The 2015 American Christmas comedy-drama film “Love the Coopers” focuses on the Cooper family’s dysfunctional gathering on Christmas Eve. Despite the family drama, the Coopers come together to share a delicious homemade Christmas dinner. The mouthwatering recipes featured in Love the Coopers evoke the warmth, comfort and joy of the holidays. This article will provide an overview of the scrumptious Christmas recipes seen in the movie, so you can recreate these dishes for your own holiday celebrations.
Introduction
Love the Coopers follows the Cooper family as they come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration. The drama unfolds as each family member faces their own struggles and secrets. Despite the chaos, the one constant is the care and effort the Coopers put into their Christmas Eve dinner.
The appetizing Christmas recipes seen in Love the Coopers highlight the most wonderful flavors of the season. From succulent roast beef to sweet potato casserole, the dishes featured in the film will make your mouth water. Recreating these recipes allows you to experience the spirit of Christmas through food, just like the Coopers.
In this article, we will explore the delectable Christmas recipes seen in Love the Coopers. For each recipe, we will provide an overview of the dish and its significance in the film. We will also include a recipe so you can make the Christmas recipes from Love the Coopers yourself. From main courses to sides and desserts, these recipes will help make your holiday dinner scrumptious and heartwarming.
Roasted Prime Rib
One of the centerpieces of the Cooper family Christmas dinner is a mouthwatering roasted prime rib. In the film, Charlotte Cooper carefully prepares this tender and juicy beef roast for her family’s holiday meal. Roasted prime rib is a classic Christmas main course, prized for its rich flavor and impressive presentation.
To make this show-stopping prime rib at home, start by selecting a high-quality, well-marbled prime rib roast, ideally with some external fat. Season the roast liberally with salt, pepper and your choice of herbs or spices. Garlic, rosemary, thyme and oregano all pair exceptionally well with beef.
Slow roast the seasoned prime rib in a low oven, around 250°F, until it reaches your desired degree of doneness. Use a meat thermometer to test for doneness; 120-125°F is ideal for a perfect medium-rare roast. Remove the roast from the oven, tent it loosely with foil and allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat.
Slice the rested roast into thick, juicy cuts, being sure to pour any accumulated juices over the sliced meat. Serve with horseradish cream, au jus or other preferred sauces and enjoy this succulent roast beef as the centerpiece of a spectacular Christmas dinner, just like the Coopers.
Roasted Prime Rib Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 (4-5 pound) prime rib roast, ideally bone-in
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme and oregano
- Garlic, minced (optional)
Instructions:
- Remove the prime rib from the refrigerator and allow it to come closer to room temperature, about 1 hour. Pat the roast dry with paper towels.
- Preheat the oven to 250°F.
- Season the roast liberally on all sides with salt, pepper and fresh herbs. Rub minced garlic into the meat, if desired.
- Place the roast bone-side down in a roasting pan. Brush lightly with olive oil.
- Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the roast, being careful not to touch the bone.
- Roast for 2-2.5 hours for a 4-5 pound roast, until the thermometer reads 120°F for rare or 125°F for medium-rare doneness.
- Remove the roast from the oven, tent loosely with foil and allow to rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing.
- Carve into 1/2 inch thick slices, pouring any accumulated juices over the sliced meat. Serve warm.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Another classic Christmas side dish featured in Love the Coopers is sweet potato casserole. In the film, Charlotte Cooper prepares this comforting casserole to accompany the prime rib roast. Sweet potato casserole is a beloved holiday staple prized for its combination of sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar and pecans.
This luscious casserole starts with roasted sweet potatoes that are mashed together with butter, cream and brown sugar. Eggs help bind the mixture, while vanilla and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger add warmth. The sweet potato filling is then topped with a pecan streusel topping before baking until heated through and golden brown.
The end result is a decadent, almost dessert-like casserole with layers of flavor. The sweet potatoes are creamy and buttery, while the crunchy pecan streusel provides a lovely textural contrast. Make this Christmas classic to enjoy alongside your holiday ham or prime rib. It’s sure to become a new family favorite!
Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1″ cubes
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or whole milk
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch ground ginger or allspice
Topping:
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- Pinch salt
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Place the sweet potato cubes on a parchment lined baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes until very soft. Allow to cool slightly.
- Transfer potatoes to a large bowl. Mash thoroughly with a potato masher or fork. Stir in the melted butter, cream, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla and spices until very smooth.
- Transfer the sweet potato mixture to prepared baking dish.
- Make the topping by mixing together the chopped pecans, flour, brown sugar, softened butter and salt with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the sweet potato mixture.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until bubbly and topping is browned. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.
Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia salad is a fun retro recipe consisting of fruit, coconut and marshmallows tossed in a creamy dressing. In Love the Coopers, Rose Cooper brings this festive fruit salad to the family’s holiday celebration. Ambrosia salad originated in the American South, where fresh citrus and coconut were plentiful.
This bright, colorful salad is easy to whip up. Start by dicing sweet oranges and pineapple. Toast shredded coconut to intensify the flavor. Next, prepare a creamy dressing by folding whipped cream into sour cream or yogurt. Then simply toss the fruit, coconut and mini marshmallows in the dressing. Chill before serving for optimal flavor.
Ambrosia salad is the perfect light and refreshing dish to accompany heavier holiday meals. The sweet fruit and coconut provide a tasty counterpoint to savory dishes like ham or turkey. Bring this retro salad to your next Christmas gathering for a taste of nostalgia. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleasing addition to your holiday spread.
Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 oranges, peeled and diced
- 1 cup pineapple tidbits, drained with juice reserved
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
- 1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons pineapple juice
- 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
Instructions:
- In a small skillet over medium heat, toast the coconut flakes until lightly golden, about 2-3 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the sour cream or Greek yogurt along with the pineapple juice, vanilla and salt.
- In a large bowl, combine the diced oranges, pineapple tidbits, toasted coconut and mini marshmallows.
- Add the creamy dressing and gently fold to coat all ingredients.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld. Garnish with extra toasted coconut if desired.
Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Glaze
For dessert, the Coopers enjoy a wonderfully moist gingerbread cake topped with a bright lemon glaze. Gingerbread is a classic Christmas dessert, beloved for its robust molasses and warm spice flavors. The tart lemon glaze provides the perfect counterpoint to the rich, dark cake.
To make this gingerbread cake, start by creaming the butter and brown sugar. Next, add in eggs, molasses and vanilla to create a smooth, thick batter. The combination of flour, baking soda and ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg gives this cake its signature gingery taste and texture.
Bake the gingerbread cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. While the cake cools, prepare the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar and fresh lemon juice. Drizzle the tangy-sweet glaze over the cooled gingerbread cake for a festive finish.
With its decadent molasses cake and bright lemon glaze, this old-fashioned gingerbread dessert is sure to be a hit at your next holiday gathering. Enjoy a slice with a mug of hot cocoa or coffee for a nostalgic Christmastime treat.
Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Glaze
Ingredients:
- 1⁄2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1⁄2 cup molasses
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
Lemon Glaze:
- 1 1⁄2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
- With an electric mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the eggs, molasses and vanilla until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until incorporated. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool completely before making the glaze. Whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle glaze over cooled gingerbread cake before slicing and serving.
Conclusion
The Christmas recipes featured in the film Love the Coopers highlight the delicious traditions of the holidays. From prime rib roast to sweet potato casserole, ambrosia salad to gingerbread cake, these dishes evoke the spirit of the season through food. Recreating these recipes allows you to infuse your own holiday gatherings with comfort, nostalgia and family bonding.
As the Coopers demonstrate, holiday meals have a magical way of bringing people together, despite any differences or difficulties. The time and care that goes into preparing these festive recipes represents love for friends and family. Though every family has its own quirks and dramas, the unifying factor is the joy of celebrating Christmas together.
This year, make the recipes from Love the Coopers to experience the true meaning of Christmas through food. Roast a tender prime rib, whip up a sweet potato casserole and toast with a slice of gingerbread cake. The act of preparing and enjoying these dishes with loved ones is what the holidays are all about. Let the Christmas recipes from Love the Coopers inspire you to create new holiday memories and traditions this season.
