I Tried Dolly Parton’s Fruit Cocktail Cake from 'Steel Magnolias'

2024-08-10
I Tried Dolly Parton’s Fruit Cocktail Cake from 'Steel Magnolias'
Prep Time:
10 mins
Bake Time:
45 mins
Cool Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
8x8-inch cake

Also known as "Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa Cake," the recipe for fruit cocktail cake was first shared by Dolly Parton's character Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias. The original recipe calls for just three ingredients (you may already have them stashed in your pantry) including canned fruit cocktail, self-rising flour, and sugar. I put the recipe to the test in our Better Homes & Gardens kitchen and found the finished fruit dessert was quite good, with one simple change.

Our Take on the Classic Fruit Cocktail Cake Recipe

The original recipe called for just one can of mixed fruit. After tasting the fruit cocktail cake recipe as written, we loved the flavor but felt it was a little too dense. For the next round, we used one can of fruit cocktail in juice and one additional can of drained fruit cocktail. Be sure to drain the second can of fruit really well. The finished cake was the perfect combination of juicy fruit and crisp cobbler-like topping. I would compare it to a classic dump cake and it's just as easy to make. And like Parton's character recommends, I tasted it with a scoop of ice cream to help "cut the sweetness." This Cuppa Cake is a delicious Southern favorite I highly recommend trying.

Ingredients

  • 2 (15-ounce) cans fruit cocktail (juice pack)

  • 1 cup self rising flour

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Ice cream

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat an 8x8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

  2. Drain 1 can fruit cocktail, discarding juice. In a medium bowl whisk together self-rising flour and sugar. Stir in remaining can of fruit cocktail with juice, drained fruit cocktail, and vanilla; stir until just combined. Transfer mixture to prepared dish.

    Test Kitchen Tip: Remaining fruit cocktail juice can be reserved for another use. Try adding it to a smoothie or cocktail.

  3. Bake 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few clinging crumbs and top is lightly golden brown. Cool in dish on a wire rack 15 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

231 Calories
0g Fat
57g Carbs
2g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 231.2
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0.2g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 193.1mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 56.8g 21%
Dietary Fiber 1.5g 5%
Total Sugars 44.1g
Protein 2g 4%
Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 59.5mg 5%
Iron 1.1mg 6%
Potassium 114.2mg 2%
Fatty acids, total trans 0g
Vitamin D 0IU
Alanine 0g
Arginine 0.1g
Ash 0.9g
Aspartic acid 0.1g
Caffeine 0mg
Carotene, alpha 0mcg
Choline, total 5.6mg
Copper, Cu 0.1mg
Cystine 0g
Energy 966.6kJ
Fluoride, F 9.8mcg
Folate, total 33.8mcg
Glutamic acid 0.5g
Glycine 0.1g
Histidine 0g
Isoleucine 0.1g
Leucine 0.1g
Lysine 0g
Methionine 0g
Magnesium, Mg 8.3mg
Manganese, Mn 0.3mg
Niacin 1.3mg
Phosphorus, P 104.7mg
Pantothenic acid 0.1mg
Phenylalanine 0.1g
Proline 0.2g
Retinol 0mcg
Selenium, Se 6.1mcg
Serine 0.1g
Theobromine 0mg
Threonine 0g
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0.4mg
Tryptophan 0g
Tyrosine 0g
Valine 0.1g
Vitamin A, IU 217.9IU
Vitamin A, RAE 10.6mcg
Vitamin B-12 0mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.1mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 2.8mcg
Water 87.4g
Zinc, Zn 0.2mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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