I was looking at the cake serving chart in the article section, and it said that 3" deep pans should be filled only half way, but 2" pans 2/3 of the way. Why the difference?
Also, the chart says a 10" round 3"deep pan serves 38. Is that just a one layer cake torted and filled?
I feel like an idiot asking what is probably a very obvious question!

Almost all my pans are 3" and I always fill to 2/3. Now why would you get a pan 1" deeper but not fill it to make a deeper cake?? That makes no sense.
As for the 10" cake, all my round cakes are two layer, and most are tort and filled. So far they have all been wedge cut, so I'm not sure how many party servings they'd yield without looking at a chart. Sorry, that part doesn't help you.

I like to fill my pans 2/3 full no matter the size. I have never had a problem with any of them.

Well, that's what I thought! I've been doing the same thing...2/3 full no matter what. Thanks for the info on the double layer. I want that nice tall look, but wasn't sure about the serving changes. I would think they would just double?

I use the Wilton chart. I've never been real good with "eyeballing it", so going by how many cups has always worked out best for me.

http://www.wilton.com/cake/cakeprep/baking/times/index.cfm

ditto to lanibird. The Wilton chart hasn't failed me yet

Paula

Okay...maybe I'll try the cup thing! Tahnks!