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How to Determine Wedding Cake Size
Planning every detail of a wedding reception can be harrowing for any couple. When it comes to the wedding cake, you want to make sure each guest has an adequate serving. Sometimes more guests are added at the last minute, and the bride and groom might worry they won't have enough cake to serve. Depending on the cake design, round or square, your servings per layer will vary. Using standard baking pan sizes, you can easily estimate the size of your wedding cake. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Round Cake Size Estimation
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Consider that most cake slices at weddings are approximately 8 cubic inches. Visually, the piece will be about 4 inches high and 2 inches wide. Each round tier is comprised of two layers of cake with frosting between each layer. When bakers or home cooks estimate the size of their wedding cake, they start with a serving size of 4 inches high by 2 inches wide.
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Review the round size pans or tiers that are available to cake makers and home cooks. Cake pans come in diameters of 6 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches, 14 inches, 16 inches, 20 inches and 22 inches. Each diameter serves a different number of guests.
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Determine what layers will be needed to fulfill the needs of all your guests. A 6-inch pan serves 12 slices; an 8-inch pan serves 20 slices; a 10-inch pan serves 36 slices; a 12-inch pan serves 46 slices; a 14-inch pan serves 76 slices; a 16-inch pan serves 92 slices; an 18-inch pan serves 110 slices; and a 20-inch pan serves 120 slices.
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Estimate more servings than guests invited. You may invite last-minute guests, or your guests may want seconds.
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Determine what layers you would like on your cake. For a cake that has graduated layers from a large base layer to a smaller top, you could order or bake a bottom layer of 14 inches, a middle layer of 10 inches and top the cake with a 6-inch layer. This cake would have 124 servings.
Square Wedding Cake Size
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Understand a square wedding cake layer will serve more per layer than a round cake pan.
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Determine a square cake size by using the most popular baking pan sizes available on the market. Like the round cake, square cakes are two layers with icing in between.
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Choose from the most popular square pan sizes. A square 6-inch cake layer serves 18 guests; an 8-inch pan serves 32; a 10-inch pan serves 50; a 12-inch pan serves 72; a 14-inch pan serves 98; a 16-inch pan serves 120; and an 18-inch pan serves 140.
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Select a variety of square pans if you are planning on a square graduated cake with a wider base and a smaller top. For a wedding of 100 guests, you could select a 12-inch pan with an 8-inch pan in the middle and a 6-inch square pan on top. This cake would serve 122 people, so you would have extra for seconds.
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Tips & Warnings
Always estimate more cake servings. Different people may cut the cake pieces in different sizes.
Resources
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