Tom Cruise’s Hollywood pals love his Bundt cake but left baffled by Scientology-themed gift
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tom Cruise is no stranger to grand gestures, but when it comes to gift-giving, the Hollywood icon has taken a rather unconventional approach.
While most celebrities send flowers or handwritten notes, Cruise reportedly prefers to spread the word of Scientology by gifting framed certificates of its teachings, sealed under plexiglass, Radar Online reported.
He also famously sends the white chocolate coconut Bundt cake from the family-owned Doan’s Bakery in Woodland Hills, California, to his Hollywood friends every year.
Hollywood executives reveal Tom Cruise sends Scientology plaques
According to multiple insiders, including reports from Rob Shutter’s Substack, the 62-year-old 'Mission: Impossible' star has made it a habit to send Scientology plaques for various occasions, including holidays, celebrations, and even as a thank-you for greenlighting his films.
One Hollywood executive described Cruise’s gift, saying, "He sends Scientology. Not a book. Not a pamphlet. A framed document. Under plexiglass.”
Shutter wrote that Cruise's signature gift consists of a “high-gloss plaque featuring the 20 Tenets of Scientology, printed in metallic gold script, mounted with museum-style precision and engraved with Cruise’s initials".
A recipient of the gift described the experience of receiving it as nothing short of bizarre.
"It’s his version of roses. It arrives in a velvet-lined box. No note. Just the tenets. Under plexi," they said.
Another insider recalled receiving one after their studio greenlit a Cruise project, stating, "We opened it and just... stared. It was like receiving the Constitution, but cultier."
Cruise reportedly believes the plaques are more meaningful than traditional gifts, with one source claiming he believes it is "more eternal than flowers".
A publicist added, “You can’t eat it, you can’t smell it, but he believes it saves lives... It's very Tom.”
Reportedly, Cruise became involved with the Church of Scientology in 1986 through his first wife, actress Mimi Rogers, who was already a member. Over the years, he became an outspoken advocate for the Church of Scientology.
His third wife, Katie Holmes, while splitting up with him in 2001, indicted that she did not want their daughter Suri raised a Scientologist and sought sole custody, per The Hollywood Reporter.
The Cruise Cake Hollywood A-listers can’t get enough of
For those who may not appreciate his Scientology plaques, there’s another coveted gift from Tom Cruise that has achieved almost mythical status in Hollywood: the Cruise Cake.
Reportedly, the actor is known for sending a luxurious $126 coconut Bundt cake from Doan’s Bakery to a select group of celebrities every Christmas.
Some lucky recipients include 'Twisters' star Glen Powell, 'Superman' Henry Cavill, 'Tonight Show' host Jimmy Fallon, and even British royals Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Powell, who has become something of a Cruise Cake connoisseur, described the tradition to Jennifer Hudson.
"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?’”he said.
Powell even hosts an annual gathering dedicated to the dessert.
He said, "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."
Brooke Shields wants to be back on Tom Cruise’s exclusive cake list
While some stars eagerly await their annual Cruise Cake, others have found themselves mysteriously removed from the list. One such celebrity is Brooke Shields.
The actress previously revealed that she was on Cruise’s cake list for a decade, receiving the dessert from him, his ex-wife Katie Holmes, and their daughter Suri.
"I was on the list for a while – I had a good 10-year run, and I got the coconut cake every year. It was from them and Suri, so it was the three of them, and then soon it was no Suri and no Katie and just Tom," Shields shared.
But then, the cakes allegedly stopped coming.
"Then it went from just Tom for a while, but not every holiday. And then the cake stopped. I want to get back on that cake list. It's the best cake. Tom, I need to be back on the cake list," she said.
For those wondering what makes the Cruise Cake so special, Doan’s Bakery describes it as, "A ring of moist, luxurious coconut Bundt cake, chunks of sweet white chocolate, a layer of cream cheese frosting, and toasted coconut flakes on top."
