I Made the Coconut Cake That Tom Cruise Gifts for Christmas, and It’s Award-Worthy

Among the Hollywood elite there is one coveted Christmas gift: the “Tom Cruise cake.” You’ve made it when you receive this white chocolate coconut Bundt cake from Tom Cruise! It’s made at Doan’s Bakery, a small family business in Woodland Hills, California. The moist and decadent coconut Bundt cake has chunks of white chocolate inside, a rich cream cheese frosting and, finally, a generous coating of coconut flakes.

Rumor has it, the cake is so delicious it will derail even the most serious Hollywood diet.

Even if you aren’t one of the lucky few to receive the Tom Cruise cake from the star himself, it’s possible to purchase one through Goldbelly. There are also a few copycat versions of this cake floating around online, so instead of splurging on the mail-order cake, I decided to recreate it myself at home. Here’s the recipe!

Tom Cruise Cake Copycat Recipe

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

Ingredients

Cake:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting pan
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract
• 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

Frosting:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1-1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut

Directions

Step 1: Prep the oven and pan

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 15-cup Bundt pan.

Step 2: Mix the batter

In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the sugar and butter together on medium speed for about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sour cream, vanilla extract and coconut extract. Beat until combined.

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

Step 3: Pour into a Bundt pan

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.

Step 4: Make the frosting

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 the flaked coconut evenly around the outside.

Here’s What I Thought

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

This showstopping cake was relatively easy to make and was a huge hit with my family. It’s rich and decadent, which might be too much other times of the year, but during the holidays, I think it hit the right note. Normally, I wouldn’t associate white chocolate and coconut with the holiday season, but once this cake is put together, it looks like a big snowball. For me, that made it a holiday dessert centerpiece!

I really liked that this is a forgiving Bundt cake recipe. It is always a bit nerve-wracking when you invert the cake to see if it releases perfectly or pieces stick to the Bundt pan. But since this cake is covered with frosting and then a layer of coconut, any mistakes are easily hidden.

I discovered a few tips along the way while making this cake. Once the cake has cooled, trim the bottom of the cake a bit to make sure it sits nicely on your cake stand or platter. (Plus, you get to nibble on the scraps, which is always a good thing.) I also suggest placing a piece of waxed paper underneath the cake as you add the coconut layer. That makes it easier to scoop up and reuse the bits that fall and helps you coat the entire surface.

In the end, I decided that I’m no longer worried about being on Santa’s naughty or nice list. I just want to be on Tom Cruise’s Bundt cake list!