Home » Desserts » Cakes

UGLY DUCKLING CAKE

This Ugly Duckling Cake has been around for a long time and is one of our favorites. This recipe is made with a mix but you could make it from scratch and just make a yellow cake with the same ingredients. It is not the prettiest cake but it is one of the best when it comes to taste. My family loves it and with a cup of coffee it can’t be beat.

Cake:

1 (15.25 ounce) yellow cake mix

1 (15 ounce) can fruit cocktail, do not drain

2 eggs

Mix together cake mix, fruit cocktail with juice and eggs with a spoon. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish and spread in bottom of dish. Add swirl.

Swirl:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup chopped nuts, walnuts or pecans

Mix together and sprinkle over the cake. Take a knife and cut mixture into the cake mix until all ingredients are wet. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

Topping:

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup white granulated sugar

1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 cups shredded coconut

Bring evaporated milk, sugar and butter to a rolling boil in a pan on top of the stove. Boil for one minute stirring often as will boil over on stove. Remove from stove and add coconut. Mix well. Spread over cake. Makes 10 to 12 servings. Enjoy!

Ugly Duckling Cake

The Southern Lady Cooks
This Ugly Duckling Cake is wonderful despite it's name!
4.84 from 6 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, southern
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients
 

  • 1 15.25 ounce yellow cake mix
  • 1 15 ounce can fruit cocktail, do not drain
  • 2 eggs

Swirl Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup chopped nuts walnuts or pecans

Topping Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk
  • 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons butter
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut

Instructions
 

Cake Instructions

  • Mix together cake mix, fruit cocktail with juice and eggs with a spoon. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish and spread in bottom of dish. Add Swirl.

Swirl Instructions

  • Mix together and sprinkle over the cake. Take a knife and cut mixture into the cake mix until all ingredients are wet. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

Topping Instructions

  • Bring evaporated milk, sugar and butter to a rolling boil in a pan on top of the stove. Boil for one minute stirring often as will boil over on stove. Remove from stove and add coconut. Mix well. Spread over cake. Makes 10 to 12 servings.
Keyword cake mix recipe, easy cake recipe, ugly duckling cake
Love this recipe?Let us know by commenting below!
Follow us on Pinterest!

Be sure and PIN this Ugly Duckling Cake:

Are you reading our digital magazine, Front Porch Life? It’s full of great new recipes, country living, fantastic people, southern charm, cooking tips and so much more. We send it directly to your email so you can start reading, cooking and relaxing immediately! This is our premium content not found on our website. Join 1000’s of others today and start enjoying our magazine! 

Follow us on Instagram! 
© The Southern Lady Cooks photos and text – All rights reserved. No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder.

 

 

4.84 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




15 Comments

  1. I have been making this for years. It’s an excellent cake with minimal fuss. Not sure where I got the recipe to begin with but it has been a keeper.4 stars

  2. Su

    Such a delicious cake! Couldn’t get enough of it! A friend made this at a beach party and it was thee best!5 stars

  3. Made this cake for a brunch at church. It was perfect as a coffee cake. Just delicious!5 stars

  4. Audrey Cook says:

    Made this cake for the Honor Guard Men and they loved it. I have also done the Honey Bun Cake and have had requests for it often. Easy to make, great tasting! TN Honor Guard thank you for this recipe.5 stars

    1. The Southern Lady says:

      So glad it was a hit! Thank you for sharing.

  5. Kathie Kenney says:

    I love this cake, but if it has coconut in it, how can it be bad. This is a very moist cake too.5 stars

  6. can I use a can of pineapple instead of fruit cocktail?
    thank you.

    1. The Southern Lady says:

      I think you could do that ok but I have not tried it.

  7. This cake looks delicious! Do you cool the cake before putting the topping on?

    1. The Southern Lady says:

      It is not necessary to cool the cake first, Patricia, but you could if you want.

  8. Nancy Jeanelle Reinhardt says:

    Everything looks so delicious keep posting recipes for us.

  9. My mom use to make a similar cake when we were growing up many years ago. This brought back the memories. I’ll have to make this one. 🙂

    1. My mom did too. Ours was a fruit cocktail cake. The longer it sat the juicer it got. 🙂

  10. Sue Erskine says:

    What an interesting sounding cake.. Never heard of it before.. Well, maybe from Upstate NY originally…Now living in Australia.. Will have to give this one a try.. Thank you.. And wishing all you and yours a Blessed and Happy Easter.. Sue

    1. The Southern Lady says:

      It’s a delicious cake and I hope you enjoy it. Happy Easter to you as well!