Inside Tom Cruise's $140 Holiday Cake Tradition

Every Christmas, actor Tom Cruise sends a white chocolate coconut bundt cake from Doan's Bakery in Los Angeles to a select group of friends and former costars. The dessert, often referred to as the 'Tom Cruise Cake,' has become a coveted status symbol in Hollywood. It is available for purchase on Goldbelly for $140 for those not on the exclusive gift list.

The tradition originated after Katie Holmes discovered the bakery while working on the 2008 film 'Mad Money.' The cake is a hefty 10-inch dessert weighing 3 pounds. It has received high praise from various celebrities, including Kirsten Dunst and Tom Hanks. Due to high demand, the cake is currently available via a waitlist on Goldbelly, though local pickup in Los Angeles is available for $66.

The 'Tom Cruise Cake' has become a legendary annual gift in the entertainment industry. Every year, the Mission: Impossible star sends white chocolate coconut bundt cakes to a curated list of friends and former colleagues. This list is highly coveted, with recipients often sharing their gifts on social media.

Recipients of the famous cake have included:

• Glen Powell
• Jon Hamm
• Kirsten Dunst
• Elle and Dakota Fanning

The cake is not limited to those on Cruise's personal list. For individuals not local to Los Angeles or not included in the gift exchange, the dessert is available for nationwide shipping via the online marketplace Goldbelly. The listed price for the cake is $140.

The connection between Tom Cruise and Doan's Bakery was established through Katie Holmes. According to Karen Doan, the self-taught baker behind the dessert, Holmes learned about the bakery from actress Diane Keaton while the two were filming 'Mad Money' in 2008.

Karen Doan recalled a specific event that solidified the relationship: "When Tom and Katie had a big party at their new home in Beverly Hills, we did all the cakes. They loved it." While the marriage between Cruise and Holmes ended in 2012, the actor's relationship with the bakery has continued for over a decade.

Doan described the cake's popularity, stating, "This has become so popular that I would say when the phone rings, 80% of the people, that's what they want." She emphasized her baking philosophy of not skimping on ingredients, noting, "I want to put more white chips. I want to put more coconut!"

The cake has received high praise from various Hollywood figures. Kirsten Dunst told Graham Norton in 2016 that it was the "best coconut cake I've ever had in my life." Tom Hanks called it "off-the-scale fantastic" in a 2023 video, adding that it would be one of his choices for a last meal on earth.

Currently, the cake is in high demand. On Goldbelly, customers are required to join a waitlist. Shipping options previously included two-day shipping for an additional $35, five-day delivery for $20, and six-day delivery for free. However, those in Los Angeles can still purchase the cake directly from Doan's Bakery for $66.

The cake itself is a substantial dessert. It is a 10-inch bundt cake that serves 12 to 16 people and weighs 3 pounds. It ships frozen with dry ice and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for four months.