Hello Everyone,

I am sure that this question is addressed a thousand times on this site but I have tried the search function with many different key words and cannot come up with any helpful results -- maybe the first time I find this site a little "too" prolific... too many things to keep track of or look up I'm not complaining though!

I am doing a two tier Baby Shower cake -- first stacked tier cake I have ever done. The Shower will have 30 people in attendance. What round pan sizes should I use? Is there a general rule for stacked cakes for the diameter of the tiers so that the proportion looks good? I was originally thinking at 10'' for the bottom and 8'' for the top, but would that look odd? Should the pan sizes have more difference than that? Perhaps a 12'' and an 8'' or a 10'' and 6''?

Any expertise to pass along would be great! Thanks, K

go with 3 inch difference (or even 4) but I think 3 inch difference looks best

You can really do any inch size that you want. I like 2 inch differences but I agree that 3 and 4 inch differences make very pretty cakes. Some people only do 1 inch! Check this out and you'll see what I mean. This cake is gorgeous!
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1340806

As for the party sizes - a 6 inch round yields 12 and an 8 inch yields 20 and a 10 inch yields 28. Hope this helps!

It depends on the look you are going for. If you are planning on adding a lot of things on t he sides, I would go for something that has bigger spaces. But it all all really depends on the design.

The first thing I would start with is the # of servings I need and then the design I want to go with. 2", 3" or 4" is what is normally used. Although I really do like the 1" diff than cylstrial posted.

Party Serving Sizes:
http://www.wilton.com/cakes/making-cakes/baking-party-cake-2-inch-pans.cfm

Wedding Serving Sizes (2" & 3" Deep Pans):
http://www.wilton.com/cakes/making-cakes/baking-wedding-cake-2-inch-pans.cfm
http://www.cakecentral.com/article15-Cake-Baking-Cutting--Serving-Guide---3-in-Deep-Pans.html

Cake Size options:
http://www.wilton.com/cakes/tiered-cakes/serving-amounts-all.cfm

Thanks -- those are some really helpful links to keep handy!

The design is going to be fairly simple - not a lot of 3D figure or anything. Flowers (fondant) and scroll work on the sides. A simple bead border and a small amount of writing.

I think because it is a only a two tier cake that maybe I should have 3"- 4" difference in the tiers... I have a feeling that only two inches of difference in between without a small tier on the very top will make it look unfinished/that it needs that last small tier to complete the look of the cake. The smaller difference cakes I have seen are all tall and that looks stunning -- but I am thinking that two tiers is not enough to get that look.

Thoughts?

I do lots of 6 and 8's...but it's just really up to you and want you want the cake to look like! I also do lots of 6 and 9's. Good luck!

Here's a bunch of 2 tier cake pics that might help you from a google search:

http://images.google.com/images?q=2+tier+cakes&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B2GGIC_enCA225CA225&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=G1oXSqKDBNuMtgeYraHfDA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

Thanks that google serach did help a lot. I like the look of the 6'' and 10'' cakes... but for the numbers I have I may change that to an 8'' and a 12'' for the same porportions but bigger size. Or a 9'' and 12'' because I don't think i have 8'' pan right now.

Thanks
K