How Big Should A Cake Be?
The size of a cake will be affected by a number of things such as the style you choose, the event being catered for and a number of other factors. Choosing the cake style is the easy part and it’s easy to fall in love with a particular one. However, if you’re hosting a wedding and are having hundreds of guests attend then an 8 inch drip cake isn’t going to cut it, whereas a multi tiered cake for a birthday party with 20 people will likely see lots going to waste. Whilst we can all easily admit we love cake, trying to finish one off when there’s lots of excess can easily be a challenge for anyone. Cake makers, such as ourselves can provide advice and guidance on the best type and size of cake to choose based on your specific requirements. When it comes to cakes, everyone loves excess but too much could prove a costly waste and it’s an expense most would like to avoid. Keep reading below to find out more about what can affect the overall size of a cake and the general rule of thumb when it comes to cake servings.
What Affects The Size Of A Cake?
When it comes to the overall size of a cake, a number of things can affect it. Finding the right balance between not having enough and having too much excess can be difficult, especially on your own. At The Cake Rooms, we can provide advice and guidance on the best type of cake and how big it will need to be to feed your guests. Some of the main things that affect the size of a cake are:
Shape – The shape of the cake will affect the portions available, square cakes generally give more than a round cake would of the same size.
Tiers – Tiers is the obvious one and the more tiers you have, the more cake there will be. However, make sure these tiers are easy to cut into and remove if needed.
Style – The style of the cake can also have an impact, tall cakes won’t give the same type of cut that a tiered alternative would.
Event – Cakes will vary depending on the event, however event sizes vary and someone might invite 20 people to a birthday, whereas someone might invite 200, which means you need to ensure your cake will cater for the number of people attending.
General Cake Sizes and Servings
Cakes have a general rule of thumb when it relates to their shape and size and this can vary from cake maker to cake maker and cake to cake. The shapes and sizes listed below are only general rule of thumb guidelines and some people might find they get less from cutting a cake and others will get more.
Round Cakes
4” – 8 Servings
6” – 12 Servings
8” – 20 Servings
10” – 28 Servings
12” – 40 Servings
16” – 77 Servings
Square Cakes
4” – 8 Servings
6” – 12 Servings
8” – 20 Servings
10” – 30 Servings
12” – 48 Servings
16” – 80 Servings
Does The Size Of The Cake Affect The Cost?
The simple answer is Yes. The larger a cake is the more it will cost, this is typically because the cake will require more ingredients, decoration and time to complete it. If you desire a particular style of cake for a specific event, then we can provide advice on the best size for your needs and budget, to ensure your guests are catered for correctly. Just contact us today to discuss your requirements.
