Quick Tip: How To Get A Domed Muffin Top Every Time (2024)

Emma Christensen

Emma Christensen

Emma is a former editor for The Kitchn and a graduate of the Cambridge School for Culinary Arts. She is the author of True Brews and Brew Better Beer. Check out her website for more cooking stories

published Apr 4, 2011

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Quick Tip: How To Get A Domed Muffin Top Every Time (1)

Everyone knows that the best part of the muffin is the top, right? This is why it’s doubly disappointing when a batch of muffins emerges with barely-peaked little domes. We thought maybe it’s not enough batter in the cup or expired baking soda. But Shirley O. Corriher, author of Bakewise, says its something else entirely.

According to O. Corriher, the way to get a perfectly puffed up dome on your muffins is to increase your oven heat. She says that 400° should do it, no matter what the recipe says.

The higher baking temperature means that the the outside edges of the muffin will set while the middle is still liquidy. The center continues to rise as the muffin bakes inward, and voila! We get muffins with impressive domed tops.

We aim to try this next time we make muffins for breakfast!

Have any other tips for excellent muffins?

Related: Muffins & Scones: 15 Things to Bake This Weekend

(Image: Flickr member Nicola since 1972 licensed under Creative Commons)

Quick Tip: How To Get A Domed Muffin Top Every Time (2024)

FAQs

Quick Tip: How To Get A Domed Muffin Top Every Time? ›

She says that 400° should do it, no matter what the recipe says. The higher baking temperature means that the the outside edges of the muffin will set while the middle is still liquidy. The center continues to rise as the muffin bakes inward, and voila! We get muffins with impressive domed tops.

How to get domed muffin tops? ›

Giving your muffins a boost of extra hot heat (220C/420F) when they first go in the oven helps the outside of the muffin to set quickly whilst the inside of the muffin continues to rise, resulting in the muffin top/domed look.

What is the secret to high muffins? ›

Chilling your muffin batter overnight in the fridge is the BEST thing you can do for amazing muffins. It makes them more moist, tender, and TALLER! It's very similar to chilling cookie dough, which if you know me you know I'm obsessed with chilling cookie dough. Think of it like marinating.

Why didn't my muffin dome? ›

When the cell structure doesn't set, the air spaces created by the leavening in the recipe collapses, causing the muffin to sink. Oven temperatures vary over time. To insure the correct temperature each time you bake, always use an oven thermometer. The oven temperature in the recipe may not have been hot enough.

What causes muffins to dome? ›

The reason why this works is the initial high heat of 425 degrees F causes the batter to have greater oven spring or the rapid rise during the first few minutes of baking. The higher heat creates a burst of steam that lifts the batter.

How do you get a muffin top belly? ›

Eating a lot of high-calorie foods full of sugars, unhealthy fats, and preservatives can make you gain weight and develop a muffin top.

What would cause muffins to have a flat top? ›

There are many reasons why muffins might not rise as expected; I'll list the ones I know of in order of probability:
  • Over-mixing the batter. ...
  • Under-mixing the batter. ...
  • Not enough leavening agent. ...
  • Improper substitution of baking soda for baking powder. ...
  • Not resting the batter, or resting too long.
Jul 31, 2011

Why do I have a muffin top if I'm skinny? ›

The main cause of a muffin top is an unbalanced diet. If you're consuming an excessive amount of calories, you're contributing to fat storage around the midsection. Ensure you're burning more calories than you're eating, which is always attainable by dieting with a calorie deficit. Another factor is your genetics.

Is it normal to have a little muffin top? ›

The word “muffin top” can leave us feeling a little insecure about ourselves. We might start pulling down our shirts or wearing loose-fitting pants to cover up this area of our body. However, having extra fat around this specific area is entirely normal for men and women!

How to make cupcakes dome on top? ›

Fill your cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake at 400 F for the first five minutes. Then lower the temperature to 350F for the remainder of the baking time. That first initial blast of heat will cause the tops of the cupcakes to puff up.

How do you keep muffins from going flat? ›

It's a common mishap when baking muffins, but fortunately one that has an easy fix. According to Handle the Heat, the solution is simply to chill the muffin batter beforehand. While you might be tempted to put them in the oven right after mixing together a batch, muffins baked at room temperature don't rise as well.

Why are my muffins peaked and not rounded? ›

What causes muffins to be coarse in texture with large holes and peaked on top instead of rounded? A. You'll get these results if you mix the batter too much. Remember, you need to stir the ingredients together just until they're moist.

How do you make a cupcake dome on top? ›

Fill your cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake at 400 F for the first five minutes. Then lower the temperature to 350F for the remainder of the baking time. That first initial blast of heat will cause the tops of the cupcakes to puff up.

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