Are These Realistic Servings Per Cake

Decorating By MerlotCook Updated 7 Jun 2012 , 1:51pm by MerlotCook

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MerlotCook Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 8:42pm
post #1 of 15

Once upon a time I thought these were good servings for sheet cakes that are 2" high. I got an order for 350 servings in sheet cakes and I'm starting to doubt the cake sizes. I have looked at the Wilton wedding and party serving charts and it is just confusing me even more. Can somebody please let me know if these are realistic? Thank you so much.

7 X 11 (10-12 servings)

9 X 13 (16-18 servings)

11 X 15 (25-30 servings)

12 X 18 (45-50 servings)

14 replies
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CWR41 Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 8:47pm
post #2 of 15
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BlakesCakes Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 8:50pm
post #3 of 15

They look right in line with me.

I figure with a 2" tall basic sheet cake, the common way of cutting is a 2x2x2 slice.
I multiply LxWx2 and divide by 8 and that will give me exactly how many slices it will provide.

The Wilton chart is going by 4" tall cakes and party sizes are 12 cubic inches of cake (wedding is 8 cubic inches). If I'm making that type of cake, then I do LxWx4 and divide by 12. Those are usually more elaborate cakes like books, so they are higher in value, too.

Rae

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MerlotCook Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 8:50pm
post #4 of 15

My sheet cakes are only 1 layer, though, so do I cut these servings in half? For instance the link says a 12x18 will serve 98 if it's 2 layer so that would be 49 servings if it's one layer?

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CWR41 Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 8:53pm
post #5 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by MerlotCook

My sheet cakes are only 1 layer, though, so do I cut these servings in half? For instance the link says a 12x18 will serve 98 if it's 2 layer so that would be 49 servings if it's one layer?




Yes.

One 2" layer is cut 2x2x2 and two 2" layers are cut 1x2x4.

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SoFloGuy Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 8:57pm
post #6 of 15

You can also cut it 1X2X4 wedding or 1.5X2X4 party by making the 4 the length instead of the height.

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BlakesCakes Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 9:00pm
post #7 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by MerlotCook

My sheet cakes are only 1 layer, though, so do I cut these servings in half? For instance the link says a 12x18 will serve 98 if it's 2 layer so that would be 49 servings if it's one layer?




12x18x2=432 divide by 8= 54, 2x2x2 slices

Cake cuts: 9 cuts on long side, 6 cuts on short side= 9x6=54

Rae

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BakingIrene Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 9:09pm
post #8 of 15

I served an 11x15 cake (regular 4" high) to 40 people (half kids) at a party and everybody had as much cake as they wanted. There was 1/4 left over.

So I think that a single 11x15x2 layer will give you 25 decent sized dessert servings==meaning that this cake is the primary dessert.

Using the relative areas, that gives:

7x11 = 12 servings

9x13 = 18 servings

11x15 = 25 servings

12x18 = 32 servings***this is the only discrepancy with your chart.

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BlakesCakes Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 9:18pm
post #9 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by BakingIrene

I served an 11x15 cake (regular 4" high) to 40 people (half kids) at a party and everybody had as much cake as they wanted. There was 1/4 left over.

So I think that a single 11x15x2 layer will give you 25 decent sized dessert servings==meaning that this cake is the primary dessert.

Using the relative areas, that gives:

7x11 = 12 servings

9x13 = 18 servings

11x15 = 25 servings

12x18 = 32 servings***this is the only discrepancy with your chart.




Actual calculated servings for 8 cubic inch servings:

7x11x2= 20
9x13x2= 30
11x15x2= 41
12x18x2= 54

Rae

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BakingIrene Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 9:23pm
post #10 of 15

Rae your servings are wedding cake size 8 cubic inches.

I carefully stated that I was using the dessert size for my calculations.

The OP has to keep track of the difference. You should too.

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BlakesCakes Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 9:40pm
post #11 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by BakingIrene

Rae your servings are wedding cake size 8 cubic inches.

I carefully stated that I was using the dessert size for my calculations.

The OP has to keep track of the difference. You should too.




I read the OP as actually asking about wedding size, 8 cubic inch, servings::

"Once upon a time I thought these were good servings for sheet cakes that are 2" high".
And she then provides a chart that is very close to my "actual" calculations for that (wedding) size serving.

So I respond with info on how to calculate 8 cubic inch servings.

You state, "11x15x2 layer will give you 25 decent sized dessert servings", which you've extrapolated from your experience with a 4" tall cake.

Since she wasn't asking about "dessert" sized servings of 12 cubic inches, I merely clarified how it would actually look for what she originally mentioned.

It always helps NOT to throw an orange into the apple mix icon_rolleyes.gif

Rae

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SoFloGuy Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 9:53pm
post #12 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by BakingIrene



I carefully stated that I was using the dessert size for my calculations.

.




Okay I know Wilton wedding sizes and party sizes, what's a standard dessert size?

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BlakesCakes Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 10:30pm
post #13 of 15

I don't know what constitutes a "standard dessert size", either.

I go by the Wilton wedding & party---8 cubic inches and 12 cubic inches, respectively.

"Muggles" tend to think of a huge wedge of cake-- l>---and are pretty surprised when they hear that's not what we're talkin' 'bout here.

Guess that's where the saying, "It's all in how you slice it." , came from.

Rae

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jason_kraft Posted 6 Jun 2012 , 10:40pm
post #14 of 15

For party size servings (12 cubic inches, or 2"x3"x2") you would have the following, assuming a single 2" tall layer:

7 X 11 = 77/6 = 12.8 servings

9 X 13 = 117/6 = 19.5 servings

11 X 15 = 165/6 = 27.5 servings

12 X 18 = 216/6 = 36 servings

It's been my experience that servings tend to be even bigger than 12 cu in when the cake is not served by professionals. For our 12x18 single layer half sheet cake, we tell our customers it serves 26-36.

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MerlotCook Posted 7 Jun 2012 , 1:51pm
post #15 of 15

Thank you all for the great input- it is appreciated!

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