The Infamous Story of Tom Cruise Gifting the Special Christmas Cake to Henry Cavill

Every holiday season, Tom Cruise does something that gets Hollywood buzzing. No, it’s not a new stunt or a blockbuster movie—it’s a cake. But it’s not just any ordinary cake; it’s a white chocolate coconut bundt cake with cream cheese frosting from Doan’s Bakery in California.

This cake is more than a treat. Cruise sends it to his close friends and colleagues, and over the years, it has become a big deal. It comes beautifully wrapped in a box with ribbons, ornaments, and a personal holiday card from Cruise himself. The cake is so famous it has its own hashtags, like #TomCruiseCake and #CruiseCake, which trend every year around Christmas.

The fun part? Cruise doesn’t even eat the cake himself. He just loves sending it and hearing everyone rave about how good it is. Celebrities like Henry Cavill, Tom Hanks, Angela Bassett, and many others are lucky enough to be on the “Cruise Cake List.” Here’s the story of how this cake became a Hollywood legend.

When Henry Cavill Got the Cruise Cake

Henry Cavill, known for his roles in The Witcher and Superman, is one of the many stars to receive Tom Cruise‘s legendary cake. But when he first got it, Cavill wasn’t impressed. Why? He assumed that because it was from Cruise, it had to be a “healthy” cake—maybe gluten-free, sugar-free, or paleo. As the star shared on Jimmy Kimmel Live::

The famous Christmas thing which happens every year, Tom sends a Christmas cake. I heard about this coconut cake and then one day I received said coconut cake, which said ‘Happy Christmas Henry, from Tom Cruise.’ Which is pretty cool by the way. And I thought, ‘There’s no way I’m eating that, it’s going to be made of healthy stuff, be paleo or whatever. This is Christmas. I don’t do healthy at Christmas. 

Cavill ignored the cake for a while, letting it sit in his house unopened. It wasn’t until a friend visited and noticed the box that Cavill finally paid attention to it. His friend was shocked to learn it was a gift from Cruise and insisted they open it. When they did, the 41-year-old realized it wasn’t some boring health food.

The cake was rich, sugary, and absolutely delicious. Cavill ended up eating the whole thing himself, calling it one of the best cakes he’d ever had. It’s safe to say he now understands why everyone makes such a big deal about the Cruise cake.

Why Does Tom Cruise Gift Cakes?

Tom Cruise isn’t just known for his action-packed movies—he’s also known for this unique tradition. Years ago, Cruise started sending the coconut cake to friends, including celebrities like James Corden. The host of The Late Late Show joked about eating the cake right before hosting the Grammy Awards.

I love sugar, but I can’t eat it because when I’m training, you know, I’m doing all these movies. I like to send people cakes.

The cake itself is no ordinary dessert. Made by Doan’s Bakery, it’s known for its soft, moist texture and creamy frosting. The coconut flavor is so rich that people can’t stop talking about it.

And because Cruise sends it to only a select group of people, getting the cake feels like an exclusive honor. As Cruise already said, this cake is more than a gift. It’s a way to bring joy to others while staying true to his healthy lifestyle. Plus, it’s fun to hear stories from people who love it.

Hollywood’s Obsession with the Cruise Cake

Being on the “Cruise Cake List” is the ultimate flex. Many stars have shared their experiences with this special gift. Glen Powell, who starred alongside Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, told Jennifer Hudson on her talk show (per YouTube):

It is the most delicious cake you’ve ever had. My friends who have tried it, they love it so much that they hit me up right around December 1. ‘Hey, has it arrived yet?’ So now I have a party at my house where I’ll have the Cruise cake. It’s my ‘Cruise Cake Party.’ And I’ll invite people over to try a bite or two … [they] can’t get greedy. I really have to limit people. I can’t let them come back for seconds.

Angela Bassett said on The Kelly Clarkson Show that she loves the cake so much that she had a had a “three-tiered TCCC [Tom Cruise Coconut Cake]” made for her 25th wedding anniversary. Cobie Smulders, known for her role in How I Met Your Mother, revealed The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon:

It’s so good. I leave it in my freezer and it lasts until like March. 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.

Even Tom Hanks and his team look forward to the cake every year. At his production company, they slice it thinner and thinner to make it last as long as possible. It’s become a tradition for them to savor every bite.

Some stars, like Brooke Shields, miss being on the list. Shields used to receive the cake every year but hasn’t gotten one in a while. The actress has openly told PEOPLE she wants to get back on the list because it’s the best cake she’s ever had.