I love making tiered cakes but the last 2 customers have only needed to feed 25. Any advice on what sizes I could use and not look funny or at the same time overfeed them? I go by the 1x2x4 cutting guide that says an 8" serves 25 (and last weekend it did exactly that). For this cake I really want to make 2 tiers but again don't want to short myself money by making it 2 tiers. What size do you usually offer someone that needs 25 servings?

When I have customers who want tiered cakes to feed under 25 I make a single 10 inch and single 6 inch.Cut and fill the single layers and then stack the 6 ontop of the 10.It makes for a small tiered cake which feeds about 25.The tiers aren't 4 inches high but it is still a nice little tiered cake.

You can put a 6" round on an 8" round and it will look okay. I do it like that a lot. Or you can put the 6" round on an 8" square for a little different look. Serves the same. A 6" serves about 12. Tell them that if they definately want it 2-tier, that's the minumum. Any smaller than that and it will look funny. My chart shows that an 8" round serves 20, but I know it's all in how it is cut.

Both of those are great ideas! I get that alot myself but talk them out of it.
People just don't seem to understand that it won't be as big as on tv.
Then seem disappointed when it's not.

I had a lady [actually a cousin] ask for a cake to serve 10 people but wanted it to be an 18" round cake!
I had to explain that that pan I have takes 4 mixes....that's WAY MORE cake than what she wanted. So I talked her into getting a cookie instead.

Sometimes I do mini tiered cakes that are 6in and 4in rounds for people who are only having 10-15 people at a party but want a tiered cake. They seem to like it and I've gotton quite a few repeat orders from them.

I think the mini cakes are beautiful, especially when displayed on a pedistal.

I have odd sized springform pans that I use to make a little 7" and 5" tier. So cute! I like to do it for family birthdays; we cut the 7" at the party and the birthday person gets to keep the 5". Both the Haunted cake and the yellow Martha Sewart inspired cakes in my gallery are that size.

I do mini tiered cakes like this all time. My biggest source of income for cakes, actually. 4-7=20, 4-8=25,5-7=23,5-8=28,4-5-6=23,5-6-7=33, and on and on. I charge a lot for these, but they're so dang cute.

I refused to work on anything smaller than a 6" cake (and wasn't fond of doing those either!) and I had no problem telling people now and then, "I'm sorry .... you can't have a 2 tiered cake that only serve 25 people." (or 10 people or 15 people, or a 3 tier that serves 30 people).

A 6/8 serves 12/24 = 36 servings so that was the smallest they could get from me. If they wanted 2 or 10 or 25 servings .... they were paying for 36 regardless.

[quote=If they wanted 2 or 10 or 25 servings .... they were paying for 36 regardless.[/quote]

Oh of course they would pay for it all. And yes, they look so adorable on pedestals.

I have a question for you if you dont mind, I have to make a 6" and 4" tiered cake next week for 15...will this be enough? It is for a 9yr old's birthday. I'm very concerned it wont be enough. I plan on making them 3 layered....thanks so much in advance..

AI make what they want and just charge for it.

Yes, I'm resurrecting this thread because I need clarification on a 4-inch cake size. Would it be 8 servings or 4? I am actually making a cake for a friend and it's for 20 people. We are going to try for 2 tiers, so I thought a 6-inch and 4-inch might be good, but I'm not sure how many servings you would get from a 4-inch cake.

I get 6 servings from 4"

@julia1812  Thank you! I'll toss in a few cupcakes then to make it 20. I realized yesterday that I somehow did my math wrong... ugh, not good to do math with a toddler pulling on you, ha ha ha!

Ha haha.  Am absolutely with you. As cute as they are...They suck the last bit of sanity out of me some days. And hey ...you are only 2 servings short. Not a big deal.