How many people will my cake feed?
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(Please note: all sizes/measurements are based on standards common to cakes in the USA.) T It’s Party Time and you’ve decided you’d like to serve a sheet cake, but there’s only one problem: What size sheet cake has the right number of servings for the people you wish to feed. The answer to the question, “How Many People Does A Sheet Cake Feed?” actually lies in the answers to two other questions:
In the U.S. there are four “standard” sizes of sheet cakes. How big is the sheet cake?Most bakeries in the U.S. have three standard sizes of sheet cakes available.
If you’re planning to bake a sheet cake at home, the most common size cake pan is 9″ x 13″ (slightly larger than the one-quarter sheet cake offered by bakeries)
This diagram shows a 9" x 13" cake cut into 21 pieces. Each serving measures 1.8" x 3"
While those are the standard sizes, there is only one way to be 100% how big the “half sheet cake” your baker is making is: ask. What size servings will you offer?Serving size is a matter of personal preference, type of event, and budget. For me, the perfect serving size is 2″ x 3″. If you’re doing a casual backyard barbecue, you might want to increase the serving dimensions to 3″ x 3″ or 2″ x 4″. Both of those are large servings of cake and no one will accuse you of skimping. For more formal affairs, you can drop the serving size down to 2″ x 2″ or 1″ x 3″. This diagram shows a 9" x 13" cake cut into 28 servings. Each serving measures 1.8" x 2.25"
Keep in mind that all measurements (and number of people served per cake) are approximations — some people will insist on a “small piece” and others will beg for “just a smidgen more”. And don’t forget the people who want seconds!
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