How do I get my cupcakes to look like this?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/deathbycupcake/4103828055/in/gallery-44739819@N05-72157622824749804/

My cupcakes always come up much flatter. What I am wanting to do is ice the top of the cupcake with BC and then put on giraffe spots with MMF. Any suggestions?

Could you mound the a crusting buttercream, refrig and then add MMF? Mine never mound up either...

I set my ovens on 400 degrees...when they're preheated I put the cupcakes in, leave them in for 3 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350 and allow them to bake until done.

this usually creates a really nice dome.

AI bake at a higher temperature. Around 25* in my oven. That usually makes a nice dome.

Thanks everyone! I think I will try to up the temps and see if that works.

I had this problem and read that if you are opening the oven to look at them the temperature drop could be causing this.  I did try it with one batch and they were much better.

if you start with flat cupcakes, you can use an ice cream scoop to place your icing on top so it gets to be that shape... then cut a disc of fondant bigger than the diameter of the cupcake. place it on top and smooth it to get the domed look. hope this helps!

She actually mentions in the comments that there was frosting underneath the fondant. I just use a large round tip, place it right in the middle of your cupcake and pipe a nice big blob, pull up slowly as you pipe, and stop before pulling away, it domes perfectly.

The ice cream scoop is great too, if your frosting will work with that, most of mine won't though.

AThanks for the tip. That sounds like a good method too. That's exactly what I want to do...I just need a nice domed or rounded top to work with.