tom cruise cake price

We Tried The Viral Tom Cruise Cake — Here Are Our Thoughts

How can we get on his Christmas gift list?

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For the past decade, Tom Cruise has bought hundreds of these cakes, wrapped them in festive packaging, and sent them all over to spread holiday cheer. He even ships the cakes via his private jet to friends living outside the U.S.

The lineup of stars who are gifted a Cruise Cake includes Jimmy Fallon, Angela Bassett, John Hamm, and Kirsten Dunst. Dunst even said in a 2016 interview with Graham Norton (who also receives it every year) that it's one of the best cakes she's ever had. If you want to see more people who are sent one, PEOPLE published this list of celebrities who have publicly spoken about receiving the Tom Cruise cake.

Karen Doan first created the cake when she opened Doan's Bakery in 1984. The family-owned and -operated bakery describes the Cruise Cake as a coconut bundt cake with chunks of white chocolate , covered in a layer of cream cheese frosting and a mountain of shredded coconut .

While Cruise has certainly made the cake famous, he wasn't the first actor to fall in love with it. One of its first celebrity fans was Diane Keaton , who introduced the cake to Cruise when she was filming the 2008 movie Mad Money with his then-wife Katie Holmes.

Team Delish may not be famous actors (yet), but we wanted to see what all the hype was about, so we had a Cruise Cake sent to office.

The verdict? Jimmy Fallon wasn't kidding when he called the cake " unbelievable ." The cake was incredibly moist while still light and fluffy. The rich, creamy frosting was just sweet enough. We found the coconut flavor to be pretty mild, which was a relief to some of the coconut-skeptics on the team.

For us, the best thing about the cake were the chunks of white chocolate mixed into the batter. They added a nice crunch to an otherwise soft cake. In the words of one of our editors, "This cake makes me want to jump on a couch."

The cake was a huge hit with Team Delish. If you want to try it for yourself, you can order one from Goldbelly straight to your door.

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White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake (AKA the Tom Cruise Cake)

By Susan Ensley · March 26, 2024 Leave a Comment

Craving the Celebrity-Loved White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake? Make it at Home! Indulge in the legendary White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake , also known as the Tom Cruise Cake . This decadent dessert, famed for being a holiday gift from Hollywood A-lister Tom Cruise, is now within your reach.

Skip the hefty price tag and impress your friends and family with this easy-to-follow recipe. Our recipe captures the moist coconut cake loaded with white chocolate chips, all topped with a dreamy cream cheese frosting and sweetened coconut flakes. Get ready to bake a cake fit for the stars (and yourself) – dive into our easy-to-follow recipe for this celebrity-worthy treat!

• Here’s Why You’ll Want to Make the White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake
• Ingredients – Here’s What You’ll Need for the Cake

Steps to Make the White Chocolate Coconut Cake

• Ingredients – Here’s What You’ll Need to Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

Steps to Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

Steps to finish the white chocolate coconut bundt cake, frequently asked questions, recipe tips and tricks, other great cakes, here’s why you’ll want to make the white chocolate coconut bundt cake.

• Celebrity-Approved Flavor: This cake is famously gifted by Tom Cruise to his A-list friends, so you know it’s delicious!
• Moist and Dreamy Texture: The combination of coconut and white chocolate creates a decadent and incredibly moist cake that practically melts in your mouth.
• Easy to Make: Don’t be fooled by the fancy name! This bundt cake comes together with readily available ingredients and requires no complicated baking techniques.
• Budget-Friendly: Skip the expensive shipping costs of the original bakery version. Making it yourself saves money and allows you to enjoy the cake fresh from the oven.
• Perfect for Sharing: The bundt cake design makes it ideal for holiday feasts, potlucks, parties, or simply enjoying with family and friends.

Ingredients – Here’s What You’ll Need for the Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Absorbs moisture from the wet ingredients like eggs and butter. This balanced moisture content ensures your cake remains moist and tender without being soggy.
• White Sugar: Provides the base sweetness that complements the rich white chocolate and the subtle sweetness of coconut.
• Unsalted Butter: Allows the other ingredients to react as intended, promoting the ideal rise and crumb texture in your bundt cake.
• Sour Cream: Adds a touch of luxurious creaminess to the batter, creating a decadent texture that complements the fluffy cake and rich white chocolate chunks.
• Sweetened Coconut Flakes: Infuses the cake with a burst of tropical flavor. While at the same time adding a wonderful textural contrast to the moist cake.
• White Chocolate Chips: These are the melty jewels scattered throughout the cake, adding pockets of creamy white chocolate flavor in every delightful bite.
• Extra-Large Eggs: Contain slightly more yolk compared to their smaller counterparts, which can translate to a richer flavor and a touch more moisture in your final cake.
• Vanilla and Coconut Extracts: Work together beautifully to create a symphony of flavor that complements the cake’s core ingredients.
• Baking Powder and Salt: are crucial for proper cake rise and flavor.

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a medium size bowl, add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.

• Then, using a small whisk or fork, combine the dry ingredients well. Set the bowl aside until ready to use.

• Place the unsalted butter in the bowl of an electric stand mixer and beat on medium speed for 5 minutes.

• Scrape the bowl and add the white sugar.

• Continue beating for another 5 minutes.

• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

• Then, add the sour cream and continue beating until everything is well combined.

• Add the vanilla extract and coconut extract, beat until combined.

• Then, add the mixed dry ingredients and beat until well combined.

• Add the sweetened coconut flakes.

• And the white chocolate chips and beat just until they are combined.

• Grease and flour a 15-cup bundt pan. I like to use Baker’s Joy No-Stick Baking Spray with Flour . Then, pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it, so that it’s level, evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake in a 350°F oven for 1 hour and 25 minutes.

• Remove from the oven and cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes.

• After 20 minutes, turn the cake out onto the wire rack and allow it to cool completely before frosting. I like to wrap my cakes in plastic wrap overnight and frost them the next day.

Ingredients – Here’s What You’ll Need to Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

• Powdered Sugar: Provides the foundation of sweetness for the cream cheese frosting. The fine texture of powdered sugar aerates the frosting as it’s mixed, incorporating air bubbles that create a light and fluffy consistency.
• Cream Cheese: The rich and tangy heart of the frosting. It forms the base that gets transformed with powdered sugar and other flavorings into a luxurious frosting fit for a celebrity.
• Unsalted Butter: Plays a crucial supporting role contributing significantly to the overall taste and texture of your creamy masterpiece.
• Heavy Whipping Cream: A touch is a secret weapon for achieving a frosting that’s incredibly smooth and spreadable and boasts a luxurious melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Vanilla Extract and Salt: These two humble ingredients work together like a culinary magic act to create an extraordinary flavor experience
• Sweetened Coconut Flakes: While not included in the frosting, a generous coating pressed into the frosting on the outside of the cake adds to the visual appeal of the cake, and also complements the cake’s flavor profile, creating a cohesive and enticing presentation.

• Add the room-temperature cream cheese, room-temperature unsalted butter, salt, and vanilla extract to a large bowl.

• Then, using an electric hand mixer, beat at medium speed until well combined.

• Next, add the powdered sugar, about a cup at a time.

• Beat well after each addition with the mixer until well combined.

• Add the heavy whipping cream.

• Beat until well combined and the frosting is smooth and creamy.

• Place the cake on a cardboard cake round or a large serving plate. Then, using an icing spatula or knife, cover the entire outside of the cake with the cream cheese frosting.

• Then, using your hands, press the sweetened coconut flakes into the frosting, making sure to coat the entire outside of the cake.

This celebrity-approved recipe combines the richness of white chocolate with the tropical flair of coconut for an unforgettable flavor explosion. So, preheat your oven, gather your ingredients, and embark on your White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake baking adventure. It’s the perfect dessert for any occasion, guaranteed to satisfy every sweet tooth.

You can substitute sour cream with plain yogurt thinned with a little milk, or buttermilk. However, these options may slightly alter the final taste and texture.

Opt for white chocolate chips made with real cocoa butter for the best flavor and meltability.

Absolutely! This cake pairs well with many frostings. Cream cheese frosting is a classic choice, but you could also try a vanilla glaze, whipped cream frosting, or even a white chocolate ganache.

Sure, toasting the coconut can add a deeper, caramelized flavor dimension that elevates the cake.

• Don’t Overmix:  Once you’ve incorporated the dry ingredients, resist the urge to overmix the batter. Overmixing can lead to a dense cake. Mix just until everything is combined.
• Room Temperature Ingredients:  Ensure all your ingredients, especially the eggs and butter, are at room temperature. This promotes even mixing and a smooth batter.
• Oven Temperature:  Ovens can vary, so keep an eye on the cake towards the end of baking. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with a few moist crumbs, not completely clean.
• Storage:  Store the frosted cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

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• 15-cup Bundt Pan
• Baker's Joy No-Stick Baking Spray with Flour
• Electric Stand Mixer
• Electric hand mixer
• Silicone Spatula

Ingredients    1x 2x 3x

Ingredients for the cake.

• 3 c All-Purpose Flour
• ½ tsp Salt
• ½ tsp Baking Powder
• 3 c White (Granulated) Sugar
• 1 c Unsalted Butter room temperature
• 6 Extra-Large Eggs room temperature
• 1 c Sour Cream room temperature
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 tsp Coconut Extract
• 2 c Sweetened Coconut Flakes

Ingredients for the Cream Cheese Frosting

• 4 oz Cream Cheese room temperature
• ¼ c Unsalted Butter room temperature
• ⅛ tsp Salt
• 2 c Powdered Sugar
• 1 ½ c Sweetened Coconut Flakes

Instructions  

Steps to make the cake.

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set the bowl aside until ready to use.
• Place the unsalted butter in the bowl of an electric stand mixer and beat on medium speed for 5 minutes. Scrape the bowl, add the white sugar, and continue beating for another 5 minutes.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, add the sour cream and continue beating until everything is well combined. Add the vanilla and coconut extracts and beat until combined. Then, add the mixed dry ingredients and beat until combined.
• Add the sweetened coconut flakes and the white chocolate chips, and beat just until they are combined.
• Grease and flour a 15-cup bundt pan*. Then, pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly with a rubber spatula.
• Bake in a 350°F oven for 1 hour and 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes, turn the cake onto the wire rack and cool completely before frosting.**

To Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

• Add the cream cheese, unsalted butter, salt, and vanilla extract to a large bowl. Then, using an electric hand mixer, beat at medium speed until it is well combined.
• Next, add the powdered sugar, about a cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add the heavy whipping cream, beat until well combined and the frosting is smooth and creamy.

To Finish the White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake

• Store the frosted cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Yield 16 servings

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Tom Cruise Sends This Cake to Celebrity Friends Every Year: Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, Angela Bassett & More

James corden, kirsten dunst, cobie smulders, jimmy fallon, and rosie o'donnell have received this iconic cake from tom cruise..

We independently selected these products because we love them, and we think you might like them at these prices. E! has affiliate relationships, so we may get a commission if you purchase something through our links. Items are sold by the retailer, not E!. Prices are accurate as of publish time.

Tom Cruise is known for many things, like doing his own stunts and flying planes, but did you know about the Tom Cruise cake ? Well, technically, it's the White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake from Doan's Bakery in Woodland Hills, CA. However, it has reached legendary status thanks to Tom Cruise, who sends out these delicious cakes every year to his friends and colleagues including  Miles Telle r, Jon Hamm , Angela Bassett ,  James Corden , Kirsten Dunst , Cobie Smulders , Jimmy Fallon , and Rosie O'Donnell .

At the T op Gun: Maverick   premiere in May 2022, Jon Hamm  told Dish Nation 's Andrew Freund, "I was on the list pre- Maverick , so I'm very happy," when he was asked about making the Tom Cruise Cake List. Miles Teller gushed, "The coconut cake is very good. I have one in my fridge right now."

In a 2019 interview with Cobie Smulders, Jimmy Fallon explained, "Tom Cruise will send you a cake during the holidays. Cobie gushed, "I leave it in my freezer and it lasts until, like, March. Like, I just slowly chip away at this thing. It's so good. I don't know why. I'm not even a big sweets person, but it's so good."

"I love sugar, but I can't eat it when I'm training. So, I send it to everyone. I sent it to the stunt team." Tom told James Cordon and Angela Bassett in 2018. That Tom Cruise Cake list is definitely a sign that you've made it. Angela joked, "But, only I ate it," when Tom mentioned sending one to the actress and her husband  Courtney B. Vance,  who unfortunately didn't get a slice of the iconic dessert.

"He gives me this cake every Christmas. We call it the Cruise Cake. It's just this coconut cake. It's the best coconut cake I've ever had in my life," Kirsten Dunst raved on  The Graham Norton Show in 2016. Rosie O'Donnell dedicated a 2021 Instagram post to this holiday gift. 

You may not be on the Tom Cruise Cake List, yet, but you can order the legendary dessert from Goldbelly  in the meantime. 

Doan's Bakery White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake

This coconut cake has chunks of sweet white chocolate, cream cheese frosting, and it's covered in toasted coconut flakes. This pillowy cake serves 12 to 16 people.

It ships frozen with dry ice. When it arrives, put it in your fridge or the freezer. The cake lasts 5 days in the refrigerator and up to 4 months in the freezer. If you want to enjoy the dessert right away, just remove the packaging and allow the cake to thaw at room temperature.

Celebrities aren't the only people raving about this iconic cake. Check out these rave reviews from Goldbelly shoppers. 

Doan's Bakery White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake Reviews

A shopper raved, "Got a 'Tom Cruise' cake from Doan's Bakery in CA. Cake arrived on time and was in perfect condition due to dry ice. Thawed and cake was perfect. Whole process: from ordering to eating was flawless. Thanks Goldbelly! From a happy customer."

Someone else shared, "The entire experience was awesome! Delivered on time. The cake was absolutely delicious and worth the wait and cost!"

A customer raved, "I loved every minute of my purchase..I ordered a fun cake for my easter weekend but I was invited to an engagement party and the groom-to-be loves coconut so I gave the cake away...it was a hit on Friday night...I sure wish I had a slice of it right now....I'm so proud of your services and your product choices..God bless your hearts and may all our bellies be happy too.....it was a joy to give away my cake for such a sweet night...I'm grateful and thankful."

A fan of the cake reviewed, "Everything. Astonishingly good, unexpectedly good. We got a cake from across the country and it arrived in perfect condition and was phenomenal. Costly but: Worth every dollar. Will be ordering more through the service."

"It was delivered on time. Wrapped very well. My daughter was thrilled with the cake. It is such a treat to order things from across the states and see what different businesses are famous for," a Goldbelly customer explained.

"Everything was on time & held up extremely well! And oh so delicious!!! Thanks for making one very happy family," a shopper reviewed.

If you're looking for more Tom Cruise-inspired shopping, you need to check out  this  Top Gun  style guide .

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Tom Cruise Cake

This is a copycat Tom Cruise cake , aka the white chocolate coconut Bundt cake that Tom Cruise sends every Christmas to a select list of friends — it is definitely worth jumping on a couch for in my opinion!

This “Tom Cruise Cake,” inspired by the decadent dessert the movie star famously sends as a holiday gift, is as irresistible as it gets. The buttery sour cream pound cake features white chocolate chips and sweetened coconut flakes and is topped with a cream cheese frosting  — what’s not to love? 

What Is Tom Cruise Cake? 

The famous “Tom Cruise Cake” is a white chocolate-coconut Bundt cake from Doan’s Bakery in California. 

Every year, Tom Cruise gifts the decadent cake to his closest friends for the holidays. The cake achieved worldwide notoriety after one of those friends, a little known actor named Tom Hanks, said it’s one of his favorite foods of all time. 

 "This cake is so great, you can really only have it once a year,” according to Hanks. “This is just off-the-scale fantastic.”

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Tom Cruise Cake Ingredients

These are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make the famous Tom Cruise cake at home: 

• For the cake : all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, white sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla and coconut extracts, sour cream, sweetened flaked coconut, and white chocolate chips
• For the frosting : cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, salt, powdered sugar, heavy cream, and sweetened flaked coconut

How to Make Tom Cruise Cake

You’ll find the full, step-by-step Tom Cruise Cake recipe below — but here are a few professional tips and tricks from test kitchen experts to keep in mind: 

• Finely chop the white chocolate if you don’t want caramelized chunks of chocolate in the cake.
• Double the coconut extract if you want a stronger coconut flavor.
• This cake is usually shipped frozen to recipients from a bakery in LA. Refrigerate your cake overnight to help the frosting set and get a similar eating experience.

How to Store Tom Cruise Cake

Since Tom Cruise cake is topped with cream cheese frosting, it shouldn’t stay at room temperature for more than two hours. Cover the cake and store it in the refrigerator for up to one week. 

Can You Freeze Tom Cruise Cake? 

You can freeze unfrosted Tom Cruise Cake for up to three months. Simply wrap the cooled cake in at least one layer of storage wrap, then at least one layer of foil. Thaw in the fridge overnight and frost according to the recipe.

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring the pan

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3 cups white sugar

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

6 large eggs, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon coconut extract

1 cup sour cream

2 cups sweetened flaked coconut

1 cup white chocolate chips

4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons heavy cream

1 ½ cups sweetened flaked coconut

Gather all ingredients.

To make the coconut cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan.

Combine flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl; set aside.

Beat sugar and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in whole eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extracts, coconut extract, and sour cream: beat until combined.

Add flour mixture and mix until just combined; fold in flaked coconut and white chocolate chips.

Pour batter into the prepared pan and use the back of a spoon to spread batter evenly.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 25 minutes. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely, about 2 hours more.

To make the frosting: Add cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and salt to a medium bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and slowly mix until incorporated. Add cream and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 or 2 minutes.

Frost the top and sides of the cake; lightly press coconut evenly around the outside. 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Photos of Tom Cruise Cake

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‘Tom Cruise Cake’ Breaks the Internet Every Christmas

The top gun star gifts this coconut cake to just about everyone at the holidays. here's how it tastes..

This time of year, especially if you live in Los Angeles, there are a few things you can count on when it comes to holiday cheer: Every palm tree will be covered in Christmas lights; you will see fake snow (called snoap ) falling from the sky at Disneyland and almost everywhere else you go; and your internet algorithm will change to focus on one food and one food only: The Tom Cruise cake.

Related Content

The tom cruise cake, explained.

The A-list actor has made it a holiday gift tradition to send out this very specific cake to hundreds of friends and business associates each year, and so tales of the cake have spread far and wide. In a 2019 episode of The Tonight Show , Jimmy Fallon and Cobie Smulders compared notes about being on the official cake list. “Tom Cruise cake,” Smulders said. “The most glorious time of the year.”

“It’s unbelievable,” Fallon replied.

In 2016, Kirsten Dunst and Graham Norton had a similar conversation on his talk show—although Norton’s cake, according to Delish , was reportedly delivered to the UK on Cruise’s private jet, so it probably tasted fancier.

“We call it the Cruise Cake in my house,” Dunst said. “It’s the best coconut cake I’ve had in my life.”

Even if there’s no way to measure this statistic, I’m pretty sure no cake in the world has been more widely praised by more high-profile people than Doan’s White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake. People magazine even keeps a running list of everyone who has spoken publicly about receiving one of these coveted confections.

How does the Tom Cruise cake taste?

The cake in question is a coconut Bundt studded with white chocolate pieces. Once baked, it’s covered with mounds of cream cheese frosting and roughly a blizzard’s worth of sweetened shredded coconut. The result is very sweet, but it’s worth the sugar rush. It’s a moist, dense cake, and the chunks of white chocolate take on two textures: the ones inside are melty, and the ones that make their way to the exterior are caramelized and chewy, a nice textural counterpart.

In effect, the cake tastes just like your mom made it, if your mom were an incredibly talented home baker who then turned her talent into a business. (My mom actually did this, so I know what I’m talking about here.)

That’s exactly what happened with Karen Doan, too. She started her baking business in Woodland Hills, on the upper edge of the San Fernando Valley, when current co-owner Eric Doan was just a kid, and she opened the storefront in 1983. Now, her son Eric and his wife Carrie Doan run the shop, which doesn’t shy away from its Hollywood fame. On the day I went to pick up my order, there was a sign out front: “Life is better with a sprinkle of coconut!”

“Most of these recipes were my mom’s and grandma’s,” Eric told The Takeout. Over time, the legend of Doan’s has grown and grown. “It was more than a decade ago that Tom Cruise’s association began,” he said, “but I think it was more Katie Holmes and Diane Keaton.” Keaton, a longtime fan of the cake, gifted one to her co-star Holmes while they were filming Mad Money in 2008 .

The White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake is available all year long at Doan’s, but in November and December, the bakery makes several hundred a week, according to Eric. “It’s a crazy time keeping up right now,” he said. In addition to Cruise’s orders, other production companies order them in bulk, and the cake is also available on Goldbelly for those of us not on the A-list.

Demand has grown so high that next year, Eric said, he’s going to have to expand the bakery’s operations. “The demand is so much higher than what I can produce,” he said. “It’s cool though, all the family is pitching in.”

“Hacks” Calls Out Tom Cruise’s Coconut Cake – What to Know About the Famous Dessert Cruise Gifts Every Christmas

The coveted "Tom Cruise cake" is sent to the movie star's A-list friends during the holiday season

Hacks is back and full of just as many pop culture references as before.

The first episode of the third season aired on Max on Thursday, May 2. Just like in previous seasons, the jokes were full of witty one-liners and name drops, with one scene focused entirely on Tom Cruise ’s elusive coconut cake.

In the season 3 premiere of the Emmy-winning show , Deborah Vance ( Jean Smart ) finds herself bouncing between red carpet events and photo shoots before unintentionally reuniting with Ava ( Hannah Einbinder ). Ava is her former writer who pushed Deborah to create a comedy special, but was subsequently fired in a push from Deborah to grow her own career.

The two run into each other in an awkward elevator ride. When Deborah steps off at her floor, the stiff conversation seems to end — until Ava knocks on her door. 

Ava eggs Deborah on to quip about her appearance, as she had always done when the pair worked together, but stops the conversation when she spots a baked good over Deborah’s shoulder.

“Is that the Tom Cruise coconut cake?” Ava asks.

Related: Hacks Cast Expands for Season 3 as Tony Goldwyn, Helen Hunt and More Are Among Big Names Joining

“How the hell did you know that?” Deborah replies with a furrowed brow.

“It’s a famous cake,” Ava replies matter-of-factly. “Every Christmas he sends one to his entire contact list. I’ve read about it for years. Kirsten Dunst said it was one of the best cakes she’s ever had and she was in Marie Antoinette .”

She continues on to ask her former boss about how it tastes and is shocked when she replies that she isn’t planning to try it.

“So, no one’s eating the Tom Cruise coconut cake?” Ava says, eyeing the cake in a not-so-subtle manner.

Deborah sees through her question, rolls her eyes and offers Ava a slice, which Ava eagerly accepts.

Related: Kirsten Dunst Says She Still Gets the 'Tom Cruise Cake' That Cruise Famously Sends During the Holidays

“For the record, I’m not a Tom Cruise guy and I think leading man culture is really toxic but I do want to see what this tastes like simply from an anthropological standpoint,” Ava rambles before trying the dessert.

She dives in, taking a big bite out of the huge slice she carved out for herself, immediately rolling her eyes back in disbelief. “Yup, yup,” she says, pointing emphatically at the cake.

Never miss a story — sign up for  PEOPLE's free daily newsletter  to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

The Hacks reference is just a sliver of the lore around the Top Gun star’s coveted cake. 

Every holiday season, Cruise is known to send the $126 white chocolate coconut bundt cake made by Doan's Bakery in Woodland Hills, Calif. to his famous friends, including Tom Hanks , Jon Hamm and Rosie O'Donnell . The bundt is spread with cream cheese frosting and then covered with toasted coconut flakes. It is even available for shipping on Goldbelly for those who aren't local — or on Cruise's list.

The legend of the “Tom Cruise cake” grows every year as A-listers brag about the arrival of (or mourn no longer receiving ) the coconut treat.

New episodes of Hacks  will be available to stream on Thursdays on Max.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People .

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Tom Cruise has been sending this cake to A-list friends each holiday for years. The bakery says he's 'kept us in business.'

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According to Rosie O’Donnell , the official start to the Christmas season is when she gets her holiday gift from “Tommy” — known to the rest of us as Tom Cruise .

For about a decade, the action star has gifted friends, co-stars and TV show hosts a signature item: the White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake from Doan’s Bakery , a small, family-run business in Woodland Hills, Calif. Those who are on his gift list all seem to rave about it — like Jimmy Fallon calling it “unbelievable ,” Kirsten Dunst saying it’s “one of the best cakes I've ever had ,” Henry Cavill describing it as “the most decadent, the most amazing” cake and Barbara Walters digging into it on The View   — and try to remain on the superstar’s “nice” list for the next year.

While speaking about his cake gifting in 2018, Cruise said doesn’t consume sugar when he’s training for his high-profile movie roles, which is pretty much all the time, so “I send [cakes] to everyone... and I wait for the calls,” from recipients to hear how good the cakes are. “I’m like: Tell me about it.”

Yahoo Entertainment spoke with Eric Doan, who runs Doan’s Bakery with his mother Karen, about the celebrity-coveted, mouth-watering culinary creation and what makes it so good.

“The funny thing is, we’ve been doing that cake for a quarter of a century,” Doan says of the culinary concoction — a coconut bundt cake with chunks of sweet white chocolate, layers of cheese frosting and dusted with toasted coconut flakes — that his mom, now 78, started making when the business opened in 1984. “It’s just a unique cake that we dreamt up 25 years ago and we’ve always done it for different cafes, restaurants and caterers,” as they are largely a wholesale business.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rosie O’Donnell (@rosie)

On the bakery’s own website, there’s no photo of the delicious looking dessert or mention of it being the “the Cruise cake,” what Dunst, who appeared in Interview With the Vampire with Cruise in 1994, calls it , or “Tom Cruise deliciousness,” the name given to it by Cobie Smulders , who worked with Cruise on 2016’s Jack Reacher: Never Go Back . It’s merely listed among the 30 or so cakes they regularly sell from their store or via wholesale. (They also do custom cakes, including this one for Jennifer Lopez’s twins’ 5th birthdays .)

“Over the years of Odin Productions gifting it,” referring to Cruise’s business through which the orders are placed, “it’s taken on that moniker of the ‘Tom Cruise cake,’ if you will,” but they don’t advertise it that way. In fact, as Doan explains, their first famous customer who enjoyed the cake “was probably Diane Keaton , if you want to know the truth.”

Cruise talking about gifting cakes with James Corden and his Mission: Impossible co-star Angela Bassett, who are both on his Christmas cake list:

As the story goes , Keaton and Cruise’s then-wife Katie Holmes , who has a notorious sweet tooth , were filming the 2008 movie Mad Money in Shreveport, La. Both women claimed to know the best place to get a cake, so each one flew in their selection — Keaton’s from Doan’s Bakery — with Cruise doing a taste test to pick the winner, which was the coconut bundt cake that he’s now been gifting longer than that particular marriage lasted.

“That is true,” Doan says of the infamous cake showdown story. “Diane had been a fan of that cake for quite a while” before Cruise made it famous.

Just some of the celebrities raving about the “Tom Cruise cake,” a nickname bestowed upon it by Dunst:

One thing Doan wants customers to know is that when they come into his shop to buy the 10-inch cake, which is about $50 (though they have smaller sizes), or $99 via Goldbelly , a company that ships gourmet food nationwide, is that the fancy gift wrapping treatment — O’Donnell’s boasted a shiny reindeer ornament this year — is done by Cruise’s team.

“That’s an important point. I’ve had people order that cake in the past who were expecting it to come like that,” he says. “That’s all Tom’s crew. Basically, every year I receive gift boxes from [Tom’s team]. Then they take the cake to a secondary location and they spruce it all up,” with the fancy wrapping.

Sophia Vergara is also a fan — and it’s currently on her list of small businesses to support this holiday through her Cake for Kiva partnership:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara)

Team Tom does its own distribution as well, shipping it to stars around the globe. Funny story: Graham Norton, host of U.K.’s The Graham Norton Show didn’t even know he was on Cruise’s gift list — his staff had been secretly eating it — until Renée Zellweger, Cruise’s Jerry Maguire talked about getting the cake on his show.

Smulders, who told Fallon she never wants to fall off Cruise’s cake list, said she keeps the bundt frozen and chips away at it slowly from December until March — and Doan approves that method of making it last — with some advice.

“I’ve never freeze it myself at the bakery — because we go through so many of them! — but my understanding is that it freezes very well. You just want to make sure you wrap it up airtight. I mean, we also do wedding cakes and so freezing it is not unlike how some couples freeze the top layer until their first anniversary.”

And believe it or not, neither of the Doans has ever met Cruise, whose team buys a few hundred cakes over the holiday season — and more throughout the year. (Cruise gifted Corden a cake the day the late-night host emceed the Grammys and Corden joked he barely fit in his suit that night.)

“We’ve only dealt with his people and everyone has been super sweet,” Doan says. “When he was still living in Beverly Hills, we would bring them a bunch of desserts” for their Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations, “as a thank you.” But Los Angeles is no longer Cruise’s home base .

It’s been a tough year for small businesses and Doan’s is no different.

“This year has been a really rough ride,” says Doan. “In March and April, we wondered if we were even going to be able to stay open,” as all the businesses they sold wholesale to shuttered amid the pandemic. “Now, I’m spun like a top,” as November and December, typically his busiest months, keep them busy. The saving grace was upping the frequency in which they ship it on Goldbelly — which, opposite of Doan’s website, isn’t as shy about playing up the Cruise angle — and Doan says it’s “honestly is one of the things that kept us alive” during the pandemic.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Doan’s Bakery (@doans_bakery_woodland_hills)

Though even that hasn’t been without challenges for the mom and son shop. Shipping requires special insulated bags and each box contains six pounds of dry ice. Just as they got into the groove shipping their cakes, suddenly they found themselves in a dry ice shortage — as it’s being used for vaccines .

But beyond this chaotic and stressful year, the bakery owner credits Cruise and his Odin Productions team for more than a decade of loyalty.

“There were years they kept us in business,” he says — and hopefully many more to come.

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This $125 Cake Is Trending Because Apparently Tom Cruise Sends One To His Closest Friends Every Christmas, So I DIY'd It And Here Are My Thoughts

This cake is every coconut lover's dream.

BuzzFeed Contributor

So, apparently, Tom Cruise gifts a certain coconut cake to his friends every year for the holidays, and it costs a pretty penny.

In actor Brooke Shields' recently released documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields , it was revealed that Tom Cruise has a tradition of mailing a white chocolate coconut Bundt cake to his pals every year. According to People , the cake is sold at Doan's Bakery in Los Angeles , and it retails for $125.95.

And Shields isn't the only one who has had the pleasure of receiving the cake — other stars have raved about it, including Tom Hanks . "This cake is so great you can really only have it once a year," he said on an episode of Mythical Kitchen .

View this video on YouTube

I was definitely curious about the cake, because well, with that price tag, it has to be pretty darn good. but since i don't live in los angeles or have the funds to buy one for myself, i decided to make it and followed this dupe recipe from allrecipes..

So without further ado, here's how it all went:

First things first, i preheated my oven to 350º. then, i started on the batter. i measured 3 cups of cake flour — which i've come to learn is different from all-purpose flour — and placed it into a large bowl. i then added 1½ teaspoons baking powder, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg and set the bowl aside..

In another bowl, I whisked ½ cup of unsalted butter and 1 ½ cups of white sugar.

Ideally, you'll use a mixer for this part, but I couldn't find mine, so the hand whisk had to do.

After the sugar and butter were combined, I added two eggs, mixing each one at a time.

I then added two egg whites, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon almond extract, and then gave that all a good stir.

After adding the extracts, I poured in a 13.5-ounce can of full fat unsweetened coconut milk and then followed that with1¼ cups of sour cream.

By this point, my bowl was almost overflowing with cake batter, but the show had to go on. I added half of the flour mixture from earlier and mixed, repeating the process until the batter was smooth and cohesive.

Finally, I folded in a cup of white chocolate chips and a cup of coconut shreds.

At last, the batter was done, so I poured it into a greased Bundt cake pan.

I plopped her into the oven and set a timer for 60 minutes.

In the meantime, I worked on the frosting. In a pan set to medium-low heat, I toasted 2 cups of coconut shreds until they were a light golden brown and then poured it into a bowl.

In another bowl, I whisked ¼ cup of unsalted butter, an 8-ounce package of cream cheese, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Once the mixture came together, I added 2½ cups of powdered sugar and stirred, followed by 2 tablespoons of heavy cream.

After 60 minutes in the oven, I used a toothpick to make sure it was completely done on the inside and took the cake out of its pan. I let it cool for about 30 minutes on a wire rack.

Once the cake was completely cooled, I covered it in a generous amount of frosting and coconut shreds. It smelled incredible.

At last, I cut myself a slice and dug in.

All I have to say is, WOW. I honestly think this is one of the best things I've ever made. (I mean, I would sure hope so, since this entire process took around three hours.)

The cake itself was SO moist and buttery, it honestly would've been good on its own, sans frosting. However, I am glad that the cake had something on it, because this cream cheese frosting was perfectly sweet and only enhanced the flavor of the cake even more. The toasted coconut was the cherry on top and added great texture to the soft cake.

So like, yes, the cake was amazing. I loved it and I could see myself making it again on a day that I have a lot of free time. Although, I don't think I'd pay $125 for it, unless I was a b*llionaire or something.

Do you have a go-to holiday cake or dessert let me know in the comments, share this article.

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Tom Cruise Cake Recipe (Coconut Bundt Cake)

Published: Apr 29, 2023 · Last Update: Jul 23, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

Make the viral Tom Cruise Cake at home in just 40 minutes with this copycat Tom Cruise Cake recipe!

This White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake is incredibly fluffy (I’m talking INCREDIBLY), loaded with white chocolate, and topped with coconut cream cheese frosting and coconut flakes, it has *all* the coconut flavor you might want in a cake and an addictive pillowy-soft texture!

It’s so hard to put down but you don’t have to pay 195$ or hope to be on Tom Cruise’s cake list to enjoy it!

I’m so excited to be sharing with you this viral cake! Allegedly, Tom Cruise sends this 195$ White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake to his friends every Christmas!

The bakery in charge for this task is Doan’s Bakery in Woodlands Hills, California.

I knew I could come up with a recipe WORTH sharing with you guys to recreate this cake so you can make your own at home and have a taste of what being on Tom Cruise’s cake list must feel like!

Why this Tom Cruise Cake Recipe works:

• Actually fluffy texture . This is the fluffiest cake you’ll ever have, I promise. I’m talking cotton-candy fluffy. YES. The first time I tested this recipe after developing it I was shocked, it didn’t even feel real. What’s the trick? Coconut whipped cream in the batter and, of course, creaming butter and sugar. Everyone else online uses coconut milk in their cake but try my version and let me know!!
• Coconut flavor . If you’re here for the coconut, this coconut bundt cake has *ALL* the coconut flavor!
• White chocolate . One of the things that make this cake special (aside from the crazy fluffy texture) is the white chocolate + coconut combo which I recreated adding the chocolate to the batter, just like Doan’s bakery does!
• Frosting . The frosting is a cream cheese coconut frosting that comes together in just 5 minutes and is topped with shredded coconut!

Ingredients

Flour . Use all-purpose flour for this recipe.

Baking powder for lifting.

Butter . Make sure it’s room temperature unsalted butter.

Sugar . White granulated sugar for sweetening.

Eggs . For structure. Make sure they’re room temperature.

Coconut extract . This is where most of the coconut flavor comes from so make sure you get a high-quality coconut extract with a good flavor (some brands taste very artificial).

Vanilla extract . I always like to add some vanilla to all of my cakes, even if the main flavor won’t be vanilla. I think it’s a nice touch that almost acts like a base and boosts the other flavors.

Coconut cream . This is the key ingredient so do not substitute. Coconut cream is a type of cream made with coconut milk, it’s thick and fluffy and it’s what gives the batter that cloud-like texture which results into a fluffy texture similar to cotton candy! All of the other recipes for this Tom Cruise cake use coconut milk but I’m here to tell you that coconut cream is just better because it provides more fats and more fluffiness. Try my version!

White chocolate . You can use a chopped chocolate bar or chocolate chips. I recommend using chocolate bars just because, if you use a good brand such as Lindt, you’ll have a much better flavor and bigger chunks of chocolate.

Cream cheese for the frosting.

Powdered sugar for the frosting.

Shredded coconut . I used a mixture of finely-shredded coconut and coconut flakes but you can also use just one of the two.

How to make Tom Cruise White Chocolate Coconut Cake

STEP ONE: Prepare the cake pan . Grease and flour an 8-inch bundt pan using butter and all-purpose flour and set aside. Set the oven to 350F (180C).

STEP TWO: Combine the dry ingredients . In a medium bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined, then set aside.

STEP THREE: Cream the butter and sugar . In a large bowl, add the butter and sugar, then beat until fluffy and pale yellow in color.

STEP FOUR: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until combined after every addition. Add the coconut cream, coconut extract, and vanilla extract, and mix until combined and smooth.

STEP FIVE: Mix in the dry ingredients . Add the dry ingredients to the batter in 3 additions, mixing until just combined after every addition. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl as you go. Gently fold in the white chocolate using a spatula or a spoon. The batter will be very fluffy and off-white.

STEP SIX: Bake . Transfer the batter into your prepared bundt pan and use a spatula or a spoon to even out the top. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the top looks golden and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. Allow the cake to cool down in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a clean plate. Meanwhile, make the frosting.

STEP SEVEN: Make the frosting . In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and coconut extract. Beat until combined and smooth. Mix in 1-2 tbsp of coconut cream or milk to thin out the frosting so you can easily pour it onto your cake and coat it completely.

STEP EIGHT: Decorate . One the cake has cooled down to room temperature, pour the frosting onto the cake and use a spatula or the back of a spoon to coat it completely. Top with coconut flakes and shredded coconut make sure they stick to both the top and the sides of the cake. Serve and enjoy!

Can I make it smaller or into cupcakes?

Yes! Here’s how to do it!

6-inch bundt cake . Cut the recipe in half and use a 6-inch bundt pan. Reduce the baking time to 28-30 minutes.

Cupcakes . Cut the recipe in half and use a muffin tin lined with cupcake liners. Fill each liner until 3/4 full. Reduce the baking time to 10-15 minutes. It makes 12-15 cupcakes. You will need a thicker frosting for the cupcakes so skip the milk and add 1 stick (115 g) of unsalted butter at room temperature instead. Beat the cream cheese and butter together, then add in the remaining ingredients.

Can I make it ahead of time?

I think cakes with fluffy texture likes this one are best served as they’re made so I wouldn’t recommend making it ahead of time.

How do I store this cake?

Store the cake covered or in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

If not frosted, you can store this cake at room temperature for 2-3 days or freeze it wrapped in plastic wrap and foil for up to 1-2 months. You can thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.

HAPPY BAKING!! I hope you’ll love this Tom Cruise Cake Recipe aka  White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake  as much as I do!

PS: Please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if you make it! Your comments make my day!! You can also tag me on Instagram @itsdamnspicy 🌈💘

More Cake Recipes You’ll Love:

• Mango Crepe Cake with Coconut
• Colombian Black Cake (Torta Negra Colombian)
• Spice Bundt Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
• Guava Cheesecake

Ingredients    1x 2x 3x

For the white chocolate coconut bundt cake.

• 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup (230 g) unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 1 and 1/2 cups (300 g) white granulated sugar
• 2 whole eggs (room temperature)
• 2 egg yolks (room temperature)
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) coconut extract (or to taste)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup (160 g) canned coconut cream (room temperature)
• 4 oz (115 g) white chocolate bar (chopped)

For The Frosting

• 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese (room temperature)
• 2 cups (250 g) powdered sugar
• 4-5 tbsp (60-75 ml) any milk (add 1 tbsp at a time until frosting is thin enough to be pourable but still thick enough to coat the cake with a thick layer)
• 1/2 cup (40 g) unsweetened shredded coconut (for topping)
• 1/2 cup (20 g) unsweetened coconut flakes (for topping)

Instructions  

• Prepare the cake pan . Grease and flour an 8-inch bundt pan using butter and all-purpose flour and set aside. Set the oven to 350F (180C).
• Combine the dry ingredients . In a medium bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined, then set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar . In a large bowl, add the butter and sugar, then beat until fluffy and pale yellow in color. 
• Add the eggs  one at a time, mixing until combined after every addition. Add the coconut cream, coconut extract, and vanilla extract, and mix until combined and smooth.
• Mix in the dry ingredients . Add the dry ingredients to the batter in 3 additions, mixing until just combined after every addition. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl as you go. Gently fold in the white chocolate using a spatula or a spoon. The batter will be very fluffy and off-white.
• Bake . Transfer the batter into your prepared bundt pan and use a spatula or a spoon to even out the top. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the top looks golden and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. Allow the cake to cool down in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a clean plate. Meanwhile, make the frosting.
• Make the frosting . In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and coconut extract. Beat until combined and smooth. Mix in 1-2 tbsp of coconut cream or milk to thin out the frosting so you can easily pour it onto your cake and coat it completely.
• Decorate . One the cake has cooled down to room temperature, pour the frosting onto the cake and use a spatula or the back of a spoon to coat it completely. Top with coconut flakes and shredded coconut make sure they stick to both the top and the sides of the cake. Serve and enjoy!

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"Hacks": Deborah Vance is Tom Cruise-approved, joining the list of celebrities with the moist cake

A sure sign that you've made it to the top is that the last great hollywood star sends you a famous dessert, by melanie mcfarland.

Rosie O’Donnell , Tom Hanks and Angela Bassett are on the list. Brooke Shields used to be on it  but not anymore , and according to a 2023 interview with People magazine, she doesn’t know why. Graham Norton has been on the list for years, but his crew kept him in the dark, enjoying his rich reward themselves.

We’re talking about the coveted dessert known as the Tom Cruise cake, a treat that materializes every holiday season on the doorsteps of hundreds of the friends, associates, and anointed randoms deemed worthy by  Hollywood’s Last Real Movie Star. 

As of the third season premiere of “ Hacks ,” this celebrity confectionery clique includes Deborah Vance ( Jean Smart ), a comedian long scorned by Hollywood who after decades of highly lucrative self-imposed exile is once again the toast of L.A. The cake’s casual presence on a side table in her Montreal hotel room is simply another indicator that she’s made it. Again.

But it’s how the show introduces the status symbol that underlines what a bad mama Deborah knows she is. Contrary to most stars who worshipfully gush about the exclusive goody on Instagram or rave about it during late-night appearances, Deborah leaves the untouched sweet where it probably was when she arrived. 

That way when her spurned protégé Ava ( Hannah Einbinder ) drops by for a surprise visit, and to get a few things off her chest, the cake announces itself. 

Being Tom Cruise means projecting the image that you’re the best at everything. Including gift giving.

When Ava finds out that she and Deborah are both attending the famous Just For Laughs comedy festival in Québec, the writer decides she needs to confront Deborah as to why she cut her out of her life.  But the sight of the telltale flake-spangled wonder knocks her off her mission.  

“Sorry, is that the Tom Cruise coconut cake?” she asks Deborah, who is once again shocked that her fashion-challenged ex-soulmate recognized this luxury.

“How did you know that?” she says. Ava explains its provenance as one of the world’s most famous cakes, adding Kirsten Dunst’s review calling it one of the best cakes she’s ever had. “And she was in ‘Marie Antoinette’!”

“I guess Tom just saw the special and he loved it,” Deborah deadpans. When Ava asks her how it was, Deborah replies. “Fantastic. I was very funny.”

Haha. Ava meant the cake of course, but her mentor can’t rate its flavor, giving the extremely rich lady excuse that she’s off sugar. “ So no one's eating the Tom Cruise coconut cake? ” Ava asks, aghast. 

People who have read or heard the rapturous reviews may have been right there with her.

Knowing that the cake everyone in film and TV craves to receive from Cruise is a Bundt, one of the simpler, homier goodies of the baking world, adds to its mystery. Hollywood is associated with excess, fantasy and luxury, leading one to assume that, in “ Great British Baking Show ” terms, the most famous movie star on the planet would show off by shipping his friends some elaborate showstopper.

But this cake is as humble as its origin story, in that it is baked exclusively at Doan’s Bakery, a family-run business in Woodland Hills, Calif., opened by Karen Doan in 1984.

She and her son Eric make the cakes from a recipe Doan perfected many years ago: a fluffy cream cheese frosting covered in coconut flakes enrobes the moistest sponge in existence.  Putting the cake over the top, reportedly, are the white chocolate chunks blended throughout.

The Doan's specialty might not have ever become a red-carpet royalty favorite if Diane Keaton hadn’t shared one with her “Mad Money” co-star Katie Holmes sometime around 2008. From there the mythology gets blurred. Whether Keaton shared it with Holmes and then-husband Cruise at the time or Holmes shared it with Cruise or Cruise skipped the connect and got it straight from Keaton depends on who is relating this part of the story. 

There are even questions as to whether a bite has ever crossed Cruise’s lips; James Corden alleged Cruise told him he’s never tasted its magic firsthand, which doesn’t make sense unless you remember Cruise’s monastic devotion to his physique. That and the story he told Norton about having to eat so much chocolate cake over three days and 100 takes for a scene in the 1983 movie “The Outsiders” that he erupted like a science fair volcano . 

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An episode like that would be enough to put a person off cake of all kinds forever. But being Tom Cruise, one imagines, means projecting the image that you’re the best at everything. Including gift giving.

Any commoner can bake and send such a treat as a gift and be considered thoughtful. But to have your cake delivered in a champagne-colored, ribbon-wrapped box to places around the world, to some allegedly by private jet, and know that the receiver will deem it one of the best reasons to remain alive for another year? 

That’s a treat and annual positive publicity stunt that only the star of “Top Gun: Maverick” can afford to enjoy. 

Indeed, Deborah understands what a flex it is to be Bundt-bestowed, But when she says she doesn't intend to eat it, that’s some next-level ego-tripping. And she knows it.

Public knowledge of the Tom Cruise cake stretches back to at least a 2013 episode of “The View,” where co-hosts Barbara Walters and Whoopi Goldberg and their colleagues Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy make it known that Cruise has so blessed them, proving the claim by bringing one of the delights to the table to consume before a live and envious studio audience.

One celebrity type on Cruise’s holiday list is the talk show host and others who promote his movies and image. This includes editors and reporters at entertainment publications , and at least one writer who campaigned for Cruise to send him a cake in The Guardian.  It was a success. The actor sent two.

Getting a Doan's Bundt cake from Cruise unbidden reinforces the recipient’s high-level social status. 

Cruise also sends cakes to people he’s co-starred with, regardless of how long it’s been since they’ve filmed together. He and Dunst worked together in “Interview with a Vampire,” and she’s been blessed with these drops since he started doing the thing. So has her husband (and Cruise’s “American Made” co-star) Jesse Plemons, which means their household gets double-caked each Christmas.

Hanks outed himself as a cake club member in a January 2023 episode of Mythical Kitchen’s “Last Meals,” where he called the cake “so great you can really only have it once a year, which works out perfectly because I don't order it.”

Why on Earth wouldn’t he? Doan’s Bakery is ostensibly within driving distance of Hanks’ home and the Santa Monica office of his production company Playtone, which also receives one of those ring-shaped coconut clouds. 

Even if it wasn’t, the cakes are also available on gourmet delivery service Goldbelly.com to anyone willing to part with $126. And if that’s too rich for your blood, the copycat recipes are as plentiful on the Internet as the cake’s flaky sprinkles.

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But Hanks and everyone else on that list knows that maintaining that exclusivity lies not in having a Tom Cruise cake but in having enough of Cruise’s approval that he sends one to you. Awareness of the cake or ordering it may be a type of social currency. 

Getting a Doan's Bundt cake from Cruise unbidden reinforces the recipient’s high-level social status. That’s why both famous and relatively anonymous figures are fond of posting pics on social media as proof of membership.

Deborah tries to use it in the same way, grudgingly agreeing to let Ava have a slice at first before bringing the remainder to her hotel room the next day as a peace offering, signaling her readiness to resume their friendship. 

But when a housekeeper responds to her knock and tells her Ava has checked out, Deborah doesn’t offer the luxurious delight to the woman. She’s a notoriously good tipper, but in her ruthless view, some of life's gratuities are principally reserved for the rarest talents. 

Deborah drags a finger through the cream cheese frosting and savors the sweet paradise flavor that is celebrity-anointed success. Then she tosses the cake in the garbage bag on the housekeeping trolley with a queenly flourish, all without breaking her stride to the elevator. One assumes it's going up.

New episodes of "Hacks" debut in pairs Thursdays on Max.

about this topic

• Tom Cruise, our messy messiah of movies
• "Hacks" is a generational sucker punch
• From Goop to Oprah, this year's gift guides may signal the end of the world

Melanie McFarland is Salon's award-winning senior culture critic. Follow her on Twitter: @McTelevision

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Kirsten Dunst Still Gets the Famous Tom Cruise Cake 30 Years After 'Interview With the Vampire' (Exclusive)

Tom cruise still gifts kirsten dunst famous cake, 30 years after ‘interview with the vampire’, rachael harris reacts to possible 'suits' and 'lucifer' reboots (exclusive), 'rhobh' star dorit kemsley splits from husband pk after 9 years of marriage, kevin durand on playing villains in 'naked gun' and 'kingdom of the planet of the apes' (exclusive), pedro pascal and dakota johnson kiss while filming 'materialists' in nyc, 'kingdom of the planet of the apes' star peter macon on caesar's 300 year legacy (exclusive), kylie jenner revives 'rise and shine' at met gala, kimberley nix, tiktoker who documented cancer journey, dead at 31, zayn malik says he's never been in love despite gigi hadid and perrie edwards romances, benjamin bratt shares his secret to being ripped at 60 (exclusive), miss usa resignations: everything we know about the pageant shocks, ‘baby reindeer’: woman claiming to be real ‘martha’ slams show as ‘complete nonsense’, brooke shields and daughter show off matching ink at ‘mother of the bride’ premiere, justin and hailey bieber expecting their first child together, chad michael murray is manifesting a 'cinderella story' reboot and 'freaky friday 2' return, sinbad shares never-before-seen look inside his stroke recovery, kris jenner emotionally reveals she has a tumor, 'teen mom': jenelle evans returns for 'the next chapter' to get a 'fresh start' after firing, 'summer house's jesse solomon on 'juicy' season 8 reunion and sharing his cancer journey (exclusive), josh charles shares what taylor swift was like as a director on 'fortnight' video set, 'kingdom of the planet of the apes': owen teague on picking up ape traits (exclusive), dunst co-starred alongside cruise in 1994's 'interview with the vampire.'.

Just like a vampire's lifespan, Tom Cruise 's famous holiday coconut cake is eternal! Kirsten Dunst sat down with ET's Kevin Frazier to reflect on the 30th anniversary of her hit film,  Interview With a Vampire , where the subject of her co-star, Cruise, came up. 

"Still getting that cake," Dunst, 41, revealed to ET. 

She added of her husband and frequent co-star  Jesse Plemons , "Jesse gets the cakes so we double up on our cakes."

Plemons and Cruise co-starred in 2017's American Made . 

Cruise's holiday cake gift is the dessert of legends with the A-lister reportedly sending the cake to a long list of fellow celebrities each year. 

As for Dunst's thoughts on the classic 1994 vampire film, which also co-starred Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas , she has nothing but positive associations with the film. 

"When I think back I have fond memories. It was a production like nothing I have experienced to this day. The costumes and the sets. It changed the course of my life," she shared. 

These days, Dunst is tackling another kind of horror film with her dystopian flick, Civil War . In the movie, Dunst plays Lee, a photojournalist documenting a civil war happening within modern-day America. Plemons appears opposite his wife and the mother of his two children, playing an extremist militia member. 

"He wouldn't have played a part like this if I wasn't in the film," Dunst shared. "He did a favor for us because that is a really disturbing role to play."

The couple has teamed up on several projects together, including their turn on Fargo , the show where they met.  

Civil War  is in theaters April 12. 

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Cobie Smulders, Kirsten Dunst and More Celebs Who’ve Been Gifted a Coconut Cake From Tom Cruise

Many stars have bragged about getting on the list to receive a coveted Christmas cake from Tom Cruise.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in November 2019, actress Cobie Smulders revealed that she gets a delectable holiday present from Cruise every year.

Calling it the “most glorious time of year,” Smulders explained that her costar in 2016’s Jack Reacher: Never Go Back mails her a coconut cake every Christmas. “I leave it in my freezer and it lasts until, like, March. Like, I just slowly chip away at this thing. It’s so good,” she said. “I don’t know why. I’m not even a big sweets person, but it’s so good.”

Smulders was pleased to learn that host Jimmy Fallon is also a member of the coveted cake club. “It’s unbelievable,” he said of the white chocolate coconut confection.

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Though Fallon confessed to not having much of a sweet tooth, he too makes an exception for this treat, in part because of its famous ties. “It’s Tom Cruise,” he declared. “You get a cake, you get anything from Tom Cruise, you eat, you put in the freezer and you save it for a year. I hope I get the cake this year.”

As it turns out, Smulders and Fallon aren’t the only famous people who have received the tasty dessert from Cruise. Far from it, in fact. Over the years, several of Cruise’s pals and former costars have opened up about his penchant for gifting the flavorful cake, which hails from Doan’s Bakery in Woodland Hills, California.

Scroll down to see more famous faces who are lucky enough to get a sweet holiday treat from Cruise:

Credit: John Photography/Shutterstock; Broadimage/Shutterstock; Shutterstock

Cobie Smulders, Kirsten Dunst and More Celebs Who've Been Gifted a Coconut Cake From Tom Cruise

Many stars have bragged about getting on the list to receive a coveted Christmas cake from Tom Cruise. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in November 2019, actress Cobie Smulders revealed that she gets a delectable holiday present from Cruise every year. Calling it the “most glorious time of year,” Smulders explained that her costar in 2016's Jack Reacher: Never Go Back mails her a coconut cake every Christmas. “I leave it in my freezer and it lasts until, like, March. Like, I just slowly chip away at this thing. It's so good,” she said. “I don't know why. I'm not even a big sweets person, but it's so good.” Smulders was pleased to learn that host Jimmy Fallon is also a member of the coveted cake club. “It’s unbelievable,” he said of the white chocolate coconut confection. Though Fallon confessed to not having much of a sweet tooth, he too makes an exception for this treat, in part because of its famous ties. “It’s Tom Cruise,” he declared. “You get a cake, you get anything from Tom Cruise, you eat, you put in the freezer and you save it for a year. I hope I get the cake this year.” As it turns out, Smulders and Fallon aren’t the only famous people who have received the tasty dessert from Cruise. Far from it, in fact. Over the years, several of Cruise's pals and former costars have opened up about his penchant for gifting the flavorful cake, which hails from Doan’s Bakery in Woodland Hills, California. Scroll down to see more famous faces who are lucky enough to get a sweet holiday treat from Cruise:

Credit: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Max

Deborah Vance

During the April 2024 season 3 premiere of Hacks , comedian Deborah Vance ( Jean Smart ) received a coconut cake from Cruise, to the delight of her former writer Ava ( Hannah Einbinder ). Deborah initially refused to eat the dessert because she was fasting to fit in a custom Bill Blass look, but Ava indulged and confirmed that the cake was incredible. After deciding to wear something else, Deborah snuck a bite and grinned before throwing the rest away.

Credit: Paul Morigi/Getty Images

Glen Powell

Powell showed off the cake he received from his Top Gun: Maverick costar via Instagram in December 2023.

Credit: Adam Nemser/Startraks

Rosie O'Donnell

The former View cohost revealed in December 2020 that she was one of the lucky stars to receive a sweet treat from Cruise. "Christmas is here when tommy’s gift shows up #holidayseason," O'Donnell captioned an Instagram photo of Cruise's cake wrapped in a bow with a sparkly reindeer embellishment.

Credit: John Photography/Shutterstock

Cobie Smulders

The Stumptown star spoke of her love of the dessert during a November 2019 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . She called it the “Tom Cruise cake” and confessed to leaving in her freezer for months while “slowly” chipping away at it. “It’s Tom Cruise deliciousness.” 

Credit: Xavier Collin/Shutterstock

Jimmy Fallon

While talking about the cake with Smulders in November 2019, the New York native revealed that he also receives the delicious dessert every holiday season. “I hope I get the cake this year,” he said.

Credit: Gustavo Caballero/South Beach Photo/Shutterstock

Henry Cavill

During a July 2018 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! , the Justice League star, who costarred with Cruise in Mission: Impossible - Fallout , recalled his fist encounter with the confection. “One day I received said coconut cake, which said, ‘Happy Christmas Henry, from Tom Cruise.’” Believing the sweet treat was “going to be made of healthy stuff,” the Brit ignored it until a friend gave it a try and told him otherwise. “It’s the most luxurious, unhealthy cake,” he recalled. “I then ate the whole thing.”

Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock (

Angela Bassett

The Black Panther actress was a guest on The Late Late Show With James Corden alongside Cruise, her Mission: Impossible - Fallout costar, in July 2018. During the show, the action star opened up about his cake-gifting habit and noted he’d sent one to Bassett and her husband, actor Courtney B. Vance. “But only I ate it,” the actress joked.

Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety/Shutterstock

James Corden

During that same interview, the late-night host revealed that he, too, has been a recipient of one of Cruise’s cakes, though it wasn’t a coconut confection. As the Into the Woods star recalled, his present came on the morning of the 2018 Grammy Awards, which he hosted. “I woke up to someone knocking on my door. It was like 8 a.m. and they presented me with an incredible chocolate cake and it was from Tom Cruise saying 'Good luck at the Grammys,’” he said. "I was like, 'This is how you look so good. You make everyone around you fat!”

Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix/Shutterstock

Barbara Walters

The legendary journalist and her costars on The View enjoyed a Cruise cake during an episode of the morning talk show that aired in December 2013. Though Walters brought out her dessert to share on camera, she revealed that all her cohosts at the time — Jenny McCarthy, Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd — were sent a cake as well. “Let's get a fork,” Shepherd suggested at the time.

Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock

Kirsten Dunst

Though the Fargo alum hasn’t acted alongside Cruise since 1994’s Interview With A Vampire , she still receives an annual holiday gift from her former costar. “[Tom] sends me a cake every Christmas,” she told Stylist magazine in October 2015, before describing the coconut-flavored baked good. “It gets eaten within a day in my house.” The On Becoming a God in Central Florida star also opened up about the pastry during an April 2016 appearance on The Graham Norton Show . “It’s the best coconut cake I’ve ever had in my life,” she declared.

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Aldi Lowered the Prices of More Than 250 Food Items to Save Customers Money This Summer

In summer 2023, the national grocer reportedly saved customers $60 million by cutting the cost of select products — now they are hoping to make that number $100 million in 2024

Aldi is combating food price inflation for the second summer.

The grocery store is lowering the prices on more than 250 products, PEOPLE confirms. The chain claims that the changes will help customers save $100 million through Labor Day,

Items ranging from pantry staples (like pinto beans and avocado oil) to seafood and meat (like chicken and sirloin steak) are all part of the reduced pricing — some of which are 2023 Aldi Fan Favorites .

A family pack of chicken breast went from $2.49 to $2.19. The discounts can be as little as 10 cents to more than $1.50, but no matter how small or large the discount, the total savings are immense.

Aldi 's estimated $100 million in savings is almost double the $60 million number that the national grocer reportedly saved customers last summer with similar price cuts. They are able to keep prices down by maintaining smaller stores and keeping the foods in the original boxes and packaging that they were delivered in.

Other retailers have recently adjusted their prices in response to inflation. In March, Trader Joe’s adjusted the prices of some of their most commonly purchased items — but not all of them were discounts.

RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images

A representative for the national grocer confirmed with PEOPLE that the price of the 19 cents bananas increased to 23 cents while other prices were slashed.

“We only change our prices when our costs change, and after holding our price for bananas at 19¢ each for more than two decades, we’ve now reached a point where this change is necessary,” a statement read.

The good news is that with the 4 cent increase in banana costs comes the decrease in raw almonds, romaine hearts, green onions and more.

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