How Many Cupcakes for 12 People?

Plan 1.5 cupcakes per person — one each, plus seconds for the sweet-tooth half of the room. Standard batches and bakery boxes come in dozens and 24s.

Mini cupcakes flip the math: plan 3 minis per person.

Adjusting for your crowd: kids eat about two-thirds of adult portions; knock 25% off any single item when several mains share the table; add 25% for teenagers and big appetites. When in doubt, round up on the cheap items (buns, chips, ice) and stay exact on the expensive ones.