I am in a dilemma! I have a sheetcake to do for Friday for a graduation to feed 90-100 people. What I am wondering is how many servings have any of you gotten out of a 12"x18" sheet (or 2 9"x13")? I am trying to figure out what to use. A local shop around here uses an 18"x24" for 100 but by my figures that would be closer to 140! HELP ME PLEASE!!!
Thank you,
HeatherMari[/code]

HELP!!

I think it really depends on if you are doing layers as the taller the cake the smaller the piece. Personnally I am doing 2 11 x 15 cakes for a graduation party of 90 - 100 people. Both cakes are filled. I never go by the suggested servings as they seem very small. I also find that at many graduation parties the cake is the first thing to go as many people tend to get seconds and thirds.

I hope this helps. Good luck.
Lisa

OK, I'm in my math classroom now...made me think of how I figured out my servings. I made a 12x18 cake. Then I figured how big the pieces would/should be. In this case, I was figuring 2x2 pieces. If it was filled, it would probably be smaller. Anyway... I figured out the area of the cake (length x width) 12x18 = 216. Then I took the area of a piece of cake 2 x 2 = 4. OK, now I took the total area, and divided by the area of a piece. 216/4 = 54.
54...that is how many 2 x 2 pieces of cake I would get out of that particulart sheet pan.
I know it's not the most convenient way, but it is practical and gives me a clear idea of serving sizes depending on the size of the serving. HTH>

This is what I use for my serving sizes...I'm hoping this might help you

*edited to add prices:
These are my prices for a decorated cake...
1/4 sheet
9x13 - 1 layer - 15 people: $25
9x13 2 layer -20 : $30

1/2 sheet(I use 2 9x13's together)

1 layer - 30 people $40
2 layer - 40 people $45

full sheet ( I use 4 9x13s)
1 layer - 60 people $60
2 layer - 80 people $65



I would think you could do a 2-layer full sheet & have enough cake.

This is just the sizes & servings that I go by...I tend to allow for large pieces, because in my experience that is how people usually cut them.

I hope this helps

Are there two of these? I think I replied to the wrong one..

What do you all usually charge for sheet cakes or half sheet cakes? I'm just getting into this and I've told a few people I won't do it for less than $35 (for a basic, no filling, no frills sheet cake). I've seen some places charge $75-100 for a HALF sheet cake...... just looking for some others' prices THANKS!!!

Imartsy: I'm going to edit my above post & include my prices & hopefully it will help

personally I don't think you should adjust your servign sizes b/c people like to cut them large. Just make sure the customer understands what a stated serving size is and that if they want larger pieces for the same number of people they need to buy a larger cake.

in other words, you shouldn't have a larger cost for ingredients and labor b/c they don't cut it the size you suggest.

Now of course you should feel free to set your number of servings and the serving size for the cakes you do.

What I have done that has helped me is to draw my pan size on a cake board and mark off the serving sizes. I'm a tad bit obsessive-compulsive, but this way I can show people the size of the cake and serving size. Here's a pic of the 12x18 example. I get 60 servings.

I agree with jmt1714's & fat-sissy's last two entry's, plus, someone else said sheet cake servings are 2" squares. That is what I have found in completing a lot of research before I set my sizing & prices.

For a full sheet, I bake 2 half-sheet cakes & put them together. My half sheets are 12x16", and serve 48. They are roughly 2" high. So, if you put 2 together, that creates a 24x32" sheet cake, serving 96. This size would work if you need to serve 90-100, assuming you don't really need 100........ however, someone else mentioned how cake goes fast because guests take 2nds & 3rds.

So, talk with your customer & advise of how many slices you can provide, and what size they are. Also suggest that they can order extra sheet cakes as back-up. You can review my sizes/servings/prices on my ordering & delivery page at www.OCakes.com, and hopefully that information will be helpful. I settled on it after visiting many other bakeries & websites.

Good luck!

Thanks guys! That pic is great too - I think that makes a lot of sense to show to customers. Sometimes I've even wondered how a sheet cake could feed so many people - but that makes it a lot easier to understand. (Of course, I'm one who would take more than one piece if it's good cake, so you'd have to include 2 servings for me!)

You guys are really great at figuring this all out. Though, even if I use the math and drawing it out..I can't figure out how to get an 11x15 to cut evenly and figure out serving sizes...am I doing something wrong?

Heiser- I get 40 servings from an 11x15 pan. I cut 8 rows on the long side and 5 rows on the short side. Does that make sense? Just look at the above pic of the 12x18 sheet.

Heiser- I get 40 servings from an 11x15 pan. I cut 8 rows on the long side and 5 rows on the short side. Does that make sense? Just look at the above pic of the 12x18 sheet.

sissy-thanks so much! Now I have an idea of how to do it..and how many servings it should be. Thanks a ton! You really helped me out!