I suppose I should be able to figure out the answer to this question but I’m stymied - even with the Rose factor.  I need to make a cake for 100 and I can’t figure out how many tiers and what size I should make.  My preference would be for three layers.  Rpse has a cake for 150 servings that consists of a 12” , a 9” and a 6” layer.  i’m thinking maybe I should just make one for 150 but it seems like a waste of food.  Any suggestions for 100 servings?

Have you looked at the chart on page 483 of the Cake Bible? You’ll find several possibilities listed there.

Thank you Carolita,
I had missed that page.  It looks like a 10” and 8” and a 6”  two layers each will do it.  I really appreciate your help

No problem Ginny. There’s such a wealth of info in Rose’s books, it’s easy to miss something. I wouldn’t be afraid to have some extra. Rose’s serving sizes are plenty big enough at weddings after a big meal. But you have to think of your group and the occasion. Hearty appetites? No other food being served? Just tea and coffee? Double the amount. Otherwise choose a cake design to serve about 10% more than the expected # guests.

Thank you for your wise and generous advice.  I’ve written it into my cake bible on page 490 and 483 for future reference.

For a tiered cake to serve 100, I use a 13” bottom, 10” middle and 7” top; the entire cake is served (no saving the top tier).  Depending on who is doing the cutting, you may end up with a few more servings, but better to have enough than not.

I use the chart found online at http://www.earlenescakes.com - she has a useful chart online that can help. 

With two or three different methods of cutting a tiered cake, I’ve found it’s better to use a generous serving size.  If there are other desserts being served, or if the cake is served as a dessert station (people help themselves to the cake slices nicely arranged on a platter) you won’t need a serving for each guest.  But if the cake is plated and served at the table, you do.  No one will ever complain about having some extra cake; but you would never hear the end of it if you ran out.  When I first started out, I had an order for a wedding cake for 100.  When I arrived at the site, I saw that there were 15 tables set; there were 150 guests.  I asked the coordinator how the cake was being served, and she said plated - and I told her that the client had ordered only 100 servings.  At least she knew ahead of time and could plan for it, instead of realizing half way through cutting it that there wasn’t enough.  A year later, the sister of this bride came to me for her wedding cake, and told me how the slices were so thin you could read a newspaper through them; they were able to plate and serve all the guests, but it wasn’t a true slice of cake! So I learned to always ask how many guests and how the cake is to be served so I can suggest options for sizing to the client.

Thank you so much for your reply Jeanne.  Erlene’s information is so comprehensive!  She doesn’t say if her servings are for two layers of what ever pan size you choose.  Is that just a given - that whenever you talk about servings for, say, an 8 inch cake, you are always talking about two eight inch layers?

I keep a copy of the chart in the kitchen, and I’ve been using it so long I haven’t looked at her introduction to it in years - but I use it for cakes that are 4” tall; which can mean three layers of cake/two layers filling; four layers cake, three thinner layers filling.  It would be the same for a two layer cake/one layer filling; but that’s lots more cake compared to filling (I am a buttercream girl; can’t get enough of the stuff, so I would want more buttercream in my serving!!) and I might want to go larger just to accommodate that.

Thanks so much, Jeanne.  I understand - soooo helpful.

Earlene’s numbers seem quite a bit different from Rose’s. As Ginny mentioned, a cake with 12/9/6 inch layers is supposed to serve 150. However, I have made cakes this size before for weddings with 75-100 people, and every single crumb was eaten. So I wouldn’t worry about having too much, especially with the amazing cake you have planned.

Thanks for your comment elbee.  Yes, i’ve pretty much decided on the 12, 9 and 6 inch cakes to be sure I have enough.  I am so grateful for this resource and to all of you for your support.