How to Cut a Double Barrel Cake (and the Board Inside It)
Cut the top half, lift out the middle board and its supports, then cut the bottom half. Count it as two cakes, not one tall one.
What is inside a double barrel cake
A double barrel cake looks like one very tall cake, usually 8 to 9 inches (20 to 23 cm) high. Inside it is two cakes of the same width, one on top of the other. The top cake sits on its own cake board, which rests on straws or dowels pushed down through the bottom cake. Without that, the weight of the top half crushes the bottom.
| Part | Where it is | What to do when cutting |
|---|---|---|
| Centre dowel (not always used) | Straight down through the middle of both halves | Pull it out first, or cut round it |
| Middle cake board | Halfway up, under the top cake | You will feel the knife hit it. Lift it out once the top is served |
| Straws or dowels | In the bottom half, under the board, about 2 in (5 cm) in from the edge | Come out with the board or pull them out before cutting the bottom |
| Base board | Under everything | Stays on the table |
Cut it step by step
- Take off toppers and decorations. Remove anything with wires, sticks or picks so they don’t end up in a slice.
- Remove the centre dowel if there is one. Pull it straight up. If it won’t move, leave it and cut round it.
- Cut the top half only. Cut it as you would a normal cake. Stop when the knife touches the board; don’t saw through it.
- Lift out the middle board. Slide a large spatula or cake lifter under it and lift it away with any cake left on it.
- Pull out the supports. Find every straw or dowel in the bottom half and pull them out. Count them against what the baker used, so none ends up on a plate.
- Cut the bottom half. It is now an ordinary single cake.
How many servings: count it as two cakes
Serving charts assume a normal cake about 4 inches (10 cm) tall, cut into small rectangles, not wedges. A double barrel is two of those, each cut separately, so Lollipop Cake Supplies advises doubling the servings of a standard-height chart. A triple barrel triples them.
Charts also use different slice sizes, so check which one you are reading:
| Slice | Size (on top) | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding or dessert | 1 × 2 in (2.5 × 5 cm) | When the cake is the only dessert at a wedding |
| Party (CakeyTops calculator) | 1.5 × 2 in (4 × 5 cm) | Parties, following the common US chart convention |
| Party (some UK and Australian charts) | 2 × 2 in (5 × 5 cm) | More generous party slices |
| Finger or coffee | 1 × 1 in (2.5 × 2.5 cm) | Served with tea or coffee after a meal |
To count a double barrel in the serving calculator, add the same size twice: one tier for the top half and one for the bottom.
Round, square and sheet cakes, single or tiered, with wedding or party slices. Add your double barrel as two tiers of the same size. Free.
If you sell double barrel cakes, tell the customer
The person cutting the cake at a party has often never seen inside one. A short card in the box saves a sawn-through board or a dowel on a plate:
- There is a board halfway up. Cut the top, lift the board, then cut the bottom.
- The number of straws or dowels inside, and where they are.
- How many slices to expect at the size you planned for.
- How to store it, for example in the fridge if it has a fresh cream, curd or fruit filling.
If you charge by the serving, make sure your price counts both halves. See how to price custom cakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people does an 8 inch double barrel cake serve?
Count it as two 8 inch cakes. With the 1.5 × 2 inch party slices the CakeyTops calculator uses, an 8 inch round gives 16, so a double barrel gives about 32. With 1 × 2 inch wedding slices, an 8 inch round gives 25, so about 50.
Do you cut through the board in a double barrel cake?
No. Cut the top half down to the board, serve it, then lift the board out before cutting the bottom half.
Why does a double barrel cake have a board in the middle?
So the top half sits on its own support instead of crushing the bottom half. The board rests on straws or dowels pushed down through the bottom cake.
Can you cut a double barrel cake into wedges?
You can, but serving counts assume small rectangles cut from each half. Wedges from a tall cake are very large and give far fewer servings.
Use the tool from this guide
Open the relevant CakeyTops tool and put the advice above to work straight away.
Keep reading
How Many Servings Does a Cake Make? The No-Guesswork Serving Guide
Exact serving counts for every cake size and shape — round, square, heart, tiered — with a free calculator so you never over- or under-bake again.
BusinessHow to Price Custom Cakes: A Complete Guide for Home Bakers
The pricing formula every home baker needs — ingredients, labor, overhead, and profit margin — with real numbers and a free calculator to get it right every time.
ReferenceCake Pan Conversion Guide: Scale a Recipe to Your Tin
Compare the working capacity of your tins, then scale the ingredients. Worked examples keep the layer depth and number of tins clear.