Orange Cake

Does anyone remember the 7-Up cakes of the 50s? They were very popular and I even have seen recipes using other soda flavors. This cake recipe is something I saw on the message board at Curves a couple of years ago.
With citrus very popular in the winter, this cake that will make you think of the sunny south! And it is pretty healthy!

My mom -in-law is in a skilled nursing facility. She attends a day program and many of the residents are diabetic. When her birthday comes around, I make this cake to take in so she can have a little birthday party with her friends and some of the staff. It is not just easy to put together, but it satisfies some of the dietary restrictions many of the people have.

And, it is so good that it makes a nice dessert for any occasion. I like this in the summer too as it is nice and cool for dessert on the deck!
ORANGE CAKE
1 box orange cake mix - use sugar free if desired
1 10-oz. Diet 7-Up
2 pkgs. sugar free orange jello
1 box sugar free instant vanilla pudding
1 16-oz container of Lite Cool Whip, thawed
1 small can mandarin oranges

Preheat the oven to whatever the box calls for. Spray 9 x 13-in cake pan with PAM. Mix the cake mix, Diet 7-Up, 1 package orange jello, and instant pudding together. Spread in baking dish. Bake according to cake box directions. When cake is done, cool in pan on wire rack. While cake is cooling, mix 1 pkg. orange jello with Cool Whip. When cake has cooled completely, frost with orange Cool Whip and decorate with mandarin oranges. Strawberries look nice on this as well. Chill before serving.

Want to try some other cake flavor variations? Let your imagination run! Here are some suggestions:
~Chocolate cake mix and Diet Coke or diet Cherry Coke~
~Vanilla cake mix and diet orange~
~Spice cake and diet root beer~
~Vanilla cake mix and diet root beer~
~Pineapple cake and diet 7 Up ~