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There is a big debate in the baking world: should cupcakes be flat or domed? Each has its own set of pros and cons, so it can be tough to decide which is right for you. In this article, I will discuss the benefits of both options and help you decide which is best for you.
Cupcakes could either be flat or domed depending on how they are baked, the ingredients used, and the baking temperature. A flat cupcake is characterized by a smooth top and slightly rounded edges, while a domed cupcake will have a more pointed top with sharply defined edges.
There are pros and cons to both options. Flat cupcakes tend to be moister because the batter can spread out evenly as it cooks, while domed cupcakes can be dryer since the batter is more concentrated in the center. Below, I dive deeper into answering the question of whether cupcakes should be flat or domed.
The Pros & Cons for Each Cupcake Type
Domed Cupcakes Pros & Cons:
| Pros of Domed Cupcakes | Cons of Domed Cupcakes |
|---|---|
| – They look better – They are great for taller frostings – They can hold more decorations | – They can be dry – The center can get too hot and burn |
Flat Cupcakes Pros & Cons:
| Pros of Flat Cupcakes | Cons of Flat Cupcakes |
|---|---|
| – They are moister – Often, they are cooked evenly throughout – They are great for layer cakes | – The edges can get overcooked and crispy – They don’t look as nice as domed cupcakes |
*By the way, I consider decorating my cupcakes correctly to be the most important step to presenting a perfect-looking cupcake. I recently came across a Full Set of Cupcake Decorating Kit that has everything you need to decorate your cupcakes! You can check out this set on Amazon!
Below, I will talk about why some cupcakes come out flat and why some cupcakes come out domed and explain what to do if you were in that situation!
Why Do My Cupcakes Have Domes?
The main reason for having domed cupcakes is that the pan is heating up too quickly. When the cupcake tin is too hot, it can cause the batter in the center to rise quickly as the rest of the cupcake’s circumference is already cooked. This makes the cupcakes bake unevenly.
Other reasons your cupcakes may turn out domed include:
Your cupcake pan is too small
If your pan is too small, the edges of the cupcakes will cook faster than the center. This can cause them to dome as the batter rises and pushes against the sides of the pan.
The same thing applies when you overfill the tin with batter.
When you overfill your cupcake pan with excess batter, the batter will rise up above the edges of the pan making the cupcakes domed.
You overmixed your batter
Mixing batter is meant to incorporate air into the batter to make any baked good fluffy.
If you overmix your batter, it can make it too light and fluffy. When this happens, air bubbles will form and push up the batter, causing it to dome.
You baked at too high of a temperature
If you bake your cupcakes at too high of a temperature, the heat will cause the batter to rise quickly and form domes.
Make sure to follow the cupcake’s recipe of what temperature to use and how long to bake them for.
You used too many leavening agents
When too many leavening agents are used, they will activate at the same time making the cupcakes rise higher than they are supposed to be.
Make sure to use the right amount of baking powder or baking soda that is recommended in your recipe!
*Side Note: I recently wrote an article about How to Store Frosted Cupcakes to Keep Them Fresh. This article talks about the right way of storing frosted and unfrosted cupcakes in several different storage places. You can check out the full article here!
Why Are My Cupcakes Flat On Top?
The major reason for cupcakes coming out flat on the top is the batter being too soft. The soft batter is not going to hold any air bubbles when it is being mixed which will cause the cupcakes to be dense. Dense cupcakes without the incorporation of air will not rise as much.
Other reasons your cupcakes may turn out flat include:
Your batter is too thick
If your batter is too thick, it will not spread evenly in the pan and can result in a flat top.
You want to strike a good balance between a batter that’s too thin and one that’s too thick so that the cupcakes will rise up just enough.
Your cupcake pan is too big
A pan that’s too big can also cause your cupcakes to be flat on top. This is because the batter will spread out more and not rise as much in the center.
The same thing applies if you underfill your cupcake pan making it not have enough batter to rise high enough inside the pan.
You undermixed your batter
If you undermix your batter, it will be dense and not rise as much. This can cause your cupcakes to be flat on top.
This is because you didn’t incorporate enough air into the mixture which prevents it from rising.
You baked at too low of a temperature
If you bake your cupcakes at too low of a temperature, the heat won’t be enough to make them rise properly and they will turn out flat on top.
Make sure to follow the temperature in your cupcake recipes precisely!
You didn’t use enough leavening agents
If there isn’t enough leavening agent in your batter, it will not rise and will result in a flat top.
These are some of the reasons I have noticed make cupcakes turn out flat. But again, I have many friends who ask me:
How do you make cupcakes flat? So I will give the answer here.
To make your cupcakes flat, you will want to use a thick batter. Don’t overmix the batter or use too many leavening agents or your cupcakes will rise too much and be dome-like again.
*Side Note: You might also want to know How To Stop Cupcake & Muffin Liners From Folding In and Sticking. I recently wrote an article that explains How To Keep The Liners Looking Good When Baking In Them, which you can check out here!
Should I Cut The Top Off My Cupcakes?
Generally speaking, you could cut the top of your cupcakes off if you want to easily frost them. However, there is no big benefit of cutting off the top of your cupcakes. Leaving the tops on will preserve the texture of your cupcakes and prevent having any crumbs in the icing.
If you are making a layer cake with flat cupcakes, it will be easier to stack them if the tops are still on.
At the end of the day, it’s up to how you want your cupcakes to look like. You could cut the tops of your cupcakes off if you want to have more frosting on top. Just make sure to cut through quickly without having too many crumbs.
*By the way, I recently wrote an article about The Best Ways to Make Dry Cupcakes More Moist. This article also talks about why your cupcakes turned out dry, to begin with, as well as how to prevent it from happening. You can check out this article here!
How Do You Ice Domed Cupcakes?
As a general rule, you can ice domed cupcakes by starting from the center and working your way out. Make sure to put less icing on the top of the comedy cupcakes so that the icing will be level with the edge of the cupcakes.
The other option is to cut the top of your domed cupcakes off which will make it easier to ice your cupcakes evenly on a flatter surface.
You can also use a piping bag to create a nice design on top of your domed cupcakes. This will help cover up any imperfections in the icing.
Why Do My Cupcakes Not Rise Evenly?
The main reason your cupcakes don’t rise evenly is the pan temperature not being consistent. When the cupcakes bake, they will start to form a crust on the outside. If the pan is too hot, this crust will form too quickly and it will inhibit the cupcake from rising evenly.
The same thing can happen if your oven temperature isn’t accurate.
You may find that some of your cupcakes are overcooked while others are undercooked. This is because the temperature in your oven isn’t consistent.
Why Do My Cupcakes Sink?
In general, the main reason for your cupcake to sink while baking is that you overmixed the batter. When the batter is overmixed, too many air bubbles are introduced into the mixture which makes them escape out of the cupcakes while baking making them sink.
Another reason your cupcakes might sink is if there isn’t enough leavening agent in the batter.
Leavening agents are what help make cakes and cupcakes rise, so if there isn’t enough, they will fall after being baked.
During my search for the perfect muffin/cupcake, I came across a Great Nonstick 12-Cup Muffin Pan that will make my muffins/cupcakes the perfect size. Ever since I got it, my muffins came out looking better than ever before! You can find this Muffin Tin on Amazon!
Final Thoughts
You can have domed or flat cupcakes, but there are pros and cons to each. I prefer domed cupcakes because they look nicer and can hold more decorations. However, flat cupcakes are moister and often cook evenly throughout the cake.
It ultimately comes down to personal preference for which type of cupcake you want to make. But now you know the reasons why your cupcakes might be flat or domed and how to fix it.
