🍰 Time to cut the cake! Use this guide to figure out how many slices you can get from a round cake for any event, from weddings to parties. Keep scrolling for a helpful cake cutting video and a printable guide!
Cutting a cake can feel like a high-stakes operation, especially when you’re in the spotlight at a wedding or big event. The pressure is on to serve everyone efficiently and avoid a crumbly mess. If you’re the lucky one tasked with cutting the wedding cake, you know dozens of eyes are watching, and hungry guests are waiting!
During my time at Amycakes Bakery, I’ve cut countless cakes for weddings, parties, and special occasions. I’ve learned the best techniques to ensure you get the most servings from each cake, with minimal mess and stress. I’m excited to share my free Printable Cake Cutting Guide and these helpful tips to make cake cutting a breeze.
How to Cut Event-Style Servings from Round Cakes:
Event-Style Servings, also known as Wedding-Size Servings or “party slices,” are approximately 4 inches tall by 2 inches wide by 1 inch thick. This portion size is perfect after a meal or with finger foods, offering a satisfying taste without being overly heavy. I consistently recommend this serving size for weddings to ensure you have enough to go around and guests can enjoy dessert comfortably.
If you’re serving cake as the main dessert, or if you know your guests have a bigger sweet tooth, you might consider larger portions. Generous Servings are about twice as large as event-style, while Standard Servings are around 1 ½ times bigger.
While there are different methods for cutting event and wedding size servings, I’ve found this technique to be the simplest for achieving consistent slices. Plus, you don’t need any fancy tools like cutting boards or rulers. Just use your thumb as a guide for an inch, and you’re all set!
This cake cutting method is optimized for standard 4-inch tall cakes. For shorter cakes, you might want to cut slightly thicker slices to maintain a good portion size.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to cutting event-style servings:
- Score the Outer Edge: Measure 2 inches inwards from the cake’s outer edge. Use your thumb as a quick guide for approximately an inch. Lightly score a circle in the frosting at this 2-inch mark. Scoring first is beneficial because you can adjust the line if it seems off-center or not quite the right size.
- Cut a Half-Circle: Once you’re happy with your scored circle, cut a half-circle along half of your score line. Cutting only halfway initially helps maintain the cake’s stability, preventing the opposite side from tipping or crumbling.
- Slice the First Half: Cut 1-inch slices from this outer edge along the half-circle you just cut, serving each slice as you go until you’ve served all along that half.
- Slice the Second Half: Repeat on the other side. Cut the second half-circle along the remaining score line and slice 1-inch pieces from this outer edge until finished.
- Reduce and Repeat (for Larger Cakes): For 10-inch cakes or larger, repeat steps 1-4. Score another circle two inches in from the new edge and continue cutting the outer rim in 1-inch slices until you are left with a smaller 6-inch or 4-inch round cake in the center.
- Wedge the Center: Once you have a 6-inch or 4-inch round cake remaining in the center, score and then cut this inner cake into small, even wedges. These will also be event-style servings.
Printable Cake Cutting Guide
Make cake cutting even easier by using my printable guide! It’s perfect to have on hand when you’re cutting a cake for a wedding or any big event.
Printable Cake Cutting Guide Download Now
If you sell cakes or baked goods online, feel free to share this Cake Cutting Guide with your customers! It’s a great resource to ensure they serve your delicious creations perfectly.
Essential Supplies for Cutting Cake
To cut a cake like a pro, you’ll need a few key tools:
- Sharp Serrated Knife: A serrated knife is crucial for cutting cleanly through moist cakes without squashing the slices. Use a gentle sawing motion.
- Cake Server: A cake server is essential for neatly transferring slices to plates without them falling apart.
- Damp Kitchen Towel: For keeping your knife clean during cutting.
- Dry Kitchen Towel: To dry your knife after wiping with a damp towel.
As you cut, especially with moist cakes (like my 7 Secrets to Baking Incredibly Moist Cakes Every Time), your knife will get sticky with crumbs and buttercream. A messy knife will drag and tear the cake, resulting in uneven and less appealing slices.
To solve this, simply wipe your knife clean every few slices. Use a damp kitchen towel to wipe off the frosting and crumbs, then dry it quickly with a dry kitchen towel. This quick step makes a huge difference in getting clean, professional-looking cake slices.
How to Cut a Tiered Cake
Tiered cakes can vary, so it’s always a good idea to check with the baker for their specific recommendations. However, here’s the method that has worked best for me:
For smaller tiered cakes (2-3 tiers), you can often cut the tiers while they are still stacked. First, ask if the top tier is meant to be saved for a one-year anniversary. If so, carefully remove the top tier using your cake server and box it up.
Each tier will have a cake board or platter underneath it. This board acts as your guide for when to stop cutting down through each layer. After cutting through a tier, you can remove the board and move to the next tier below.
Be aware of cake supports like wooden dowels, straws, or plastic tubes. Remove these as you encounter them while cutting. They should be fairly easy to spot and remove.
For taller, more elaborate tiered cakes, it’s usually best to unstack the tiers and cut each one separately on a table. This provides more stability and control.
Options for Larger Cake Slices
Now that you know how to cut event-style and wedding-size servings, what if you want to offer your guests a more substantial slice? Here are a couple of larger serving options to consider:
Standard Servings: These are approximately 4 inches tall by 3 inches wide by 1 ½ inches thick. For smaller gatherings of fewer than 30 guests, I often recommend standard servings. With larger groups, event-style servings are usually sufficient as not everyone may want a large piece.
Generous Servings: These are about 4 inches tall by 4 inches wide by 2 inches thick – essentially traditional wedge-shaped slices from a 6-inch or 8-inch cake. These are perfect for when cake is the main dessert, for smaller, intimate gatherings, or when you know your guests have hearty appetites.
When Amycakes Bakery served cake by the slice, generous servings were our go-to. They offer a satisfying portion that feels indulgent but not overwhelming.
How to Cut Standard or Generous Cake Servings
To cut Standard or Generous Servings, you’ll use a similar method to the event-style cutting guide, with a slight adjustment in slice thickness.
For 10-inch cakes and larger, follow the same initial steps: score a circle 2 inches from the outer edge, cut a half-circle, and then slice from the outer rim. However, instead of 1-inch slices, cut 1 ½-inch slices for Standard Servings and 2-inch slices for Generous Servings.
For smaller 6-inch or 8-inch cakes, you can cut the entire cake into wedges. Cut 1 ½-inch wide wedges for standard servings and 2-inch wide wedges for generous servings.
Still have cake cutting questions? Leave a comment below, and I’m happy to help!
Thanks for reading! ❤️
