What Size Should My Cake Be?

When baking for a crowd, it can be tricky to know how much cake you'll need to feed everyone. Our handy guide will help you figure out just how big your cake needs to be.

Dessert vs Coffee Portions

How big your cake needs to be depends on how you intend on serving it. 'Dessert portions' are larger pieces to be eaten as a stand-alone course. These portions are approximately 3 inches by 1 inch. 'Coffee portions' are smaller pieces that are more of a taster, perhaps served alongside other desserts. These portions are approximately 1.5 inches by 1 inch.

Round Cakes

6 inch - 8-10 Dessert Serves, 16-20 Coffee Serves
7 inch - 10-14 Dessert Serves, 20-28 Coffee Serves
8 inch - 16-18 Dessert Serves, 32-36 Coffee Serves
9 inch - 20-23 Dessert Serves, 40-46 Coffee Serves
10 inch - 25-28 Dessert Serves, 50-56 Coffee Serves
12 inch - 35-40 Dessert Serves, 70-80 Coffee Serves
14 inch - 48-55 Dessert Serves, 96-110 Coffee Serves

Square Cakes

6 inch - 11-13 Dessert Serves, 22-26 Coffee Serves
7 inch - 15-18 Dessert Serves, 30-36 Coffee Serves
8 inch - 20-23 Dessert Serves, 40-46 Coffee Serves
9 inch - 25-29 Dessert Serves, 50-58 Coffee Serves
10 inch - 31-36 Dessert Serves, 62-72 Coffee Serves
12 inch - 45-51 Dessert Serves, 90-102 Coffee Serves
14 inch - 61-70 Dessert Serves, 122-140 Coffee Serves

Please note these numbers are only a guide and may vary depending on how the cake is cut.