Plan & Budget guests
Party Dessert Planner
How many pies for 24 people? About 5 pies if pie is the only dessert and appetites are average.
Hosting? Enter your guests and pick the desserts to see how many pies, cookies, cupcakes or sheet cakes to bake.
How to use it
- Enter the number of guests and their appetite.
- Tick the desserts you'll serve.
- Bake the amounts shown; link to the scaling tools for the recipes.
How it works
Total servings = guests × appetite (1, 1½ or 2), split evenly across the desserts.
A 9-inch pie gives 8 slices, a 9×13 sheet cake 24 pieces, and 2 cookies make a serving.
These are our starting points; every crowd differs.
Assumptions and limits
- Dessert after a meal.
- Even demand across desserts.
- Standard sizes.
Sources reviewed October 23, 2026.
Tips
- Bake cookies and bars a day ahead.
- Cut pies before guests arrive for even slices.
- Plan a little extra for take-home plates.
Recipes to try it with
Questions
How many pies for 24 people?
About 5 pies if pie is the only dessert and appetites are average.
How many cookies per person?
Plan 2 to 3 per guest with other desserts, more if cookies are the only one.
How many cupcakes for 50 guests?
About 75 at average appetite if they're the only dessert.