I have a customer who needs a cake for 100 people. I went with a 12" square & a 10" square for my tiered present design. According to Wilton, that services 122 if the pieces are 1" x 2". However, the yearbook says that it only serves 78 if cut "party size." This is for a Sweet Sixteen at a bar/club. Now I'm panicking. What if the person serving cuts the slices too big? Do you think I should go with 14" & 12" instead?
TIA!!
I think that if it's for a birthday, and you're not the one cutting it, I would definetly go with the larger size. People cut cakes big, and you'd rather have more than enough, then not enough.
According to Earlene's chart, that should feed 100, IF they cut it to her dimensions. Maybe a smaller square on top just to make sure there is enough cake? JMO
http://www.earlenescakes.com/ckserchart.htm
If you've already made it I'd just make another one, maybe 8" to stick on top 
that way you don't have too much extra cake like you would if you made a 14" to go on the bottom
it's so hard to know.... i do that all the time. my family always cuts big so.... iususally error on the side of having to much- that doesn't help does it !!???
I would be tempted to but .......
heres a bump for someone with more backgroun
i have dubbed the bigger slices "Paula Pieces". My girlfriend always orders twice the size of cake that I think she needs because her mom usually cuts the cakes and cuts them in "Paula Pieces" (her mom's name-Paula). I always make more cake than needed...err on the up side....
Ok, so I think I'll bump up the size. I did specify the size of the pieces must be 1" x 2" in the contract but I still don't want to take any chances. Any ideas on how much fondant is needed to cover both the 14" & 12" square?
ask the customer.... since she will need to pay more for the larger cake it would be up to her wouldn't it... ask her how she splan on cutting it but I do agree the larger size would be better or add a 3rd teir.
or send a cutting chart with it since it is not a round it will be easy to cut in the right size servings. explain how to cut it and the cake will be fine. I would NOT make a bigger cake if they are not going to pay you for it and I would not expect them to pay more if not cleared ahead of time.
so call the customer and explain your worry and the solutions... bigger cake( for mor money) or cutting chart and leave it in her court
If they have lots of food it will be enough anyway.
ask the customer.... since she will need to pay more for the larger cake it would be up to her wouldn't it... ask her how she splan on cutting it but I do agree the larger size would be better or add a 3rd teir.
or send a cutting chart with it since it is not a round it will be easy to cut in the right size servings. explain how to cut it and the cake will be fine. I would NOT make a bigger cake if they are not going to pay you for it and I would not expect them to pay more if not cleared ahead of time.
If they have lots of food it will be enough anyway.
I know Jennifer said that she's going to make the bigger cake, but I wanted to comment on the above post. I had a little problem with it, so I thought I'd share... I don't think it's appropriate to call the customer and hand out a cutting guide with the cake. You ultimately are responsible for a cake that feeds 100 people, and we all know that birthday servings are different from wedding servings. The only reason she's getting a larger cake is because it's for a birthday, not because she requested one. Plus, you're expecting everyone at any party to eat cake, so even if there is tons of other food, you have to make sure there's enough for everyone.
I give a paper with each cake that describes how to cut the cake, even give the Wilton diagram if applicable. Once the cake is delivered, if they cut it improperly, that is their fault. But you need to make sure that they know what a serving size is, or there could be trouble.
If the cake you made is supposed to serve 100, then I say leave it.
If my dad cut the cake, a serving would be the size of his head! Just a thought!
Stephanie
I give a paper with each cake that describes how to cut the cake, even give the Wilton diagram if applicable. Once the cake is delivered, if they cut it improperly, that is their fault. But you need to make sure that they know what a serving size is, or there could be trouble.
If the cake you made is supposed to serve 100, then I say leave it.
If my dad cut the cake, a serving would be the size of his head! Just a thought!
Stephanie
That sounds like the best solution to me. If I send in a cake that should feed 30 people (party servings) with my husband to work it will feed all 15 of them once if we're lucky. 
If the contract states how large the pieces are stick to that and include the cutting guide. You've done what you're supposed to and there is nothing wrong with that.
I think we tend to second guess alot of things.
hi
sending a cutting chart is a good idea and stating the size in the contract it also a good idea. However you are working on the idea that the person who orders the cake is going to cut it not always the case.
When I worked in the pastry kitchen at the hotel, I would have to cut various bday cakes wedding cakes. The only info I was ever given was by the wait staff that brought me the cake. So quite oftern i would have a cake that would feed 200 people for a 150 person function which was great. But I also got the 80 person cake to feed 150 people and it was my job to make it work as best it could. I had maybe 2 occasions when it wasn't possible and the wait staff had already told customers it wasn't going to happen.
So I personally think if you are having the cake cut by the staff at a function place they should have enough sense to work it out.
Just my 2 cents.
OK, so now I've changed my mind. Since I did specify 1"x2" slices in the contract, and Wilton estimates 122 pieces and that other chart someone posted estimates 100 I think I'll leave it alone. I could never ask my client for more money if the error was on my part and I'd just assume leave it at 10" & 12" squares. I will provide a cake slicing guide. Does everyone use the Wilton one? I suppose I could create my own. Thank you all for the suggestions. I definitely helped to see all the different POV.
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