Most of us don’t buy a celebration cake everyday.
So we start regretting saying: “ Don’t worry I’ll sort the cake “, especially when it comes to deciding how big a cake to get.
Too small, and god forbid Granny-Booth didn’t get a slice of cake; too much and huge junks of stale sponge get thrown in to the bin at the end of the evening to cries of : “ What a waste I knew she’d ordered too big a cake“.
Two things to remember when deciding on the size; there has to be enough for people to have a taste and secondly the cake has to ‘look’ right and create the desired visual impression. If the event warrants it you may want a huge cake knowing that it won’t all get eaten. Or you may want a cake as a token gesture as you are eating a three course meal including desserts and the cake is more for show.
Getting the right sized cake is not an exact science but there are a few simple guidelines that will help you. If you are planning the cake to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of your local rugby club with 50 strapping rugby players likelihood is that you can double the ‘usual’ portion size; they will need something to soak up all that beer !
If you are planning a cake for 20 hyperactive 4 year olds, then halve the ‘usual’ portion size, anyway it will be less to clean up when one of the little darlings is sick over your new Karen Miller party dress.
So what is a ‘usual’ portion?
Very good question, ask 5 different cake companies and you will get 5 different answers. At londoncakes.com we have been using 2 inches square per person (5cm by 5cm) for over a decade and this seems to give people what they want.
These guidelines are based on a light sponge cake, for a heavy fruit cake you will need significantly less cake.
Follow the table below and you won’t go far wrong:
8 inch square (15cm x 15cm)
Big Eaters =16 Small Eaters=25
10 inch square (25cm x 25cm)
Big Eaters =25 Small Eaters=40
12 inch square (30cmx30cm)
Big Eaters =36 Small Eaters=60
14 inch square
Big Eaters =50 Small Eaters=80
16inch square
Big Eaters =65 Small Eaters=100
18 inch square
Big Eaters =90 Small Eaters=140
For round cakes reduce the above figures by 25%.
Unless you have a protractor and laser cutting equipment, round cakes are notoriously difficult to divide up, stick to square cakes if possible.
If maths was never your best subject and a year or two has passed since you did algebra, don’t panic most bakers and cake decorators have these figures to hand, so help is only a call or an e-mail away.
Now you have decided on the size of cake all you have to sort is;-
1) The flavours
2) The design
3) The colours
4) The message
5) Storage
6) Collect or delivered
Perhaps next time you won’t be as quick to say “ I’ll sort the cake “.
Alternatively………. cheat, call someone like ourselves who do this every minute of the day and can guide you in seconds.
Though we rather you tell everyone where you got the cake, you could try the: “ I’ve always liked cake-making and I had a few hours spare “..just make sure you keep a straight face and don’t get future orders.
Graham
www.londoncakes.com
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