How many cakes for 30 people? A simple way to choose the size

Introduction

You have 30 guests. The first question for your baker isn't "how many kilos?" but "how many people does this size serve?". The answer depends on how big a slice you plan to serve.

Step 1: decide the slice

• Party slice: a small piece after the meal or with coffee.
• Dessert slice: a bigger piece served on a plate as dessert.
• Dinner-sized slice: a large piece when cake is the only dessert.

The same cake serves more people when cut into smaller slices. Tell your baker which one you mean.

Step 2: ask about the size

Ask: "A cake of X cm diameter, how many does it serve at party-slice size?" Every baker cuts differently, and height and number of tiers change the answer. Tiered cakes serve more than a single layer of the same width.

Size table

Round cakes, standard tall layer cake. Party slices are bigger than wedding slices, so the numbers differ:

For 30 guests at party-slice size, a 25 cm cake, or a 20 cm cake plus cupcakes or a small tray, is a good starting point. Your baker can confirm the figure.

Ask the baker to put the number in her message.

Step 3: add cupcakes or a tray

If one cake isn't enough, or you want something easy to carry around:
- Add a cupcake box. One published example: a box of 30 mini cupcakes for SAR 104 in Dhahran (Dantella).
- Or a dessert tray beside the cake (ask the seller for pieces and price).

Step 4: confirm the number in writing

Send: "I have 30 guests, party slices, which size do you recommend?" Keep her reply with size, flavour and price.

Next step

Once you have the size, read "How many days ahead should I order?" and book early.