I used a springform instead of the pan that the recipe suggested, just becuase my sister said that's how her Austrian friend did it, and she made it all the time. I guess I should have realized that changing it would produce unpredictable results, but what happened was that the batter crept up the sides of the pan in the oven and covered up the topping. If you feel inclined to use a springform for this recipe, add the topping after it's already been in the oven awhile, so that you can still see it when it's done.