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What’s the mark of “making it” in Hollywood? Some might say an Oscar, a star on the Walk of Fame, or a box office smash. But among the stars, there’s a sweeter honour—making it onto the exclusive Tom Cruise Cake List.
Yes, you heard that right. Every Christmas, the legendary actor gifts an elite group of co-stars, friends, and industry insiders a coveted white chocolate coconut bundt cake that has taken on an almost mythical status.
From Kirsten Dunst to Angela Bassett and even Graham Norton, countless celebrities have spoken about their excitement (and sometimes heartbreak) over receiving or missing out on the cake. So, what’s the story behind this star-studded tradition? Let’s break it down.
What coconut cake does Tom Cruise give?
The cake in question is the White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake, lovingly baked by Doan’s Bakery in Woodland Hills, California. It’s a rich, moist bundt cake coated in a layer of decadent cream cheese frosting and topped with shredded coconut and white chocolate shavings. According to its lucky recipients, the cake is “heavenly” and “worth every calorie.”
Where does the Tom Cruise coconut cake come from?
Doan’s Bakery, a family-run operation in Woodland Hills, crafts the famous coconut cake. The bakery has been a Hollywood secret for years, but Tom Cruise’s annual tradition has put their creations on the map. While Cruise sends the cakes as gifts, anyone in the U.S. can order one through Goldbelly for nationwide delivery—if you’re willing to splurge. For Aussies, you may not be able to get your hands on the real deal, but there are some incredible recipes online if you’re willing to attempt a homemade dupe.
How much does Tom Cruise’s coconut cake cost?
For those who haven’t made it onto Cruise’s exclusive list, the cake doesn’t come cheap. Through Goldbelly, a single cake costs about $125 USD (almost $200 AUD), plus shipping. But judging by the reviews from celebrities, fans, and food critics alike, it’s worth every penny.
Every Celebrity who’s received the Tom Cruise coconut cake
Kirsten Dunst & Jesse Plemons
Kirsten Dunst has been receiving the cake since she starred with Cruise in Interview with the Vampire in 1994. In recent years, her husband Jesse Plemons has also joined the list, doubling the Dunst-Plemons household’s holiday dessert stash.
Glen Powell
The Top Gun: Maverick star loves his Cruise cake so much, he throws an annual party to share it with friends. Powell’s “Cruise Cake Party” has become a festive tradition, complete with strict rules to prevent guests from taking more than their fair share!
Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett is such a fan of the cake that she and her husband Courtney B. Vance had a three-tiered version of it at their 25th wedding anniversary. “It’s the best cake I’ve ever had,” she told Kelly Clarkson.
Rosie O’Donnell
Rosie O’Donnell, a longtime friend of Cruise, says Christmas doesn’t feel complete until she receives her cake. She proudly shows it off on Instagram every year, captioning one post, “My Tommy sent me a coconut cake!! I love that guy.”
Jay Ellis
Another Top Gun: Maverick alum, Ellis once froze his Cruise cake to take it to Mexico so his family could enjoy it on Christmas Day. His devotion to the cake is a testament to its legendary status.
Tom Hanks
Even Forrest Gump himself is a fan of the Cruise cake! Hanks revealed that the cake is such a hit at his production company, Playtone, that his team slices it thinner and thinner to make it last longer.
Cobie Smulders
Cobie Smulders has her own system for savouring the cake: freezing it and eating it in small portions over several months. On The Tonight Show, she called it “so good” and confessed that she chips away at it well into the new year.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields reminisced about being on the list for a solid decade. Although she’s no longer receiving the cake, she’s hopeful for a future return to Cruise’s good graces—and her holiday dessert table.
