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I tried the famous $140 cake that Tom Cruise gifts to his celebrity friends every holiday season

by with No Comment Xpandfy

  • I tried the famous “Tom Cruise Cake,” which the actor sends to a select group every Christmas.
  • Recipients have included Glen Powell, Jon Hamm, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle and Dakota Fanning.
  • The dessert is a white chocolate bundt cake from Doan’s Bakery in Los Angeles.

‘Twas the weeks before Christmas, when all through Hollywood, every celebrity was stirring, even Glen Powell.

Their assistants and publicists checked the mail with care, in hopes that the famous “Tom Cruise Cake” would soon be there.

We may have taken some creative liberties with the iconic “A Visit from St. Nicholas” poem, but there’s no denying that Cruise’s annual gift has become the stuff of legends.

Every year, the “Mission: Impossible” star sends white chocolate coconut bundt cakes from Doan’s Bakery in Los Angeles to a select group of friends and former costars. It’s a list that every celebrity wants to be on.

For those not on the list or local to LA, the famous cake is also available on Goldbelly for $140. Of course, I had to order one for the holidays to see what all the hype was about.

Katie Holmes introduced Tom Cruise to his favorite Christmas gift.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split in 2012.

Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images

Karen Doan, the self-taught baker behind the famous cake, revealed during a 2021 interview with Spectrum News 1 that Holmes, who was married to Cruise from 2006 to 2012, had learned about Doan’s Bakery from Diane Keaton while they were working on the 2008 film “Mad Money.”

“When Tom and Katie had a big party at their new home in Beverly Hills, we did all the cakes,” Doan said. “They loved it.”

Cruise and Holmes’ marriage didn’t last, but his relationship with Doan’s Bakery has continued for over a decade.

“This has become so popular that I would say when the phone rings, 80% of the people, that’s what they want,” Doan said about the coconut cake in 2021.

The “Tom Cruise Cake,” as it’s since been nicknamed, has become a status symbol in Hollywood.


Tom Cruise

Cruise always sends the cake to his former costars, including Glen Powell and Tom Hanks.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Whether it’s a bouquet of flowers from Beyoncé or some Meghan Markle marmalade, the A-list loves to show off their exclusive gifts on Instagram. Celebrities, they’re just like us!

The “Tom Cruise Cake” is no different. Stars like Mindy Kaling and Glen Powell have posted pictures of their cakes, and the famous dessert is a frequent discussion on the talk show circuit. Celebrity gossip blogs even publish lists detailing which celebrities — including Jon Hamm, the Fanning sisters, and Angela Bassett — make the cut every year.

The cake itself has also won high praise. Kirsten Dunst told Graham Norton in 2016 that it was the “best coconut cake I’ve ever had in my life,” and Tom Hanks called it “off-the-scale fantastic” during a 2023 video for Mythical Kitchen. The actor loves the cake so much that he said it would be one of the dishes he’d want for his last meal on earth.

I don’t think I’ve ever tried a cake with so much hype. Clearly, it had a lot to live up to.

My cake arrived two days after I ordered it on Goldbelly.


Tom Cruise cake in its shipping box

The cake was individually wrapped in plastic and tied with a green bow.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I ordered the cake on December 18 and selected two-day shipping, which was an additional $35. There were also options for five-day delivery ($20) and six-day delivery (free). Unfortunately, due to high demand, you now need to join a waitlist for the cake on Goldbelly, although those in LA can still purchase it from Doan’s Bakery for the much cheaper cost of $66.

The dessert, which ships nationwide, was delivered frozen with dry ice. The cake itself was individually wrapped in plastic, topped with a bright-green bow, and tucked inside a Doan’s Bakery box.

I unwrapped the cake and stuck it in the fridge to defrost overnight.


Tom Cruise cake unwrapped

The cake from Doan’s Bakery serves 12 to 16 people.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

The hefty 10-inch cake — which serves 12-16 people and weighs 3 pounds — can last in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for four months.

Cobie Smulders told Jimmy Fallon in 2019 that she’ll “slowly chip away” at the dessert until March.

When my family and I first tried the cake, it was still pretty frozen.


Tom Cruise cake sliced

Slicing into the bundt cake.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

With its generous dusting of coconut flakes, the bundt cake makes for an angelic and festive centerpiece. But, at first, it was hard to appreciate the flavor.

This is already a dense and buttery cake, and it hadn’t fully defrosted after 24 hours in the fridge. Paired with the cream cheese frosting, the texture was really heavy. My parents and I weren’t super impressed, but we decided to hold our opinion and give the cake another day to fully defrost.

With each passing day, we liked the cake more and more.


A slice of Tom Cruise cake

A slice of the white chocolate bundt cake.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

This is definitely a maximalist cake — something Doan said was always part of her ethos.

“I don’t skimp on ingredients,” she said during the Spectrum News 1 segment in 2021. “Everyone says, ‘Less is more, Karen,’ because I want to put more white chips. I want to put more coconut!”

I’m glad she didn’t listen when she created this cake recipe, especially when it came to the white chocolate chunks. Their texture adds just a hint of delicious crunch to the cake, and there’s a warmth to the flavor that helps cut through the intense punch of sweetness. The toasted flakes are also a nice touch, adding depth without giving each bite an overwhelming coconut flavor.

When I woke up for breakfast one morning this week, I found myself craving another slice of the cake. It had surprisingly grown on me. My parents agreed, although they’re not convinced it’s worth the price.

“I’d eat it again, if someone sent it as a gift,” my dad said.

You heard him, Tom!




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We give our teenagers more experiences than gifts for Christmas. It brings us closer as a family.

by with No Comment Xpandfy

When my kids were little, we embraced the magic of Santa Claus. Christmas morning meant lots of presents to unwrap, some from mom and dad, and plenty from Santa. Still, we valued giving our kids experiences, as well. When grandparents and other relatives asked for holiday gift ideas for our kids, we’d always suggest things like a membership to our local zoo or movie theater gift certificates — gifts that would provide us with time together as a family instead of sending more stuff into our house.

Our gifting style changed when my kids stopped believing in Santa. Sure, we’d give our kids a few actual presents to open on Christmas morning, but we also upped the emphasis on choosing experiences over gifts. From cruises to road trips, we started turning our focus to what we could do together to create memories over the holiday season, away from material things.

We give our kids experiences, but they still get a few things from their wish lists


The author's kids opening gifts on Christmas when they were younger.

The author’s kids have always gotten gifts, but over the years, they’ve gotten fewer presents and more experiences.

Courtesy of Terri Peters



My teenagers are now 15 and 17, and while they look forward to the items from their Christmas list that do end up under our tree, they also like finding things to experience together as a family. And it’s not always the gift of travel we bestow upon them; there’s also magic and memories to be found in the things we do together at home.

As my kids have gotten older, they’ve begun to appreciate our holiday traditions, such as assembling gingerbread houses, hopping in the car to see Christmas lights, and going to a holiday-themed theater production together just as much as they appreciate a new pair of sneakers or a video game on Christmas morning.

Travel is one of the experiences we most love giving our teens


The author with her family on a beach.

The author enjoys traveling with her family as part of their holiday gift.

Courtesy of Terri Peters



Still, travel remains a gift we love giving to our kids over the holidays. This year’s holiday trip was a trek from our home in Florida to New York City, where we stayed in a hotel within walking distance of Central Park and Times Square, saw a Broadway show every night, and ate some seriously good NYC treats all over the city.

In past years, we’ve gone on a 10-day cruise around the Caribbean and taken a 3-hour road trip to spend a few days exploring Miami. Wherever we go and however we get there, traveling helps us tuck away cherished memories of time together, and hopefully, it will teach my kids how important it is to experience the world with people you love.

We also consider holiday-season day trips part of our kids’ Christmas gifts


The author with her son and the Grinch at Univeral.

They also do day trips, including the holiday show at Universal Orlando.

Courtesy of Terri Peters



Living in Central Florida, we have lots of great day trip options, too. Often, we go on the same adventures every single year, like heading to Universal Orlando to see their Grinch-themed holiday stage show or taking a drive to do an airboat ride (a very Florida way to see nature, waterways, and yes, alligators). On these trips, we often let them bring a friend or partner along for the day, teaching them to choose time together with the people they love over spending a lot of money on gifts.

In fact, I was touched this year when my son was telling me the things he’s planning to get his girlfriend for their first Christmas together. Sure, there were some very sweet presents in the mix, but he also asked for my help in presenting her with the gift of an experience they can do together after the holidays. Seeing them pay our family traditions forward in their own ways is pretty heart-warming.

I’m so happy my family simply enjoys being together over the holidays


The author's two kids standing on a balcony.

The author’s kids enjoy spending time with each other and their parents over the holidays.

Courtesy of Terri Peters



My teens truly seem to love our family tradition of focusing on experiences more than presents during the holidays. Not only has it built us a treasure trove of memories (and family photos) throughout the years, but it’s given them a solid foundation of understanding that life isn’t about getting the next big material possession on your wish list; it’s about experiencing everything life has to offer with the people you care about most.

As a mom, I love seeing my kids open the gifts I’ve picked out for them on Christmas morning just as much as the next parent. Still, I’m OK with there being fewer presents under the tree as long as I know we truly enjoyed one another’s presence during the holiday season.




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I work in a research lab and have kids under 7. These are the science-based gifts that they’ve enjoyed most over the years.

by with No Comment Xpandfy

  • I work in a research lab and enjoy giving my kids toys that make them think a bit.
  • STEM-based toys like cookbooks, building kits, and circuit sets foster learning and fun at home.
  • These are the six toys my kids, 3 and 6, keep going back to play with again and again.

It’s exciting to shop for kids, especially around the holidays, but it can be overwhelming with all the options available. I’m a mom to a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old, and I work in a scientific research lab, so I gravitate toward toys that can be both educational and fun.

Over the years, my kids have tried out a lot of STEM-based toys. These are the ones that they return to again and again, and they also happen to be ones that I know are challenging their brains in all the right ways.

“The Ultimate Science Cookbook for Kids” incorporates STEM concepts into edible creations

The author’s son follows a recipe from a STEM-based cookbook for kids.

Courtesy of Anne James

I bought this Highlights cookbook for my son last Easter, and have since purchased a handful more to gift to friends and relatives. My 6-year-old frequently requests to make recipes from this cookbook, which covers a wide range of scientific topics.

Each recipe has a scientific description alongside it, and the recipes range from easy (building a pyramid with cheese cubes and grapes, teaching basic engineering skills) to multiple-step (think along the lines of chocolate chip cookies — an opportunity to talk about chemical reactions and how baking soda leavens the cookies), so there’s something for everyone (even if you’re not prepared!).

STEM building kits spark interest in engineering and energy use


Completed STEM build kids.

The author says her younger kids are able to enjoy these wooden building kits intended for children 8 and older with adult supervision.

Courtesy of Anne James.

My parents have gifted a few Poraxy and Yutin STEM wood building kits — vehicles, more vehicles, and lanterns — to my kids. While geared more toward ages 8 and up, my younger kids enjoy making these kits with help from an adult.

Many of the kits run on batteries, but there’s also a solar-charged helicopter and car that you can use to discuss the differences in power, as well as the building concepts.

The Ferris wheel model uses slow gears and a fast motor, introducing gear speed reduction. The kits involve attaching wires (positive and negative) to battery power, teaching simple polarity (which end of the battery is positive or negative?). My kids enjoy playing with the vehicles, and the lanterns are often used at bedtime.

Snap Circuit kits teach how electronics work


A Snap Circuit kit that the author borrowed from her local library.

The author said her children ask to borrow these circuit-based kits from their library several times a year.

Courtesy of Anne James

My kids often love to grab a Snap Circuit kit, labeled for ages 8 to 108, when we visit our local library. Our branch has the kit in a large plastic carrying case, available to check out upon request. I like to borrow the kit a few times a year as a special activity during school breaks or when the weather is poor, and my kids are always excited to bring it home.

My son and daughter are able to work on the circuit board with a little help from me. The kit has a variety of build setups, some reminiscent of physics labs I did in school, but you can also create your own setups.

This toy teaches how practical objects, such as an alarm, a switch, or a lightbulb, work. Beyond the basics of electricity, physics, and engineering, this kit also encourages critical thinking.

The World of Eric Carle’s gears book appeals to toddlers


The author said she often gifts this book to toddlers.

Courtesy of Anne James

“Turn, Crank, Zoom!” is a book that I have repeatedly bought as a gift for toddlers. The text encourages young readers to turn the gears in certain directions or ways to see what happens. The book focuses on colors and motor skills, evoking a sense of curiosity, while being illustrated in the Eric Carle style that kids gravitate toward.

For more expansive gear play, Kaleido gears allow more free play


Quercetti Kaleido Gears are shown in the box

The author said this toy allows for even more gear play.

Courtesy of Anne James

Recommended for ages 3 and up, Quercetti Kaleido Gears give kids the freedom to explore. The gears and axles attach to a board, which kids can connect to a crank to see simple mechanical reactions as the gears move.

These gears could make a great gift to accompany the Eric Carle book. There is also a boxed set aimed toward ages 5 to 12, which includes chains and other components that require finer motor skills. The kits are interchangeable, so both of my kids can play with the gears together.

Marble Run is a classic toy that never goes out of style


The author shows off a bath marble run toy.

The author said her kids are big fans of marble run toys, and especially enjoy this version made for bathtime.

Courtesy of Anne James

Marble run toys have been created in all sorts of designs, and my kids have access to multiple versions.

My son enjoys playing with a bath marble run set, which features pieces with suction cups that attach to the wall. The bath set requires more structural design planning than traditional marble runs, as the pieces must fit flat against the wall.

Our friends own one of the more advanced GraviTrax marble run systems — those can be quite the puzzle, even as an adult! The junior GraviTrax set will be wrapped under our Christmas tree this year.




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