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1/2 sheet cake or half sheet cake is an perfect cake for party and gatherings because of its large and rectangular shape.
If you are preparing for any party or family gathering, you must need a large cake to serve. Then 1/2 sheet cake or half sheet cake is perfect for you because it is large and rectangular, so it can easily be cut into equal pieces.
We all love to eat cakes, and you must also know that The cake is baked in many different ways in different Flavors and in various sizes. And the best cake for any party family gathering is half sheet cake. So today I am going to talk about half sheet cake.
In today’s article, you find what half sheet cake is, 1/2 sheet cake size, benefits serving, etc., so let’s start…
What is a Sheet Cake?
A sheet cake is baked in a large, flat rectangular pan, such as a sheet pan or a jelly roll pan. These single-layer cakes’ borders and flat top surfaces are always frosted, with decorations and ornamental frosting. These low-cost cakes are widely available in supermarkets and bakeries throughout the United States. They are formed from one continuous slice of cake.
What is a Half Sheet Cake?
Half sheet cake is a large rectangular cake generally used to serve in parties, gatherings, and some occasions. According to the name, a half sheet cake is simply half of a sheet cake.
This cake is mainly baked in a single layer or double layer. If you want two half sheet cakes, you can simply cut down the sheet cake in halves.
Half sheet cakes may be made in any Flavor, with chocolate marble white and yellow being the most common. Commonly made in the home with boxed cake mixes, they can come in various Flavors, with Colorful batter mix-ins such as sprinkles and chocolate chips. These 1/2 sheet cakes are usually found with buttercream frosting.
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half sheet or 1/2 sheet cake benefits
A half sheet cake is a large cake which makes it perfect for big gatherings and parties. Although small round cakes are suitable for a small gathering, the rectangular size of 1/2 sheet cake makes it party-friendly.
Because of its rectangular shape, it can be easily cut into equal slices. The slices will be neater and simpler to serve as well, and they can be baked quickly. The flat-top provides plenty of space to design and personalize with text.
1/2 sheet cake size
A half sheet cake can vary slightly according to the pan size or your manufacturer. Although the cake may be found chiefly between 18*13 and 12*16 inches.
Mostly bakers in America prepare 1/2 sheet cake in three different sizes 15 by 11 inches or 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 inches or as large as 16 by 12 inches. Unless a special half sheet pan is used, the typical sheet cake baked at home measures only 13 inches by 9 inches.
half sheet cake: servings
1/2 half sheet cakes are very big, and with the help of one half sheet cake, you can feed about 40-50 people. But there are different pan sizes of cakes available in the market, so how will you know their serving sizes?
so here is the sheet cake serving formula, which helps you determine the exact no. of slices that you can get from the 1/2 sheet cake
half Sheet Cake Servings formula
no of serving = Pan Area x Cake Serving Size Area
Area of a Pan = Pan Length x Pan Width
Cake Serving Size Area = Length of slices Width of the slice.
For example, a 1/2 sheet cake with 15 by 11 inches.
area of the pan = 15 * 11 = 165
considering the sizes of small cake pieces of 2″ by 2.”
Cake Serving Size Area =2*2 =4
so the actual no of serving would be
165/4= 42 servings
let’s find out more serving sizes with different pan sizes
cake with 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 inches:
- With 2 by 2 inches serving sizes can serve up to 40 people.
- With 1 by 2 inches serving sizes can serve up to 81 people.
- With 2 by 3 inches serving sizes can serve up to 30 people.
cake with 16 by 12 inches:
- With 2 by 2 inches serving size can serve up to 48 people.
- With 1 by 2 inches serving sizes can serve up to 96 people.
- With 2 by 3 inches serving sizes can serve up to 32 people.
half sheet cake: recipe
A half sheet cake can be made in your home quickly. Next time you organize the party, my suggestion would be to bake the half sheet cake at your own home.
A 13 by 9 inch is the best pan size for baking half sheet cake at your own home. You just need a cake mix which is readily available in the market. You need 3 boxes of cake mix to make half sheet cake with a single layer and 6 boxes of cake mix to make two layered 1/2 sheet cake.
Also, you can take help from this guide if you want to make a cake with different pan sizes. Or you can use this recipe as your sheet cake guide.
half sheet cake: decoration
If you are baking 1/2 sheet cake at your own home, you have to decorate your cake in a better way. Buttercream and ganache are the most common frosting used in half sheet cake. Leaving the bottom face, you can decorate all the five faces of the half sheet cake. The 1/2 sheet cake will give you enough room to decorate.
A single layer of half sheet cake requires 6 cups of frosting, and a double layer of 1/2 sheet cake requires 8-12 cups of frosting. To decorate first, cover your cake with your Favorite frosting. Now you can use your skill to decorate the cake border in your own style.
If you want to write some letters on the top surface of the cake, you can use tip 2A to write a letter on the cake with perfect thickness. And for addition, if you want to decorate the borders of the cake, I would recommend you to use 1M TIP for stars and 2D TIP for flowers.
If you want the full set of cake tips for decoration then click here
As with any cake, it should be served on a cake board. To prevent your cake from slipping, I always recommend using a waxed, grease-resistant surface.
If you are not good at frosting, you can use cake stencils to decorate your cake and make it more professional.
how to store half sheet cake?
Because of its large rectangular size, it is not easy to store this cake. But if you want to hold cake, keep them in the freeze. Then I recommend you store them unfrosted by wrapping them tightly with plastic. It can be stored for up to 4 days. Just make sure it is adequately covered. You can use the box to protect them.
To avoid injuring your cake, choose your box slightly larger than usual. Believe me, you don’t want all of your hard work piping the borders and icing to go to waste. Choose something that is approximately 19′′ x 14′′ x 4′′.
Before freezing a frosted cake, place it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before wrapping it in the freezer. This will aid in the hardening of the frosting and prevent it from being readily damaged during the wrapping procedure.
It is best to store the leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for five days. You may also store the leftover cake in the refrigerator for up to a week. In addition, firmly wrapped in plastic wrap, you may freeze your cake for up to three months.
conclusion:-
A half sheet cake is a perfect party cake if you plan for a party or small gathering between 18 to 40 people. This 1/2 sheet cake is tastier and can be made easily at your own home and served quickly in equal slices.
Once you make it in your more, you will definitely be going to many more times. However, if you are not sure about baking a good cake, you can buy it from your nearby stores.
Now that’s all from my side; if you have anything related to a half sheet cake, let me know in the comment section.
frequently asked question:-
these are the general queries related to half sheet cake
sheet cake vs 1/2 sheet cake
Sheet cakes come in a variety of sizes. A complete sheet cake measures typically 18″ by 24″ and may serve up to 117 people. The half sheet cake measures 13″ x 18″ and serves approximately 54 people.
1/4 sheet cake size vs 1/2 sheet cake
1/2 Sheet cakes come in a variety of sizes. A 1/2 sheet measures typically 13″ by 18″ and may serve up to 54 people. In contrast, The 1/4 sheet cake (quarter sheet cake ) measures 9″ x 12″ and serves approximately 18 people.
How many cake mix boxes do I need for a half sheet cake?
A single-layer half sheet cake requires three boxes of cake mix.
What is the best way to cut a half sheet cake?
The slices first by gently marking the cake with a knife and cut straight through to slice layer cakes use a long thin-bladed knife and cut with a gentle sawing motion.
To obtain a warm and clean-cut, keep a clean hot cloth on your hand and wash off your knife after each cut.
What is the average cost of half sheet cake?
an 1/2 Sheet cake with 1 Layer and with 25-30 Med. or 48 Small Servings will cost up to $36 to 40 and
1/2 Sheet with 2 Layer and 40-50 Med. or 96 Small Servings can cost up to $60-$65.
