Would a cake mix work? Spice flavor and use dates?

http://baking.about.com/od/cakemixcake1/r/pigpickinmandar.htm

Mandarin Orange Cake (by Carroll Pellegrinelli)
User Rating: 4.5 Star Rating (19 Reviews)

Cake
18 oz. yellow cake mix
11 oz. can mandarin oranges with juice
4 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Frosting
9 oz. carton frozen whipped topping, thawed
8 oz. can crushed pineapple, with juice
3.4 ounce (4-servings) box instant vanilla pudding

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans or 9x13 pan

In mixing bowl, combine cake mix, mandarin oranges, mandarin orange juice, eggs and oil.
Beat 2 min. with mixer. Pour into pans and bake 20 - 25 min. (longer for 9x13) or until cake tester comes out clean.
Cool in pans 10 min., turn out of pans and finish cooling on wire racks.