I just recently joined cc and baked my first shaped cake (a number 1) for my DS's first birthday. I loved all the help and support I got on here. I also really enjoyed putting love and creativity into the cake and proudly served it at the party to lots of "wows!"

Anyway, my DD (turning 8 yrs) and DS's (turning 5) birthday is coming up and they are having a joint party with up to 36 kids, plus some adults that will be lingering around. To make things "easy" I was going to buy a "pull apart" cupcake cake from our local supermarket bakery with their High School Musical theme. But then I got thinking that if I did that I would only allow for as many cupcakes as kids, which meant that adults didn't get and it would be a waste of cake if kids didn't eat a whole cupcake. Basically I got thinking that maybe I would make their cake (or cakes).

I own an 11x15 x2 pan that I just got for making my last cake. For 36 kids plus maybe 12-15 adults (maybe), how much cake should I be making? I plan to use cake mix boxes because that turned out really well for me last time. Do I want two 11x15 or a double layer 11x15 or should I get a different size pan? I also own two 9" rounds that I can use.

Thanks for your help.

Your 11x15 pan will yield 35 2x2 (standard) servings (cut it 7x5). So if you made two of those, that would be 70, and I think that's probably way too much cake for the number of guests you have.

A double-layer 9" round serves 22-32 depending on how big you cut the pieces.

Here are two common serving charts. Wilton's pieces are a little smaller than Earlene's, but they are the industry standard:
http://www.wilton.com/wedding/wedding-cakes/wedding-cake-data.cfm
http://www.earlenescakes.com/ckserchart.htm

For around 50 servings, a 12x18 sheet would be a good choice because it yields 54. I've found that little kids don't eat a lot of cake, but you do want to make sure that everyone gets a piece (even if they just take one bite of icing and then run off! ).

I was just sketching an idea and I wonder if I would have enough cake with a single layer 11x15 as a base and then cut a 9" round into a star on top. It sounds like 11x15 would be enough cake for small pieces for the kids, perhaps adding a 9" star would give me that little bit extra?

I am hesitant to buy a 12x18 pan because I had a hard time working with the 11x15 size and a bigger cake will only be more challenging to work with and transport...

It sounds to me that the 11X15 and the 9" would be enough. I think its always good to have a small piece, so that everyone gets a taste of it, and if any left overs.....who ever wants a second piece of cake, can have one.

Yes, put the 9"er on top of the sheet and you should be fine.

You also could make your own pull apart cc cake You can arrange the ccs in any shape/style you want, then just ice the top w/a quick icer tip (that *big* 2" wide tip). I don't think youcould fine a board big enough for some 50-60 ccs so I would think about making 2 of them.

So, after discussions (and more discussions) with my kids, it seems that if I open up the idea of two cakes to them that it REALLY complicates things. Also, I don't think I am ready to do a multi-layered cake and couldn't figure out how that would add extra pieces - just make some taller than others.

I think that I will make an 11x15 cake as the main cake that has happy birthday to both of them. Then to get my extra cake I will make two 9"rounds and decorate them as single layers similar to the main cake but put a big 5 on my DS's and a big 8 on my DD's. That way they are complimentary to the main cake (and no new themes are introduced - which also means same frosting colors ). We can cut the big cake first and then if we need extra we can cut into their cakes. I think that will give me more than enough cake (and some extra for me and DH to enjoy the week after the party ).

Thanks for your help!