Truvy’s Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa from Steel Magnolias

September 9, 2009

Truvy's Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa from Steel Magnolias
Movie food pretty much grabs my attention. One favorite flick of mine is Steel Magnolias.  I watch practically any time it airs — food has such an active role.  The Easter eggs getting smashed in Truvy’s car trunk starts it off.  Truvy (Dolly Parton) and Annelle (Darryl Hannah) scooping corn and potatoes at the fair while updating Shelby (Julia Roberts) on Annelle’s transformation.  M’Lynn (Sally Field) measuring sugar for holiday baked goods while Shelby is pouring her heart out about being pregnant.  Ouiser (Shirley MacLaine. And until I looked this up, I thought was WEEZER) hacking the tail off the armadillo-shaped groom’s cake to punctuate her feelings toward Drum.  Clairee (Olympia Dukakis) tossing cans of baked beans into the grocery shopping cart as she and Ouiser mull over Shelby’s upcoming surgery.

My favorite… Clairee asks Truvy for the recipe for her Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa.  It haunted me.  (put on your Dolly Parton voice:)  “Oh hell, Clairee, you don’t need a recipe.  It’s just a cup of flour, a cup of sugar and a cup of fruit cocktail WITH the syrup, stir and bake in a hot oven ‘til golden brown and bubbly.  I serve it with ice cream to cut the sweetness.”

PattiLondreDollyParton thumb Truvy’s Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa from Steel Magnolias It occurred to me recently that I had a photo of myself with Dolly from around 1978 when she was visiting LA. Larry was an ad agency guy then, and his longtime radio sales friend Dick McGeary invited us to meet this rising country star, a newbie to me. She was as sweet as Truvy. And very short; I’m bending my knees to scrunch my 5’8” frame down and she was wearing platform heels.

So, back to the movie. Was Truvy’s recipe worth making?  A few other bloggers who followed the recipe said pretty much the same thing.  Hillbilly Food.  That wasn’t enough to deter me so I made a batch and “I can report” (as Clairee would say) it’s more like college dorm food.  Sticky, super sweet, but only three ingredients, so there’s merit.   Annelle would like the fact that I will “Freeze It Beautifully” (the beans scene) until then.

Recipe: Truvy’s Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa from Steel Magnolias

Summary: Is Steel Magnolias one of your favorite movies? I tried Truvy’s recipe, and here it is.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup fruit cocktail in heavy syrup

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, stir together ingredients. Spray an 8 x 8 inch square pan with non-stick spray and spoon in batter, spread to the edges. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Allow to cool until warm to the touch, cut into 16 squares.

Meal type: dessert

Culinary tradition: USA (Southern)

pixel Truvy’s Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa from Steel Magnolias

{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Daniela February 28, 2012 at 1:41 pm

I think I would try this with a splenda blend and maybe a light syrup for a slightly less sweet mix….but I do want to play with this recipe. Thanks.

2 Worth The Whisk February 17, 2012 at 7:57 am

Thank you for the perspective, Sheila. In 1978, country music just wasn’t a big deal here in Los Angeles. I do love Dolly.

3 Sheila February 16, 2012 at 9:12 pm

FYI, Dolly Parton was FAR from a rising star in 1978. In 1967 she became a regular on the Porter Waggoner show. And in 1974, her song, “I Will Always Love You,” went to # 1.

4 Amy Beane November 1, 2011 at 3:44 am

I am currently playing Truvy in the play, so to quote Ouiser, “I am intrigued.” Anyway, what I discovered is that it they left off one cuppa. It is much better with a cuppa butter mixed in!

5 Stephani October 14, 2011 at 6:31 pm

I’ve been dying to try this. And i’m going to this weekend.
And I’m sorry to split hairs, but “hillbilly” and “southern” are not (always) the same thing. The story takes place in Louisiana. Very few hills or mountains in that state. I’m betting the recipe is a relic from the 50s when ladies’ magazines were publishing unholy combinations of canned and other prepared foods.
And from what I can see in the Christmas festival scene, Truvy and Annelle are scooping up a Low-country Boil. Delish!

6 Trivia Lover October 1, 2011 at 9:11 am

My fav movie of all time!…and has anyone figured out just exactly what Dolly Parton was dishing up at that Christmas Festival? Has anyone found the recipe?
That festival is in fact real in that town and I would imagine that it is served there every year. There is a web site for the festival but I don’t see a list of what all is served.

7 sal September 1, 2011 at 6:06 pm

My hillbilly grandma made it with canned peaches sitting on top rather than mixed in. Truly sophisticated tasting. Divine. Since, I’m from Hawaii, I’m making mine with white wholegrain flour (like that used in Sara Lee white whole grain bread) and sweetened mangos on top.

8 Worth The Whisk April 17, 2011 at 11:46 am

WOW, now I have to see the play. Maybe the way Truvy delivers the lines is just funnier.

9 Ronni April 16, 2011 at 7:16 am

In the play, it’s actually Clairee’s recipe…don’t know why they switched it for the movie.

10 Christina January 11, 2011 at 11:45 am

Not really a hilbilly recipe. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and my mom used to make something similar using fruit pie filling, boxed cake mix and squeezy parkay. Put 2 cans of pie filling in greased cassarole dish, cover with contence of cake mix box and dot with butter or the squezy parkay, bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until light golden brown.
This was Piecake. I loved it with cherry pie filling but any fruit pie filling will do

11 Worth The Whisk December 20, 2010 at 1:47 pm

Karen – I don’t see why not. The concoction is pretty sticky and sweet anyway. If you do so, please report your results!

12 Karen December 20, 2010 at 1:18 pm

I wonder if you can make this with heavy syrup-ed (is that a word) pineapple?

13 Worth The Whisk December 20, 2010 at 8:59 am

Damien, I luv hillbillies, LOL. Best cooks out there. :D

14 Damien December 19, 2010 at 10:03 pm

This is a common southern recipe… often called fruit cocktail cake. I don’t agree that peaches make it better, then it just tastes like a super sweet peach cobbler. The best fruit cocktail to use is the extra cherries. I serve it warm and always with ice cream on top. It is way too sweet without it. Made my night running into this recipe blog. I guess I’m a “hillbilly”

15 Worth The Whisk September 17, 2010 at 5:25 pm

Helen, you are so sweet. Thank you for your support about my writing style. Great way to end the week, thanks!

16 Helen September 17, 2010 at 1:09 pm

I’m thrilled to see your recipe and anecdotes from the film. I’m going to try it, just to pay homage to the film pretty much as you have done :)

Please don’t change your writing style no matter what some other rude poster has said. There are many recipe sites, if one doesn’t appeal you can find another. There’s no need to be ignorant though

17 Worth The Whisk June 30, 2010 at 1:51 pm

I’ve heard a few variations, such as canned peaches. But always serve it topped with ice cream, “to cut the sweetness” as Truvy said in the movie. It really does.

18 wongrclv June 30, 2010 at 1:48 pm

I have mine in the oven right now, this is the first time I am making this. I hope it comes out alright. Can you use any kind of canned fruit?

19 Annie'sKitchen June 27, 2010 at 9:44 am

Try it using canned peaches……Much better and also it works best with self-rising flour! Always top with ice cream!

20 Worth The Whisk June 19, 2010 at 5:18 pm

Hi Jay, sorry to disappoint you with my post. The recipe turns out sticky sweet. If YOU like “sticky sweet,” give it a try. I ate it but probably won’t make it again because it is so sweet. That is why Truvy recommended topping it with ice cream; that wasn’t a joke, it does cut the sweetness. The photo is exactly what it looks like when done.

21 Jay June 19, 2010 at 4:27 pm

Your reviews are of little to no worth. What about the ‘Cuppa’ recipe? Is it edible? Does it end up a sticky mess? Your comments were about loving the film, not how the thing turned out. Do i waste my time and ingredents making it or not?

22 Ashley Rose January 24, 2010 at 10:13 am

I have been wondering if i can make this and i am very excited now to runt o my kitchen and make this for my boys. I will also make this on my next girls night movie with steel magnolias

23 Sarah Foerster September 11, 2009 at 4:50 pm

I will speak in my Dolly P voice while making this, y’all!

24 Jada September 10, 2009 at 4:55 pm

Looooove Steel Magnolias! Those lines you recite make me nostalgic : )

25 Jen @ MaplenCornbread September 9, 2009 at 5:52 pm

I loved that movie and this cuppa cuppa!!!

26 VeggieGirl September 9, 2009 at 11:05 am

Love the film AND that treat! :)

27 BethieofVA September 9, 2009 at 10:26 am

I love it!! Great movie, great food, great fun!

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: