13X9 Two Layer Sheet Cake...how Many Real Sized Servings??

Decorating By cakeflake80 Updated 17 Oct 2013 , 7:46pm by hbquikcomjamesl

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cakeflake80 Posted 14 May 2010 , 2:44am
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I am making a 13x9 baby shower cake this weekend, and Wilton's online guide says it will serve 45 people! I am looking at this pan and I don't think there is any way you could get 45 slices unless they are microscopic pieces! Any advice on how many normal sized slices you can get from this cake?

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JanH Posted 14 May 2010 , 3:13am
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If you don't choose to use either the Wilton layer cake party (1-1/2x2x4) or wedding (1x2x4) serving sizes because they're microscopic....

http://www.wilton.com/cakes/making-cakes/

What size slices do you consider normal?

If your normal slices are twice the size (1-1/2x4x4 or 1x4x4) of the above, then divide the Wilton yields by 50%. icon_smile.gif

HTH

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Geechigirl Posted 14 May 2010 , 3:31am
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I usually say 25 to 30.

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indydebi Posted 14 May 2010 , 4:06am
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Quote:
Quote:

13x9 two layer sheet cake...how many real sized servings??


Four.

-----------------------
Ok, seriously, none of us know what you mean by "real sized" servings.

When I'm "doing the math" I round down to even numbers, so I would view a 13x9 as a 12x8 (just to make it easier when doing the division). A standard size for a 2-layer is 1x2x4. So this cake would be cut in 6 columns by 8 rows = 48 servings. VERY do-able.

Determine whatever it is that you call a "real sized" serving and just do the math to determine how many you're going to get out of it.

Below is a link to a photo of a 1x2x4 piece of cake. I always told my clients that it was about the size of a folded over peanut butter sandwich. They were always good with this. When they hear the phrase "one inch", many people think "paper thin" (or "microscopic", as used above) .... it's not.

In my personal experience (at family gatherings), a 1x2x4 is perfect for little kids ... we adults sometimes forget that these are LITTLE tummies! And I observed that most adults were fine with this size, too. Those who wanted a little more cake were more than welcome to have a second piece. http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1156785

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mandirombold Posted 14 May 2010 , 4:12am
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I do 1 size only 1x2x4. When u look at that pan u have to remember u will be dbl layering it and filling it. I really is enough cake. icon_smile.gif

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chellescountrycakes Posted 14 May 2010 , 4:26am
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Honestly, in my house its about 9. LOL

And I make my cakes accordingly.. and we really dont eat alot of junkfood, and are not gluttons-- we just LOVE cake. LOL

But even if I am making a cake for someone else, I tend to make a much bigger cake then you would get from someone else. I dont mean anything by it, I just fiqure everyone wants a big peice. LOL

and like I've said before, my husband goes strait for the middle. even though I always trim the sides... LOL and he eats the trimmings.. LOL

*disclaimer- this cake was just a 'mom, can we have cake' - I drug out some left over icing and hubby iced it... LOL
LL

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indydebi Posted 14 May 2010 , 4:29am
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omg you weren't kidding were you! icon_surprised.gif I'd shoot him! icon_lol.gif

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chellescountrycakes Posted 14 May 2010 , 4:36am
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LOL! he does the same thing to watermelon.. and if his life insurance was better..... ROFLMAO!!

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cakeflake80 Posted 14 May 2010 , 4:48am
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chellebyerly- That is so funny!!!

By saying 'normal sized' I guess I didn't phrase it correctly. What I mean is that any party I have ever been to, the cake pieces are never cut exactly the same size. You start cutting and some people request a very small piece, some people want whatever you cut, and others want a bigger piece. I'm not really talking about weddings or such...just family gatherings, showers, birthday parties, etc. Maybe my family is just weird LOL!!!! Either way, knowing that the slices are not going to be cut exactly the same, it's hard for me to do the math.

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UpAt2am Posted 14 May 2010 , 5:05am
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the solution, especially if it is just family members, friends parties, etc., is for you to always slice the cake. that way you determine how big the slices will be!!! if they want seconds, fine...but not til you do all of the cuts for the first round icon_smile.gif

get people use to the fact that industry standard is 1x2xheight and they'll start to come around!!!

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Jolis_Gateaux-2009 Posted 14 May 2010 , 5:19am
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Dear Naultlover,
I totally understand what you mean by "normal size". LOL!!! Here in Cajun Country if you serve a man a 1X2x4 slice of cake, he would either laugh at you or just stand there waiting of the rest of his serving. LOL!!! My family consist of my husband and 5 children (who range in age of 15 to 3 years). We usually finish off an 8 inch cake in one sitting. They love cake!!!! This tends to be the concensus throughout our family. A 9x13 would feed about 30, especially if it was a pecan praline filling.

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mandirombold Posted 14 May 2010 , 11:55am
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I ALWAYS cut the cake. although I have my family pretty trained on cake cutting. I am pretty sure my 8 yr old would tell some go 2 inch, cut ever inch. Its kind of a joke in my family that my 3 boys (2, 3 and icon_cool.gif could be my little assistants. (no thanks!) but we have been known when it's us at home so kill a 9x13 single layer funfetti in one sitting. how am i kinding, I have been known to eat 1 myself!

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indydebi Posted 14 May 2010 , 12:01pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mandirombold

.... but we have been known when it's us at home so kill a 9x13 single layer funfetti in one sitting. how am i kinding, I have been known to eat 1 myself!



Teen age daughter and I got a chocolate craving. Baked a single layer chocolate 10" round. Got 2 forks and wiped it out .... just the 2 of us.

No wonder I'm fat! icon_rolleyes.gif

So how many does a single layer 10" round serve? icon_confused.gif

Two. Just two. icon_biggrin.gif

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Tiffany29 Posted 14 May 2010 , 12:54pm
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Quote:
Quote:

Here in Cajun Country if you serve a man a 1X2x4 slice of cake, he would either laugh at you or just stand there waiting of the rest of his serving. LOL!!!





That's my DH right there, I have gotten this icon_confused.gif look a few times for not giving him a big enough piece of cake. Once I was going to cut an 8in round into 1x2x4 servings, he asked why I was cutting it like that and told me he didn't like that because then there wouldn't be icing on all sides!
He'll eat almost a quarter of an 8in round in one sitting!

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indydebi Posted 14 May 2010 , 1:10pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiffany29

He'll eat almost a quarter of an 8in round in one sitting!



icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif I hear ya!! Growing up, my family was the same way.

Seriously, though, when we determine number of servings, we are determining a quantity based on some kind of standard .... especially when we are figuring pricing on a per-serving basis.

What people eat in front of the TV is WAY different from what people expect at a party or a wedding. We can't refigure the number of servings based on 2 cousins and an uncle who eat like Jethro Bodine.

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EpicureanMaiden Posted 8 Mar 2011 , 5:53pm
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This threrad gave me a good laugh! icon_biggrin.gif
I have one of those families too! I struggle with the same question!
If you think 1x2 is too small for a family party, go by 2x2, and use Debi's even method....thats plenty big enough!
If it's mostly children, I think smaller is better. icon_smile.gif

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shaekae81 Posted 8 Mar 2011 , 7:11pm
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I think the thing that a LOT of people miss (I know I did...and only RECENTLY figured it out) is that Wilton saying a 9x13 feeds 50 people is assuming the cake is FOUR INCHES tall....not the standard 2" of the pan!

So, if somone at home was to mix up one box of cake mix and pour it in a 9x13, they'd get 25 servings by wilton standards. Earlene's serving chart says it'd be 20.....and keep in mind a standard, un-doctored cake mix makes 24 cupcakes....so I'd say this is right on par with what people expect.

When consulting with customers about serving size, I use the "9x13=20 servings" example because most people can visualize that.

That whole 2"/4" thing needs to be stated more clearly on these charts!

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JohnnyCakes1966 Posted 8 Mar 2011 , 7:35pm
post #18 of 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by chellescountrycakes

My husband goes strait for the middle.




icon_eek.gificon_surprised.gif My grandma (who taught me to bake...may she RIP) would have had a heart attack on the spot! I have seen her nearly tackle someone just for getting close to one of her cakes or pies with a dull knife. I can't imagine what she would have done to them for cutting out the middle! icon_lol.gif

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Terezka Posted 17 Oct 2013 , 3:00pm
post #19 of 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by indydebi 



Teen age daughter and I got a chocolate craving. Baked a single layer chocolate 10" round. Got 2 forks and wiped it out .... just the 2 of us.

No wonder I'm fat! icon_rolleyes.gif

So how many does a single layer 10" round serve? icon_confused.gif

Two. Just two. icon_biggrin.gif

indydebi! I love you, you always make me laugh and also you have the best advice :)

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remnant3333 Posted 17 Oct 2013 , 5:08pm
post #20 of 21

Indydebi, you are so funny!!!  I don't eat cake too often but when I do, I can eat a huge piece too!!! I agree that if cake is for kids then the servings would be small because most kids will not eat the whole piece but if for adults some want big helpings and other want small. This thread sure gave me a good laugh!!!!

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hbquikcomjamesl Posted 17 Oct 2013 , 7:46pm
post #21 of 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by chellescountrycakes 

*disclaimer- this cake was just a 'mom, can we have cake' - I drug out some left over icing and hubby iced it... LOL
LL

 

It's bright. Eyeball-searingly bright. And the "rustic stucco" appearance of the frosting reminds me of my first Leland Awards cake, from last year, when I simply didn't have the time or the energy to apply "The Family Pattern" to the frosting, and just troweled it on, made the sites for the edible prints and the lettering reasonably smooth, and let the rest go all "rustic stucco."

 

Not quite sure what to make of the pink rectangular area: was that a divot from digging a piece out of the middle, and not quite getting all of it?

Oh, and I typically get about 15-18 pieces out of a 13x9 single-layer.

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