There is nothing that I love more than a super-simple, sweet recipe. Well, other than Dolly Parton. This is Nashville, after all. This recipe combines the best of both worlds.
The Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa Cake is a the sweet creation of Truvy (Dolly Parton) from one of the all-time best classic movies, Steel Magnolias. After recently seeing a friend of mine in a local theater production of the film, the spark to try to bake the famous cake was reignited.
Truvy is doing hair (Because you shouldn’t trust anyone that does their own… It isn’t natural!) while Clairee is browsing the index-style recipe cards for favorites to copy for her own collection (which I can clearly remember doing with my mom’s recipes when I was growing up), when she asks Truvy about the “Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa…”. Truvy chimes in to explain, “Oh, that’s simple! You don’t need to write that down. That’s a cup o’ flour, cup o’ sugar and a cup o’ fruit cocktail with the juice… and you mix and bake at 350 till goooooold and bubbly!”.
I know that many of you will just be disappointed that this post isn’t about how to make the perfect “piece of ass” armadillo cake that Ouiser serves so delightfully… Another day, perhaps.
This recipe is seriously as easy as it sounds. I literally mixed together a cup of [self-rising] flour, a cup of [our very own vanilla] sugar and a cup of [extra cherry] fruit cocktail with the juice. Let me repeat that. EXTRA CHERRY fruit cocktail. If this had existed in my childhood, soooo many fights would have been prevented. World peace would have been achieved. Genius.
Now… I feel obligated to say a few things about this recipe. It isn’t the most complex, delicious recipe ever. It isn’t bad. It’s just very very sweet. Like pre-made bakery grocery-store cake sweet. I will certainly make it again, but mostly for the nostalgia and my annual Drink Your Juice Shelby Steel Magnolias viewing party. Don’t tell Dolly.
To finish off this cake at home, I ended up crumbling the pieces and giving them a quick bake to make a nice ice cream topping. Because, well, we all know that this should be served over ice cream to cut the sweetness.
Just in case you can’t just remember the recipe, here it is:
- 1 cup flour, self-rising
- 1 cup sugar (I prefer our vanilla sugar!)
- 1 cup fruit cocktail with the juice
- ice cream, to cut the sweetness (optional, but encouraged)
- Pre-heat oven to 350 F.
- Mix all ingredients together until well-combined.
- Bake in greased pan or skillet until gold and bubbly, about 40-45 minutes.
- Enjoy! Visit SouthernFATTY.com and leave us some love.
What are your favorite movie menu items? Comment and let us know!
Flemin
Having a great and amazing!
Hillary
What happens if you use all-purpose flour?
Olivera
This recipe brought such a smile to my face! I love how simple yet nostalgic it feels — just a few ingredients and a touch of Southern charm. The Dolly Parton connection makes it even sweeter (literally and figuratively!). I’m definitely adding this to my weekend baking list. It’s the kind of dessert that pairs perfectly with a cozy movie night or while catching up on some favorite anime shows — sweet comfort food and a good story just go hand in hand. Thanks for sharing this little piece of cinematic baking history!
DooFlix
To make this recipe more farmers market-friendly, you may easily modify it for a regular or tiny loaf pan.
Dana Murry
Yes, can this be prepared for a farmers market by putting it in a regular or tiny loaf pan?
Virginia Kathleen
Can I use all purpose flour?
maxiwl maxi
To make this recipe more suitable for a farmers market, you can easily adapt it
Jim Hamel
Truly, To make this recipe more farmers market-friendly, you may easily modify it for a regular or tiny loaf pan.
Blossom Jake
Right, Is it possible to put this in a standard or mini loaf pan to make it suitable for a farmers market?
William Depew
Have you used fruit cocktail in a 100% juice or fruit cocktail with syrup?
Lillian Ramos
Tea Cake is too Amazing and This is for my family, i create it always ever!
Ve
I made it up with muffin tin with half cup of sugar and for 20 minutes on 180 degrees Celcius
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Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
I love this idea! Thanks for sharing!
-Phillip
Roger Naquin
The cuppa tea cake is amazing. For my grandchildren, I create it always ❤️❤️❤️
Kelley Martin Davis
Could this be made in a mini/regular loaf pan to make it farmers market friendly??
David Adams
You can easily adapt this recipe for a mini or regular loaf pan to make it more farmers market friendly.
Sherry Chapman
Love the cuppa cuppa cake I make it all the time and now for my grand babies ❤️❤️❤️
Roseann
Can I use all purpose flour?
Jennifer
Did you use fruit cocktail and syrup or fruit cocktail in a 100% juice?
Anna Chan
I’m glad you experimented with the recipe so I don’t have to. Everytime I watch the movie (based on a play, based on a true story) I always wonder what the cuppa cuppa recipe is like. I love the idea of a “Drink Your Juice Shelby Steel Magnolias viewing party”,
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Hah! This isn’t what I would consider a recipe I would make all the time, but it was fun to make!
-Phillip
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La Verne Gene Jackson
I cannot remember,but didn’t Truvy’s Cuppa Cuppa Cale have chocolate morsels in it, also? I loaned my movie to someone (I got caught at a weak moment ; I NEVER lend my movies or MONEY), and I would like to make it exactly the way she spoke of it!!! Thank you in advance!!!
STEPH
GOLDEN BUBBLY!
Stacy Fibrow
This is not a comment but a question. What would u add if ur flour wasn’t self rising?
Wona
For every 1 cup of all-purpose flour, add 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon fine salt.
Jennifer True
It’s Clairee’s recipe, not Truvy’s.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
This southern boy knows his Dolly Parton! Hahah 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m66fBLU_fk
-Phillip
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Cassie
Actually, in the original play, it IS Clairee’s recipe. She’s the one who shares it with Truvy. They flipped it for the movie version (who knows why). So Jennifer was technically correct. 🙂
Shirley McCranie Lindsey
You left out the stick of butter melted in the pan first.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
You can grease the pan, but I didn’t bake this with a stick of butter.
Wona
Awe Phillip you haven’t lived if you didn’t add the butter. I always add a stick of salted butter. It will cut the sweet and makes up a little piece of heaven.
Dolly Parton
Is it the type of cake to try if you want something tasty, without knowing a thing about Steel Magnolias? Or is this cake purely sentimental, and would it not be enjoyed were it not for the reference?
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
It is VERY sweet. It was mostly out of courosity from hearing the lines in the movie. It is good, but I’d also like to revisit it sometime and make a version with the same ingredients and less sugar and a bit more classic cake base. Cheers!
Shirley
Actually, the fruit is supposed to be peaches. Preferably fresh, but canned will work also.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
I based this off of the movie scene. I’m sure it would be great with just peaches, though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m66fBLU_fk
Rose
You need the liquid part of the canned fruit.
PEvans
No butter?
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Nope. That wasn’t part of the movie recipe. This is more of a for-fun thing. Super sweet!
P Edwards
You know, I always wanted to try this. I sat down recently and watched “Steel Magnolias”. I really do like watching this quartet of strong women who overcome thier own personal obstacles and tragedies with a powerful, forgiving friendship.
Maybe after all these years, I will try Cuppa, Cuppa, Cuppa! Thank you Phillip!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Classic movie! This is definitely a very sweet one.