Madeira Cake

[vicmarion]

Please can anyone tell me if they have made a madeira cake without it splitting across the top when cooked. I sometimes use madeira as a plain cake for icing buit find I always have to cut off the top to get a smooth surface. I need a recipe that will turn out smooth.
Thanks to anyone who knows the secret.

[pastafreak]

Hi-If you scroll down the page ,there is an answer to why cakes cack and split.

http://www.floras-hideout.com/recipes/faq.html #cake-cracks

[vicmarion]

Many thanks for that, I will have to try using a lower temperature than the recipe states

[dammad]

when you put the mixture in the baking tin make a hole in the centre, about 2 inches deep, this way the cake will not rise so high in the middle

[andres]

I sometimes turn the cakes upside down for a perfectly smooth surface

[vicmarion]

Sorry, thought I had posted a thank you yesterday but it obviously did not get through, so I will say many thanks for the suggestions once again.