Hi,
I've been having a heck of a time figuring out which serving size chart is the most accurate. So I decided to get out my ruler, draw some graphs on paper and figure out what my pan sizes will really serve.

It's amazing how different each serving chart I've seen on several sites are though. Everyone says they use the standard "party size" or "wedding size" yet nobody has the same number of servings. Why? That's why I've been measuring myself.

I've come up with the exact number of servings for several pans. I know I personally cut slices a lot larger so I came up with 3 sizes below. These slices are cut into squares.

9x13" rectangle pan, 1 layer- 2x2x2"- 31 slices
- 3x2x2" inches-19 1/2 slices( call it 20)
- 3x3x2"- 12 slices

12x18" rectangle pan, 1 layer- 2x1 1/2x2"-66 slices
- 2x2x2"-52 slices
- 2x3x2"- 35 slices
If you torte the cake, just add another inch in height for each layer.

For round cakes, I cut them like a pie from the outer edge in towards the center rather than the way the cutting charts show. I find that it's easier to cut and that each slice has more frosting this way and is exactly the same size.

12" round, 1 layer- 20 slices

10" round,1 layer- 16 slices

That's all I have done so far as these are my most used pans. A 9x13" rectangle, 1 layer cake serves the same amount as a 12" round, 1 layer cake. ( just in case you didn't realize that like me)

Now my question is if you make your cakes 2 layers, shouldn't you get double the amount of servings? Some charts say yes, some don't and I don't understand why. Isn't it the same thing as putting two 1 layer cakes side by side? It's the same amount of cake yet some charts show that it's not double the amount of servings. The slices are double in height but 1/2 as wide for a 2 layer cake, right? Oh...it's so confusing to me.

Regardless of what the charts say, how many servings do YOU say there are for your cake sizes? Or do you just go by those charts and figure it's close enough.

KimAZ

Hi Kim! I have not really followed the charts. I tell people it depends on how big they cut the pieces. For a 9x13...I usually say about 20-25 pieces.
For 11x15...I say 30-35 pieces. For 12x18...I say about 50 pieces. I know that is probably not completely accurate...but no one has ever come back saying they did not have enough cake!!!!
traci

Haha confusing, isn't it all?
I think everyone has a different system.
The problem with cutting round cakes in wedges is when you get into the larger rounds, I would say anything larger than a 10 inch round, if you cut into wedges, your wedge will be rather deep and awkward to fit on the standard size plates. If the cake has a rim this is even more awkward. The average plates used to serve cake are from about 6.5 to 7.5 inches or so in diameter.
I tend to judge servings by the amount of batter in a cake. So for example 4- 5 cups of batter or one cake mix or one from scratch cake recipe to me is 12-15 servings. So an eight inch round, 4 inch high cake uses about 6 cups batter, so I estimate about 12-15 servings, a ten inch round, 4 inch high cake to me is about 20 servings. I estimate an 11x15 rectangle, 2 inches high, to me is 30 servings filled or not and 2 full layers of the same sized cake would be 60 servings.
Hugs Squirrely Cakes