I use my round and square pans a lot for birthday parties and such. Does anyone have a good chart for serving sizes for these pans. I use 2" deep pans and always use two layers. My family and friends expect to be served a much larger piece of cake than at a wedding. We are all big eaters around here. I have no problem coming up with a serving size for my sheet cakes but anything after a double layer 8" round, I'm lost and always feel like I'm guessing. Finding wedding serving guides are easy but regular size piece guides have proven to be a challange. Should I just divide my wedding servings by half?

If you have never served your stacked or tiered cakes I highly recommend doing it! I made a large stacked cake for my daughters cheer banquet and the Wilton "Party" serving sizes said it should serve 100. With the help of my husband I cut and served 150 out of this cake.

It was a square cake and I cut 1" x 2" x 4" slices which turned out to be very LARGE serving sizes. I have some "dummy" cakes, square and round so I went and measured them out and that is now what I use for a guideline for my serving sizes.

Well, cut a piece of cake for whatever you would like to call your serving size and measure it. Say, 2x2x3" which is 12 cubic inches (2 x 2 x 3=12). Then you can easily figure out the volume of the pan and divide it by the volume of your serving. Pan volume formula:

3.1415 x r squared (radius is half the diameter) x height

ie: 6x2" cake

3.1415 x 3 squared x 2
3.1415 x 9 x 2
56.547

56.547 divided by 12 (volume of serving) = 4.7 servings.


another: 12x4" cake
3.1415 x 6 squared x 4
3.1415 x 36 x 4
452.376

452.376 divided by 12 = 37.7 servings.


you can easily substitute any serving size you want into that equation to get a count you are comfortable with.

Thanks ladyonzlake. I usually don't get to cut the cakes. Either they are sent on with whom ever ordered the cake or when I am present I always seem to get pushed out of the way with the older ladies at the event telling me that they can take it from here. I shut my mouth and find something else to do. I've done enough cakes that I shouldn't be in the dark on this. It's rather embarrassing. It would be awhile before I could figure out serving sizes though experiance alone.

HOpefully, if you are planning a cake with 2x2x4 piece servings, then you are charging DOUBLE your wedding rate for it, since they are getting twice the amount of cake in each serving.

My view is it doesn't matter. My pricing is based on a 1x2x4 serving size .... they are welcome to cut it any size they want. If they plan to cut it twice the size, they will have to order twice the cake.

I am NOT getting put in the position of having to explain pricing differences on the same 10" round cake.

And it's easy to explain: "My 10" round, 2-layer cake is $70 and will serve 25-35, depending on how you cut it. Here's how you cut it ...." (and then show them the page on Debi's website on How To Cut A Cake).

Ever order a bucket of KFC chicken???

WOW KoryAK! I first look at your post and thought "oh no, not math, I won't even follow this." But you made it very clear. I've got it now!!! Wish you were around during highschool algebra. Honstly never thought I'd use pi again. (if that's how it's spelled- ha ha)

I agree with Indydebi and I promise you that a 1" x 2" x 4" is a very healthy peice of cake! My husband was telling me to cut them smaller!

indydebi, I was asking about party sized pieces so I know what size pan to use so that my cake has the right amount of pieces. I then always charge by the size of tier plus any additional charge for more time consumming or most costly decorations. I ones I'm talking about are just one tier double layer. I'm not a money making business. Just for family and friends and friends of friends....
I know what you are saying..it doesn't matter how it's cut in the end...
Thanks everyone! *hugs*

ladyonzlake, I get that all the time at weddings. "Could I get a smaller piece, please?"

I also do lots of observing at family gatherings, birthdays, etc. I cut the cake into 1x2x4 pieces and observe the reactions. It's the perfect size for little kids birthdays (no 5 year old needs a piece of cake the size of brick!). Adults, who usually proclaim to be on a diet!, find it to be just the right size at birthdays, and those who want more are not shy about having a 2nd piece. At Christmas and Thanksgiving type of events, everyone is stuffed with dinner and a 1x2x4 is a nice dessert-size (which is what it's designed to be).

I almost drive my daughter nuts after the parties, asking her what she observed and what her neighbors said about the cake size, etc. Her observations are the same: Everyone is totally happy with the 1x2x4.

I'd much rather someone take a second piece, than throw out a bunch of half eaten pieces of cake that was wasted by a 5 year old.

Inydebi- what if you have an aunt who ALWAYS does the serving of desserts, cutting the cake. (She will cut a big whole in the center if that's the piece a kid wants. She also cut much larger pieces than anyone needs.) My uncle is getting married and i'm doing the cake as a gift... it's going to be for 60-75 people. How do I figure out a safe amount of cake to make?

Sorry to hijack the thread.

Have you checked the Wilton Yearbook? They have both party and wedding servings.

Toodles ... you stand next to her and tell her she isn't cutting the cake right! Or if you're like me, you kinda scream out "OH MY GOD WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY CAKE????"

But really .... if someone always cuts the cake badly, why does everyone let her continue to cut the cakes? The answer of "but she always does it" would illicit a response from me of "but she always does it WRONG!"

(Tact is not my forte!)

Seriously, years and years ago, I had a bride who wanted her best friend to "help" with the cake by cutting it. As she laid the knife on the cake, I said, "You need to move that knife in for a smaller piece .... smaller .... smaller..... smaller .... smalller .... smaller .... THAT'S it!!" She said, "The bride doesn't want these cut really small." I said, "We're NOT cutting them really small. But I'm sure the bride wants ALL of her guests to get a piece of cake. THey are welcome to come back for seconds, once everyone has gone thru the line."

LOL Indydebi!!! Maybe I'll just have to grow some b*lls and do it myself.

So, if there are 60-75 people coming (and I cut it myself), I would be okay doing a 12-10-8-6 with the 6-inch being saved for their first anniversary?

12-10-8-6 (Minus the 6) will be PLENTY of cake. PLENTY! I made a 10-8-6 for 60 people and the 6" never even got cut.

Thank you Alana! I thought it would be, just wanted to make sure with you guys who have more experience than me!

Thanks so much Kory for that formula! I have been trying to decide on how to get a uniform serving size for all my cakes and this will work perfectly!

Check out Debi's cake cutting instructions on her website.

http://cateritsimple.com/_wsn/page19.html

Yes, I have and it is a wonderful site that shows how to cut it. I'm having troubles with how many to cut it for. I think I may have figured it out now. I think I was finding the formula for only one layer not for two. Which would double what I was figuring. And if that was my problem, which I'm almost certain, then I should get around 39 servings for a 10" double layer. Super close to what the wilton chart says for a wedding serving. So how does others like indydebi (sorry not trying to pick on you, you've been very helpful) suggest 25-35 servings for their 10" double layer when they are pricing it closer to 40 servings. Indydebi, is 25-35 your "party serving size?"

You beat me to it KoryAK! haha