How Many People Can Different Cakes Feed? (Infographic) If you’re an Aussie celebrating a birthday in the back yard, a wedding reception, or any other event, this infographic are going to save you some stress. How do you know what size cake to serve? What if it’s too big? What if it is to small?
The answer lies in knowing who will be at your party and how hungry they are likely to be. It’s less about math and more about preventing yourself from being stuck with a few crumbs while everyone else eat your delicious cakes. Do you slice into finger portions or dessert portions?
How to Serve Cake at Your Party
For a dessert portion, cut a wedge that’s approximately 25 by 50 millimetres, a generous serve for when people is sitting down for a meal. If it’s a cocktail reception or a morning tea event when guests will be standing, cut into finger serves which are about 25 by 25 millimetres each. This doubles the number of portion you get from the same volume of cake. It is the difference between running out and having some leftover for days.
Most home bakers don’t realize how important shape is. When you cut a standard wedge from a round cake, you lose those awkward triangular scraps in the centre. This makes the cake look bigger then it actualy is. For feeding crowds, nothing’s as efficient as square and rectangular slabs, as the chart demonstrates. You lose less surface area to waste when you grid-cut a slab.
If you’re feeding thirty people, a 20-by-30-centimetre rectangular tin should of cover you comfortabley. Round cakes of a similar volume may have you coming up short because the shape doesn’t work in your favour. Square tins offers straight lines and predictable slices. Simple engineering most people ignore till it’s too late.
Also bear in mind the density of your cake. Some bakes (like light sponges) appear airy and puffed-up, so obviously customers will helps themselves to bigger slices. Other things like dense fruit cakes or mud cakes is rich and heavy, so you’ll inevitably eat smaller portions. For denser batters, the guide advises leaning towards the lower end of the servings scale. A good example is a classic Aussie lamington slab. You can imagine it contains countless little squares to be eaten all at once without feeling full.
Most people’s biggest error is ignoring texture. They’ll order by volume only and neglect that a ‘slice’ of cheesecake isn’t the same as ‘slice’ of Victoria sponge. Weddings typically call for tiered cakes, which require some maths. Don’t count on linear results (the top tiers are frequently decorative, not functional).
For common tier combos, this guide translates to combined serves. When sliced properly, a three-tier round cake measuring 15, 25 and 30 centimetres will serve almost one-hundred guests. To ensure even portions, remove the top layer first and grid-cut each base separately. Cutting across multiple layers simultaneously only results in crushed decorations and unequal servings. It also appears more professional.
And then there’s temperature. If your cake is filled with cream, it will be tougher to slice clean when cold. Give your cake a half hour on the counter before cutting, it really does make a big difference in how it looks. Between each cut, use a hot knife dipped in warm water… The edges will stay nice and clean. This also helps prevent tears so that you get to see all of those beautiful layers!
Before beginning any serious grooves, lightly score the top of your cake with a toothpick. This ensures the cake doesn’t move as you saw through it.
Lastly, round up to 10-15% higher than your exact headcount would indicate. Kids will mess things up. You might get a few extra people (better to have too much for tomorrow’s coffee than to have to say sorry as your final guest arrives). Some pieces will be smashed, some will want seconds. Always lean toward having too much, that is what the visual guide helps you picture, but trust your gut. Let everyone have fun and don’t panic!
Cake is meant to be enjoyed, not stressful. Cut carefully, get the size correct and enjoy. That piece of sponge are worth all the planning.