It can be intimidating to arrange a cake on a large scale for a professional or family event. This dilemma leads us to ask, “How many people will a cake serve?” The majority of people can handle the amount of food and the decorations, but choosing the right size cake can be a challenge. Too much cake is expensive and can make you look bad.
How big are sheet cakes?
Sheet cakes are popular with people who need to feed a lot of people. The size of the servings and how many sheets of cake are cut depends on who is cutting them. Sometimes people want seconds, which can affect your estimation of the size of cake needed for an event.
Demographics
Each event is different. Different demographics consume more or less cake based on their age and sex, as well as the type of event. Women aged 15 to 45 tend to eat less cake or none at all in social situations, while young men eat whatever is on their plate without regard to calories or fat. According to these standards, a cake for a football team that has won should be substantial. The baker may want to consider making two cakes. A casual family gathering will also consume more than a wedding. For family, you will want to use three-by-three-inch pieces instead of the traditional wedding portion of two-by-one inches. The number of people who will be attending the event is the most important thing to consider when determining the number of people a sheet cake can feed.
Consider the Cake and Meal
Not all sheet cakes are created equal. Consider a single-layer iced creation compared to a triple or double-layered cake that is thickly topped with whipped cream or icing. If ice cream is included in the cake, guests will need to eat less of it. Consider the size of any meal that will accompany the cake. Sometimes, sheet cakes are served as the final course of a meal that is heavy on food. Guests are often too full to eat a decent portion. If this cake is all that’s available at a casual goodbye party, then people tend to eat more.
How many people can a sheet cake feed?
You only need to use common sense and a bit of information to determine the right size sheet cake. You can use the type of cake, the event and the number of guests to determine how big or small a portion you should make. Then multiply that by the number of people.
Standard sheet pans come in three sizes. Here’s a quick guide for servings:
- The size of a 1/4 sheet cake pan is 9 by 12. This will serve between 12 and 20 people. This size is ideal for small corporate events or birthdays. These cakes are perfect for children’s parties, as they allow for plenty of room to decorate without leaving too much cake behind.
- The size of a 1/2 Sheet Cake pan is 11 by 15. It can serve between 18 and 40 people. This is an ideal size for an interoffice or anniversary party.
- Full Sheet Cake Pans are 18 by 24 inches and can serve up to 96 people. This cake is perfect for grand corporate celebrations and charity events. These full slabs are often ordered by brides and grooms to accommodate a large number of guests and to display a small exquisite Wedding Cake that suits their style.
You can stack sheet cakes to create even larger creations, but you will need a sturdy cake board and strong backs to lift them. Large cakes can be incredibly heavy.