Masjid Noor Cake

Some recipes come from cookbooks. Some come from Pinterest. And some come from the places that quietly shape your life.

This cake is the third kind.

Years ago, when I lived in Columbus, Ohio, Fridays at the Noor Islamic Center meant one very important thing: the bake sale. And there was always one cake I would make a beeline for before anything else — this one.

Light, fluffy yellow cake topped with the creamiest whipped pineapple frosting and finished with colorful fruit scattered across the top. It was cool, fruity, and somehow exactly what you wanted after a busy Friday. I bought a slice almost every single week, and I looked forward to it every time.

Columbus holds such a special place in my heart. It’s where I made some of my lifelong sister friends, and it’s where my journey volunteering at the masjid really began. One of the people who made that experience so meaningful was Sister Sumayya — the woman behind this beloved cake.

She wasn’t just known for her bake sale treat. She was also the one who encouraged me and two of my girlfriends to start a weekly preschool program at the masjid. That little program for tiny humans became something so special, and it all started because she said yes.

When we eventually moved away, Sister Sumayya shared her famous cake recipe with me. And the best part? It’s completely semi-homemade — the kind of recipe that reminds you that delicious doesn’t have to be complicated.

Boxed cake mix. Canned fruit. Frozen whipped topping. And somehow it turns into a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing dessert that disappears every single time.

The cake itself is incredibly soft thanks to mandarin oranges blended right into the batter. Then it’s topped with a fluffy frosting made from whipped topping, vanilla pudding, and crushed pineapple. Finish it off with fresh fruit and you have a bright, cheerful dessert that’s perfect for gatherings, potlucks, or post-Jummah (the Islamic congregational Friday prayers).

It’s simple. It’s nostalgic. And every bite takes me right back to those Fridays in Columbus.

5 from 1 vote

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Masjid Noor Cake

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Baking, Cake, Dessert, Eid, Fruit, Ramadan, Sweets Week 2026

Servings 12 Servings

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 (13 to 15 ounce) box yellow cake mix
• 3 large eggs
• 1 (10 to 15 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup neutral flavored oil

Frosting

• 1 (8 ounce) tub frozen whipped topping
• 1 (3.4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
• 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained

Fruit Topping

• Strawberries, sliced
• Kiwi, sliced
• Canned mandarin oranges, drained
• Blueberries
• Pineapple, diced

Instructions

Prepare Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and set aside a greased half-sheet cake pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients until thoroughly combined. Transfer batter to prepared pan and bake until lightly browned and an inserted toothpick comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely.

Prepare Frosting and Assemble

1. In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients until thoroughly combined. Spread frosting over the top of the cooled cake in an even layer. Garnish with desired fruits and refrigerate until ready to serve.