For Hollywood insiders, the ultimate marker of success isn’t an Oscar or a star on the Walk of Fame—it’s receiving Tom Cruise’s iconic coconut cake. Over the years, numerous celebrities have shared stories about being on Cruise’s coveted cake list, while others have lamented their removal. Here’s a roundup of stars who’ve proudly received the legendary treat.
1. Kirsten Dunst & Jesse Plemons
Kirsten Dunst has been on Cruise’s cake list since working with him on Interview with the Vampire in 1994. Speaking with Graham Norton in 2016, she said, "He gives me a cake every Christmas. We call it the Cruise cake at my house. It’s the best coconut cake I’ve ever had in my life."
In 2024, Dunst revealed her household is now “double-covered” thanks to her husband Jesse Plemons, who co-starred with Cruise in American Made (2017) and gets his own annual delivery. "We double up on our cakes," she joked in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
2. Glen Powell
Top Gun: Maverick star Glen Powell takes his Cruise cake seriously, hosting an annual party for friends to share the treat. He explained on The Jennifer Hudson Show, "It’s the most delicious cake you’ve ever had. My friends love it so much they ask me every December, 'Has it arrived yet?'"
Powell, who nicknamed the event his 'Cruise Cake Party', ensures guests get just a bite or two, saying, "I can’t let them come back for seconds!" He confirmed in 2024 that he’s still on the list, sharing a photo of the cake on Instagram.
3. Hayley Atwell
Hayley Atwell, who starred alongside Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, shared her appreciation for the cake in 2023. Posting a photo of the beautifully wrapped dessert on Instagram, she called it 'delicious' and thanked Cruise for his holiday gesture.
4. Rosie O’Donnell
Rosie O’Donnell, a friend of Cruise for over 25 years, considers the coconut cake a highlight of her holiday season. She wrote on Instagram, "My Tommy sent me a coconut cake!! I love that guy."
5. Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks revealed on Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meals series that the coconut cake is a favorite at his production company, Playtone. "When it arrives, everyone starts slicing thinner and thinner slices to make it last. It’s a mathematical proof that you’ll never run out of Tom Cruise cake."
6. Elle & Dakota Fanning
Elle Fanning revealed that Cruise has remained close to her sister Dakota since they worked together on War of the Worlds (2005). "He sends her a birthday gift every year, and we always get the coconut cake too," Elle told PEOPLE.
7. Jon Hamm
Jon Hamm, a Top Gun: Maverick star, proudly revealed that he was on 'Cruise’s cake list' long before joining the blockbuster film. "I predate the movie, so I’m very happy to be on the list," he said on Dish Nation.
8. Miles Teller
Miles Teller, another Top Gun: Maverick cast member, admitted to savoring the cake for months. "I still have one in my fridge from February," he joked during the film’s premiere. "That’s how good it is."
9. Graham Norton
Graham Norton discovered he’d been on 'Cruise’s cake list' for years—though the treats never made it to him. On his show, he shared, "Apparently, Tom has been sending it to my office, but I never got to taste it. Someone else always ate it!"
