Why We're Loving Long Cakes Right Now

Forbes

6 days ago

Long cake makes a stunning centerpiece in this dessert display.
Move over, tiered cakes — 2025 belongs to the long cake.
These striking, centerpiece-style desserts are reshaping what celebrations look like, stretching across party tables and commanding the room with their playful flair. From weddings to birthdays and everything in between, long cakes— typically slender sheet cakes that span anywhere from two to six feet or more — are fast becoming the go-to for trend-forward hosts looking to blend drama with functionality.
'I started making long centerpiece-style cakes in 2023,' says Olivia Wilson, a Richmond-based baker known for her elegant, floral-forward designs. 'My first client was open to experimentation, so we did a super skinny long cake to serve as the centerpiece of her massive grazing table for a birthday party.'
That experiment sparked a trend Wilson couldn't have predicted. 'The following year, almost all of my wedding cakes were six feet or longer,' she adds. 'My clients have been excited about this new option for their event — I think folks appreciate the drama, while retaining the cake's approachability and whimsical nature.'
Sugared fruit, leaves, and elegant swirls adorn this extra long sheet cake.
It's not just aesthetics that are winning people over. The elongated sheet cake style, typically frosted and adorned with edible florals, fruits, herbs, or even custom signage, doubles as an edible runner or showpiece. Because it's low and horizontal rather than tall and , it allows for more accessible slicing and a more interactive presentation.
'For me, it's a logical option,' Wilson says. 'It makes it easier on the catering side or for whomever is tasked with slicing and serving — and that makes me happy to not add more stress to their night.'
Event planners agree. With long cakes, there's no need for a big ceremonial cut or the awkward logistics of disassembling tiers. Guests can simply slice and serve themselves, grazing as they would from a charcuterie board or dessert table. It's self-serve, but with style.
The length of these stylish cakes allow for easier cutting and sharing.
The appeal of long cakes also taps into a broader trend in the dining and events world: maximalist minimalism. These cakes are often rectangular and unstacked, a design choice that feels minimalist at first glance. But the real magic is in the decoration. With ample real estate, decorators can build elaborate scenes; mossy forest paths using fresh thyme, cascades of figs and berries, or trails of freshly picked wildflowers and edible glitter.
'This style also serves as a very fun canvas for creating a little fairy wonderland with fresh produce and flowers,' Wilson notes. 'I also make long bûche De Noëls,' she adds, referring to her holiday offerings, which leaned into a quaint, log-style format. 'It really took off.'
Social media, of course, has played its part. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are flooded with videos of long cakes being dressed like enchanted gardens or delicately sliced by wandering guests. The visual payoff is undeniable. And compared to traditional cakes, these are easier to photograph and harder to forget.
For the new generation of hosts—many of whom are seeking ways to make large events feel more casual and communal—the long cake hits all the right notes. It's shareable. It's stylish. And it turns the humble sheet cake into something worthy of a toast.
Though some purists may argue that it lacks the grandeur of a traditional multi-tiered confection, Wilson disagrees. 'There's a softness to them that people love,' she says. 'They're grand, but not intimidating.'
In other words: long cakes are here to stay, and their moment has only just begun. If you're hosting a wedding, birthday, or art-forward supper club, there's never been a better time to think outside the (tiered) box.