hi! i need a recipe for a cupcake that will have a dome top... my cupcakes have a flat surface.. please help...

Try turning your oven to 400 and then when you put the cupcakes in the oven reduce heat to 350 and bake 18 to 20 minutes. I use a large cookie scoop, but not an ice cream scoop. Hope this helps!

Funny, My question is how do I make a flat top cupcake without having to slice off the top?

Not sure, but I think if you fill 1/2 to 2/3 full and lower your temp to 335. If you bake a cake at a lower temp it bakes flatter so this might work.

See this from Cake Journal on how she gets a dome on cupcakes:
http://www.cakejournal.com/archives/cupcake-decorating-part-2
I bake my cupcakes at 325 and they come out flat with a regular creaming recipe.

dayti, thanks for the link! i'm in the process of planning my daughter's wedding cake and will probably go with cupcakes.

i'm thinking fondant top (using impression mat) and gumpaste/fondant flowers.

i rarely make cupcakes so i'll need to practice.

my biggest challenge seems to be getting the batter spread evenly in the cups.

any advice or tutorial links would be very much appreciated.

you cupcake folk must have massive patience and very fine motor skills. i wish those things were available online.

Use an ice cream scoop (the classic steel type ones with the metal strip inside for getting the scoop of ice cream out of it) to make your cupcakes the same size. If your batter is liquidy, use a jug and pour it in, just eyeball it to get them around the same size