Planning
Choosing Your Cake Size
What a serving count actually means once the cake is cut, how to plan for leftovers, and how to decide between one tier and two.
Draft. This post still needs Mimi's own words in places before it is published.
Serving counts confuse almost everyone, because a “serving” is not a fixed thing.
A serving is a slice size, not a rule
Cake serving charts assume a particular slice — usually a fairly slim one. If your guests are getting cake as the only dessert, plan for fewer servings than the chart says. If there is a dessert table, you can plan for more.
Do you want leftovers?
A surprising number of people order a size up specifically so there is cake the next day. It is worth deciding this on purpose rather than by accident.
One tier or two?
Two tiers is not only about feeding more people — it changes how the cake looks on the table, and it gives more room for design. A tall single tier can serve the same number as a short two-tier while looking quite different.
This post is still a draft — the actual serving numbers need to come from Mimi’s own chart before it is published.
Read next
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How I Paint on a Cake (Without It Turning Muddy)
A painter's guide to painting on fondant and buttercream — the surface prep, the alcohol-to-colour ratio, and the four mistakes that make painted cakes look muddy.
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Fondant or Buttercream?
How each finish looks, how each one tastes, and which suits the cake you are imagining — written for anyone about to order a custom cake.
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