The Tom Cruise coconut cake has become one of the most talked-about celebrity desserts in recent years. This legendary white chocolate coconut bundt cake, made by Doan’s Bakery, is the holiday gift Tom sends to friends each Christmas.
Topped with velvety cream cheese frosting and wrapped in a layer of golden toasted coconut, it’s easy to see why this cake has earned its legendary status. But at $130 per cake, most of us haven’t had the chance to try it. That’s why I set out to create a copycat version.If you’ve never tasted the tom cruise coconut cake, this is your chance to bake a better version at home. The best part? My recipe costs a fraction of the price and, according to my kids, tastes even better.
Table of Contents
The Story Behind the Famous Tom Cruise Coconut Cake
Tom Cruise’s Hollywood Holiday Tradition
Every December, dozens of celebrities receive an unexpected but delightful gift from Tom Cruise: a bundt cake. But not just any cake. It’s the iconic Tom Cruise coconut cake, sent from a small family-owned bakery in California. This decadent white chocolate coconut bundt cake, handmade by Doan’s Bakery, has become a beloved holiday favorite among Hollywood’s elite.
From Rosie O’Donnell to Barbara Walters, many have raved about its sweetness and luxurious flavor on talk shows and social media.
Tom Cruise reportedly sends out over 100 of these cakes each year. That’s some serious baking love.
The cake’s legacy grew as recipients started calling it “The Cruise Cake” and sharing their reactions online. With its elegant bundt shape, thick swirl of white chocolate cream cheese frosting, and a blanket of toasted coconut, this cake is both a showstopper and a decadent treat.. Of course, this fame brought attention to the bakery behind it.
Doan’s Bakery and the $130 Cake Phenomenon
Doan’s Bakery, located in Woodland Hills, California, is the creator of this viral sensation. The bakery describes their most popular item as a coconut bundt cake studded with white chocolate, topped with cream cheese frosting, and blanketed in sweet toasted coconut. It’s shipped nationwide through Goldbelly for a hefty price of nearly $130. That cost includes the cake itself, premium packaging, and overnight delivery. For many, the price is worth it just to be part of a glamorous tradition. But for others, the cost is simply too high to justify for a single dessert.
This exclusive treat captured my curiosity. As someone who loves baking and storytelling, I couldn’t resist finding out what made it so special. Everyone talks about the tom cruise coconut cake, but few ever try the real one due to the high price.Thanks to a thoughtful friend, I was able to sample the real thing. And while I appreciated the gesture, I immediately knew I could craft something more flavorful and even more affordable right from my own kitchen.
My Honest Review of the Original Tom Cruise Coconut Cake
What It’s Like to Eat the Famous Doan’s Bakery Cake
When I finally got to taste the original Tom Cruise coconut cake from Doan’s Bakery, I was excited.
The cake arrived in beautifully refined packaging, and its flawless appearance made it look straight out of a magazine. I cut a generous slice, expecting to be wowed. But as I took a bite, I noticed something was missing.
The texture was fine, even a little dense, but the flavor didn’t deliver what the description had promised.
I expected a bold coconut flavor and hits of white chocolate. Instead, it tasted more like a yellow cake with a touch of cream cheese frosting. The coconut was there, but it didn’t shine through. The sweet frosting overwhelmed everything else. Its saving grace was the moist texture, which stood out despite everything else.
My copycat tom cruise coconut cake fixes that with depth, moisture, and bold coconut flavor in every slice.I later learned that sour cream in the batter contributed to that. But the cake just didn’t have the depth I had imagined
What Was Missing and Why I Knew I Could Do Better
After tasting the Doan’s version, I knew I had to try making my own. I didn’t want a dry cake, but I also didn’t want one that relied on just sugar and frosting for impact.
I wanted flavor, richness, and balance. Coconut should be the star. White chocolate should complement it, not hide in the background.
And the texture had to be just right—not too light, not too heavy.
I began sketching out a plan. I thought about what flavors I love in coconut desserts. I pulled out ingredients from my pantry. I read through comments from others who had tried the original cake and shared similar opinions. This wasn’t going to be a basic bundt cake. It was going to be my version of a Hollywood classic, but with the warmth of a homemade treat. What makes my tom cruise coconut cake stand out is how the coconut and white chocolate actually balance, not clash.
As a mom who learned to bake from my grandma Eleanor, I’ve always believed that recipes are more than ingredients. They’re stories, shared moments, and a little bit of magic. This cake deserved to be all of that and more.
The Copycat Tom Cruise Coconut Cake That Tastes Even Better
How I Developed the Perfect Coconut Cake at Home
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Tom Cruise Coconut Cake – Make The Famous Recipe At Home
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Moist and flavorful white chocolate coconut bundt cake with a fluffy coconut cream cheese buttercream. A copycat of the famous Tom Cruise coconut cake for a fraction of the price.
Ingredients
FOR THE COCONUT CAKE
3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons (8 g) baking powder
1 teaspoon (6 g) salt
½ cup (125 g) canned coconut milk, mixed before measuring
½ cup (120 g) buttermilk, at room temperature
1 tablespoon (16 g) coconut emulsion or extract
1 ¾ cups (350 g) granulated sugar
1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 ounces white chocolate, melted
3 eggs, at room temperature
2 egg whites, at room temperature
FOR THE COCONUT BUTTERCREAM
1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, slightly cold
4 ounces cream cheese
2 ½ cups (312.5 g) powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon (5.3 g) coconut emulsion
Pinch of salt
GARNISH
1 cup (95 g) sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup (95 g) toasted coconut
1 cup toffee baking bits
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick spray and dust with granulated sugar.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, mix coconut milk, buttermilk, and coconut emulsion. Set aside.
4. In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
5. Add melted white chocolate. Mix. Add eggs and egg whites one at a time, scraping between additions.
6. Beat mixture on medium-high for 2 minutes until smooth and slightly increased in volume.
7. With mixer on low, alternate adding dry ingredients and coconut mixture, starting and ending with flour.
8. Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with toasted coconut and cover with toffee bits.
9. Bake for 50–55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
10. Cool in pan for 1 hour, then invert onto a cake stand.
11.
12. To make frosting, beat butter and cream cheese for 2 minutes until fluffy.
13. Gradually add powdered sugar. Add coconut emulsion and salt.
14. Beat on medium-high for 3–5 minutes until light in color and texture.
15. Frost cooled cake and top with shredded coconut.
Notes
Let cake cool completely before inverting.
To freeze, wrap unfrosted cake in plastic wrap and thaw before frosting.
Use coconut extract if coconut emulsion isn’t available.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 57g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
How to Make the Tom Cruise Coconut Cake (Easy Recipe)
Recreating the Tom Cruise coconut cake meant going beyond imitation. I didn’t just want to match it—I wanted to improve it.So I started testing different ingredients and methods, round after round. The first version came out too airy. The second was too dense. But the third? That one hit the mark. The texture was pillowy but rich, the coconut flavor came through boldly, and the whole cake felt balanced and luxurious.
To achieve this, I used a smart mix of fats. Half coconut milk and half buttermilk gave the cake moisture and depth. I swapped chunks of white chocolate for melted white chocolate, which blended more evenly into the batter and added richness without overwhelming sweetness. Instead of scattering chocolate inside the cake, I added a crunchy layer of toasted coconut and toffee bits to the bottom of the bundt pan before baking. That base layer caramelizes slightly and gives the cake a toasty finish that the original just didn’t have.
What Makes This Cake Better Than the Original
While the Doan’s version leans heavily on sweet frosting, mine finds balance. The buttercream combines butter and cream cheese, but in a ratio that doesn’t overpower the cake. I also added coconut emulsion to both the cake and the frosting to make the coconut flavor shine. If you prefer, you can use coconut extract, but I recommend the emulsion for its more natural flavor.
The end result is moist, flavorful, and beautifully textured. And unlike the pricey Goldbelly version, you can make it for under $20. It feeds a crowd and freezes well, making it perfect for parties, holidays, or gifts.
My kids declared it better than the $130 original. I have to agree. Every bite reminds me of what baking is all about—making something special, sharing it with people you love, and turning a trend into a memory.
Here’s a step-by-step visual of how this tom cruise coconut cake comes together from the creamy batter to the golden, fluffy finish:
Look at that fluffy, silky-smooth cake batter above—doesn’t it look amazing? It’s incredibly moist, packed with flavor, and downright irresistible. Take a closer look below!
How to Store, Gift, and Enjoy the Copycat Tom Cruise Coconut Cake
Smart Storage Tips for Busy Bakers
One of the reasons I love this copycat Tom Cruise coconut cake is how easy it is to prepare ahead of time without sacrificing flavor or texture. After baking, allow the cake to cool completely in the pan. This step is essential because it helps the cake release cleanly from the bundt mold. Once cooled, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and either refrigerate it for up to five days or freeze it for longer storage.
If you’re freezing, don’t frost it just yet. Store the buttercream in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep it fresh and ready to use. When you’re ready to serve, thaw the cake at room temperature for about four hours, then beat the buttercream for a couple of minutes to bring it back to life. Frost, garnish with shredded coconut, and you’re good to go. The flavor holds up beautifully, and no one will know you didn’t make it that day. Coconut fans will fall in love with this tom cruise coconut cake, which keeps flavor and texture even after freezing.
Perfect for Gifting and Celebrating All Year Long
There’s something so joyful about sharing a cake that’s both famous and homemade. This coconut cake isn’t just a dessert, it’s a conversation starter. Wrap it in a bakery box, add a festive ribbon, and you’ve got a thoughtful holiday gift that feels luxurious without the luxury price. Whether it’s for Christmas, a birthday, or a simple thank-you gesture, it never fails to impress.
Because it’s visually stunning and easy to slice, this cake also makes a great centerpiece for brunches, showers, and potlucks. You don’t have to tell anyone it was inspired by a celebrity tradition, This homemade tom cruise coconut cake proves you can serve elegance without overspending.but if you do, they’ll be even more impressed.
Looking for more recipes that bring a little fun and flair to the table? Check out my Rice Crispy Ice Cream Sandwiches or these dreamy Pistachio Muffins. They’re the kind of bakes that turn regular days into something worth celebrating.
Conclusion
The Tom Cruise coconut cake might be famous, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy a truly delicious version. This homemade copycat cake delivers on everything the original promises—moist texture, real coconut flavor, and showstopping appearance—without the high price tag.
My family asks for this tom cruise coconut cake at every occasion, and it never lasts more than a day. Whether you’re gifting it for the holidays or enjoying it at home with family, it’s a recipe worth keeping.
The tom cruise coconut cake is more than just a celebrity favorite, it’s a dessert worth celebrating at home. If you love recipes with a story, follow Idealy Recipes on Facebook where I share behind-the-scenes baking tips, seasonal cake inspiration, and family moments in the kitchen.
Looking for more bundt cake ideas, coconut treats, and showstopping desserts? Explore curated pins on Idealy Recipes on Pinterest and save your favorite version of the tom cruise coconut cake to try this weekend.
FAQ
Let’s break down the most asked questions about the legendary tom cruise coconut cake.
Where does Tom Cruise get his coconut cakes?
Tom Cruise sources his coconut cakes from Doan’s Bakery, a small family-owned shop located in Woodland Hills, California. The bakery has been making this cake for years, and it became famous after Cruise began gifting it to his friends every holiday season.
How much does Tom Cruise’s coconut cake cost?
The original Tom Cruise coconut cake from Doan’s Bakery is sold through Goldbelly for about $130, including shipping. This price reflects its premium ingredients, overnight delivery, and high-profile reputation.
Is the Tom Cruise cake really that good?
While the cake is moist and visually appealing, many people, including myself, feel it falls short in flavor. The coconut taste is mild, and the frosting can be overly sweet. That’s why this homemade version is often preferred. It offers bold coconut flavor, rich texture, and a more balanced sweetness.
How much is Doan’s Bakery coconut cake?
If you purchase directly from Doan’s Bakery in-store, the cake is priced closer to $70. However, once you factor in online ordering and nationwide shipping through Goldbelly, the cost rises significantly, nearing $130 per cake.
