Hello!!  I am going to be making a 3 tired cake in a few weeks and am wondering how to figure out how much buttercream frosting I may need.  I will be traveling and making the frosting at my sisters house and I am just trying to figure out how much stuff i need to take with me.  I know silly question...but this is my 1st 3 tired cake and I am starting to stress a little.  lol

The cake sizes will be 8, 10 and 12 and have 2 full layers of cake.  I don't know if there is a calculator to give an idea of how much or if you all just know how much you need.  I will take an ideas or suggestions you may have!!!

Thanks so much!!

starrie-night,

http://www.wilton.com/cakes/making-cakes/baking-serving-guide.cfm

Start here.  This is a good guide for deciding how much frosting you'll need depending on the size of each tier.  I'm still new to this, too.  When I make frosting I always make one batch more than the guide says to, so that I'm sure I'll have enough.

According to the chart in the book "The Whimsical Bakehouse" (by Kaye and Liv Hansen)

you would need (I am assuming it's a round tiered cake)

8" - 1 1/2 cups icing for ring and crumb coat + 1/12 cups for final coat

10" - 2 1/4-2 1/2 cups for ring and crumb coat + 2 1/2 cups final coat

12" - 3 cups ring and crumb coat + 3 cups final coat

This would add up to approx 14 cups of icing based on their chart.   

again, this is based on a round shape and also approx.  Are you filling with the buttercream also?  I think this chart is based on having a filling other than buttercream (there is a column on the chart for how much filling also)

if you want filling amounts They are:

8"  3 cups

10" 5 cups 

12"  6 cups

(this sounds like a LOT of filling to me, but it's what the chart says)

this is also based on the cake being 3 layers, but I am couldn't find anywhere in the book where they mentioned total layer height. (If that makes sense)

personally, I would ere on the side of more icing than not enough,especially if you are on the road baking and just displaced from your normal baking groove.

I totally forgot to mention they will be square cakes and will be filled with buttercream.  Lol, so stressed I forgot to mention that.   I've only done 2 tiered cakes and this is my 1st 3 tired, thank goodness it's only family!

You will do just fine.  Can't wait to see what you create!