How many servings are in a milk bar cake?

A milk bar cake is a popular cake originally from Australia. It is a layered cake with a creamy filling and chocolate coating. Determining how many servings are in a milk bar cake depends on the size of the cake and how big you want each serving to be.

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What is a Milk Bar Cake?

A milk bar cake was created in Australia in the 1970s. Milk bars were popular snack shops at the time, and they began selling layered cakes decorated with chocolate. The cakes became known as milk bar cakes due to where they originated.

Traditional milk bar cakes have three layers. The base layer is a crunchy cookie crumb crust. Next is a creamy vanilla custard or buttercream filling. Finally, the cake is coated in a thin layer of chocolate on the outside.

There are now many variations of the milk bar cake with different flavors and decorations. However, the basic components remain the layered construction with a crisp base, smooth filling, and chocolate coating.

Standard Serving Size

The standard serving size for cake in general is often considered to be 1 slice. A reasonable slice of cake contains around 120-140 calories.

According to the American Heart Association, a serving of cake should weigh around 1.25 ounces or 35 grams. Using a food scale can help portion cake slices accurately.

For an average 8-inch round cake, 12 slim slices can be reasonably cut. If cut into 10 slices, each slice would be slightly bigger at around 1.5 ounces or 40-45 grams.

Factors That Affect Serving Size

Several factors influence how many servings you can get out of a whole milk bar cake including:

Cake size – A larger cake will yield more servings than a smaller cake.

Thickness of slices – Thinner slices mean you can cut more per cake while thicker slices provide fewer servings.
Desired calorie count – If you want lower calorie servings, slices may need to be smaller.
Presence of decorations – Heavily decorated cakes can limit where slices can be cleanly cut.

The richness and density of the cake also impacts serving size. More decadent cakes with heavy creams or frostings usually need smaller servings than lighter sponge cakes.

Serving Size for a 9×13 Inch Cake

For a commonly sized 9×13 inch sheet cake, here is an estimate of how many servings you can expect:

Slim 1-inch squares: Around 100 servings

2-inch squares: Around 32 servings
3-inch squares: Around 16 servings

You can prepare the cake in a 9×13 inch pan or sheet pan and then cut it into uniform squares for easy serving. The number of servings jumps up or down significantly depending on the square size.

Serving Size for a Two-Layer 8-inch Cake

For a two-layer 8-inch round cake, a reasonable estimate of servings includes:

10-12 slim slices: Each slice around 1-1.25 ounces
8 larger slices: Each slice around 1.5-2 ounces

6 extra large slices: Each slice over 2 ounces

Having just two layers allows you to easily cut nice even slices without having layers crumble apart. You can pack more servings into the two-layer cake with thinner slice widths.

Serving Size for a Three-Layer Cake

For a layered cake like a milk bar cake, three layers impacts how you can slice the cake:

8-10 slim slices: Around 1 ounce each
6-8 regular slices: Around 1.5 ounces each
4-6 large slices: Around 2 ounces each

With three delicate cake layers and fillings, slices need a little more width and care to keep the cake slice intact. Overall you may get 1-2 fewer servings per cake compared to just two layers.

Estimating Serving Size From Total Cake Weight

A general guideline is that each serving of cake weighs around 1 ounce or 28 grams.

If you know the total weight of the fully assembled cake, you can estimate servings by dividing the total weight by 28.

For example, a 3-layer cake that weighs 4 pounds or 1,792 grams would contain an estimated 64 servings (1,792 g ÷ 28 g/serving = ~64 servings).

Keep in mind this method assumes relatively even slicing throughout the cake layers. Decorations and irregular shapes can make portions vary.

Comparing Different Cake Sizes

Cake Size	Servings
8-inch round, 2-layer: 1.5 pounds	16
9-inch round, 2-layer: 2 pounds	24
9×13 inch sheet: 3 pounds	48
10-inch round, 3-layer: 4 pounds	64

This table compares approximate servings for differently sized cakes assuming a 1 ounce serving size. The servings are just estimates but show how cake size and layers influence portions.

Cutting Tips for Accurate Servings

Here are some tips for cutting uniform cake slices to ensure accurate serving sizes:

Use a sharp, long serrated knife for clean cuts.
Cut slices with gentle back-and-forth motions to get through dense layers.

Cut the cake completely cooled for neater, cleaner slices.
Use a ruler or cake slicer as a guide for straight edges.
Cut simple geometric shapes like squares or triangles for even portions.

Weigh initial slices to determine size, then use them as a reference point.

Any decorations, fillings oozing out, or crumbling layers can make it tricky to get perfect uniform slices. Take your time cutting and use a light touch.

Serving Tips

Once sliced, follow these tips for serving cake:

Use a spatula to transfer slices neatly to plates.
Provide a cake server so guests can take their own portion.
Add garnishes like fresh fruit or drizzled sauce.

Offer whipped cream on the side for guests to customize.
Have a variety of plates and forks ready for serving.
Set aside thicker edge pieces for smaller appetites.

Slice and serve additional pieces as needed.

Having utensils ready and letting guests self-serve makes portioning easier. Cut and serve cake attractively for the best presentation.

Storing Leftover Cake

To store any leftover milk bar cake:

Cover tightly with plastic wrap or lid to prevent drying out.
Refrigerate for 3-4 days maximum.
Let refrigerated cake come to room temperature before serving.

Consider freezing cake up to 2-3 months.
When freezing, wrap cake air-tight and use within a month for best quality.

Try cutting the remainder into single servings before storing so slices stay fresh. Layer cakes like milk bar cakes don’t keep as long as denser, moister cakes.

Serving Other Cake Types

While milk bar cakes are layered, other popular cake styles have their own serving suggestions:

Sheet Cake

Cut sheet cakes into uniform rectangles or squares for even slices. Aim for around 1-2 inch squares.

Bundt Cake

Slice bundt cakes into wedges following the contour of the pan. Cut skinny wedges for more servings.

Cupcakes

Each individual cupcake is one serving. Ice them heavily for a more decadent dessert.

Pound Cake

The dense, heavy crumb of pound cakes makes it easier to cut thin, uniform slices. Start with 1/2-inch slices.

Serving Cake Buffet Style

For large gatherings like buffets, it’s smart to offer cake slices rather than expecting guests to cut whole cakes themselves. Follow these tips:

Stage slices on tiered platters or stands for visual appeal.
Offer a mix of cake flavors, varieties, and decorations.
Include bite-size petit fours or mini cupcakes for variety.

Have servers ready with utensils to portion additional slices as needed.
Supply smaller plates and forks for easy one-handed serving.

Pre-slicing cakes makes it easier for guests to take smaller portions and try an assortment of options at a buffet.

Conclusion

A milk bar cake typically provides 8-12 good sized slices when cut into a two-layer 8-inch round cake. However, you can stretch or reduce the servings depending on how large you slice each piece. Variables like cake size, number of layers, and decorations impact how many portions you can achieve from a whole cake. Use visual guides, weigh slices, or calculate total weight to best estimate servings for any cake.