My cake has a volcano effect on top

The oven might have been too hot or the cake too high up in the oven – this can also be the cause of cakes burning on the top. The crust has baked and set before the cake mixture in the centre, and as it bakes through the mixture expands. As it has nowhere else to go it bursts through the top, creating the volcano dome effect. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your cakes whilst baking, peeking through the oven door if you can and if they’re beginning to brown too much cover with a sheet of foil for the remaining baking time, or dropping the oven temperature just slightly. Domed cakes can generally be rescued by slicing off the top and disguising with icing.