cake as it continues to bake. Is that normal?

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        November 6, 2018

        Hi Kiki! Usually the cake doesn’t rise due to under beating eggs and sugar. Was anything altered with this recipe?

        Reply

        • Kiki
          November 7, 2018

          I used one of the reader’s comments and halved the recipe for a six-inch cake. I beat the egg and sugar batter for 11 minutes using a hand mixer. When baking in the oven, the batter rose. But after 8 minutes, I watched it deflate. I wasn’t very happy with the shallow crater but everyone who ate the cake thought it was delicious. The sponge is full of holes and tasted a bit chewy. Is that how European sponge is supposed to be?

          Reply

          • Natashas Kitchen
            November 8, 2018

            It may be a measurement issue when altering that. Or possibly not enough volume to the eggs and sugar when beating. I’m happy to hear everyone thought it was delicious! That’s so great!

            Reply

    • Lidiya
      October 1, 2018

      Wanted to make this again today but Walmart didn’t have mangos so I grabbed some peaches instead.. do you think it’d still turn out the same if I substituted peaches for the mangos?

      Reply

      • Natasha
        October 1, 2018

        Hi Lidiya, peaches tend to discolor more than mangos so it probably wouldn’t keep as well unless you simmered the pureed peaches with lemon juice and sugar to keep it from discoloring too much. Dont boil peach puree over too high of heat since that can also cause it to darken. Let me know if you experiment with peaches!

        Reply

    • AMD
      August 21, 2018

      Hi Natasha, I loved the pictures of mango cake and tried it. I followed everything to the T, but cake turned out very dry. It wasn’t much of sponge cake. I had to substitute whipping cream for cream cheese and the frosting didnt sit too well. Quite disappointed. Was wondering what could have happened.

      Reply

      • Natasha
        August 22, 2018

        Hi AMD, I am always happy to help troubleshoot. Normally the mango puree adds plenty of moisture (and we sure love moist cakes!), but if the cake does not rise properly (due to underbeating eggs and sugar usually), there won’t be much of a sponge cake to absorb the moisture and it may end up dense. Substituting whipping cream for cream cheese would cause the frosting to not sit well since the cream cheese will help stabilize the frosting.

        Reply

        • Jen Abrenica
          December 8, 2019

          Super yummylicious Natasha. Made it yesterday and it’s a hit.

          Can’t thank you enough. You are making me like a pro.

          Reply

          • Natashas Kitchen
            December 9, 2019

            I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!

            Reply

    • Cindy Nell
      August 19, 2018

      Hi Natasha!

      I just want to let you know that I made this cake yesterday for my husband’s birthday party and it was a HUGE hit!! Everyone wanted seconds and complained that I should have made more than one!! LOL! Thanks so much for this great recipe and for the helpful step-by-step tutorial that made it a fool-proof success!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 19, 2018

        Hi Cindy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!

        Reply

    • aditi asdhir
      August 9, 2018

      Hi, I want to make this cake for my daughters birthday but how much ahead of time I can make it ?
      Thanks

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 10, 2018

        I have made this a day ahead and it turned out great. Taste your mango and if it tastes sweet and good (not overly ripe), you shouldn’t have any issues with it lasting until the next day.

        Reply

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