Yorkshire Parkin 

A delicious sticky ginger cake in essence containing oats – here’s your  easy Yorkshire Parkin recipe! This cake should not be confused with Ginger bread or ginger cake, the main difference being that it contains oats.

If soft, sticky and warming. Made with treacle and syrup it’s a flipping delicious sticky cake! And even better if you leave it in the tin for 3 days before you eat it ….. difficult I know…… 

Typically people eat Parkin around Halloween and Bonfire Night but to be honest it’s good anytime – anytime at all!

And it’s a Yorkshire thing …. love it!

 

Ingredients for your Parkin Recipe 

 

• Butter

I use salted butter, unsalted would also be ok. As would baking margarine. I just love using butter in my bakes. 

• Eggs 

2 medium Eggs for this recipe (I also use free-range – my preference) 

• Self Raising Flour 

Helps to lift your Parkin a little. This cake has the perfect crumb structure, quite dense and very sticky when left for 3 days

• Black Treacle

Black treacle is a viscous, dark syrup manufactured from cane molasses that has seen a consistent rise in popularity since the mid-twentieth century

Black Treacle has a  distinctive bitter-sweet flavour brings a beautiful richness to sweet desserts such as Parkin

• Golden Syrup

Golden syrup, also known as light treacle, is a by-product of refining sugar cane.

It’s an inverted sugar syrup.  This golden-colored syrup has a buttery and sweetly caramelised flavour with a rich melt-in-the-mouth texture.

• Soft Brown Sugar 

You can use any brown sugar here but this soft brown sugar adds colour & flavour to your Parkin 

• Porridge Oats 

I used porridge oats in my recipe – which I blitzed in the food processor. You can of course use medium oatmeal 

It is the oats that make this recipe different from standard ginger cake 

• Ground Ginger & Mixed Spice 

I use 2 teaspoons of Ground ginger (you can add more) and 1 teaspoon Mixed Spice to give a lovely warming flavour.

Others add cinnamon and nutmeg – I don’t – but go for your life if you fancy it 

• Milk 

Any milk will do – it just slakes the batter mix 

 

How to make Yorkshire Parkin

***See full recipe card at the bottom of this post*** 

Step 1 

Pop your porridge oats into a food processor and pulse (not to a powder but as per picture) 

These give the Parkin a lovely texture 

 

Step 2 

In a saucepan melt together your butter, black treacle, golden syrup and soft brown sugar.

Do this slowly and gently – you are just looking to melt your butter not boil your mixture. Keep stirring 

Remove from the heat 

 

Step 3 Melting your syrups and butter for your Yorkshire Parkin

Whilst your pan ingredients are melting. In a large mixing bowl add your self-raising flour, porridge oats, Ground ginger and Mixed Spice – give it a stir with a spoon 

 

Step 4

Add your melted treacle mix to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon 

Step 5 – Yorkshire Parkin Recipe – batter 

Add your 2 eggs and milk and beat until a smooth consistence is achieved 

 

 

Step 6 

Pour batter  into your greased and lined tin ( 9×9 inches)

 

Bake in your preheated oven  – see recipe card for details 

Leave to cool in the tin once baked 

Top Tips for your Parkin

• PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE – leave in your tin for 3 days in an airtight cake tin – it improves with age and goes all sticky and lovely and the flavour intensifies – delicious!

How to store your Yorkshire Parkin 

Please remember this Parkin recipe improves with age – if you can please leave for 3 days in an airtight tin – enjoy this delicious sticky Parkin with a cuppa!  

Store in an airtight tin 

Can I freeze my Yorkshire Parkin 

Yes you can.

Once baked this cake can be frozen as a whole (wrap well) or sliced up and frozen as separate pieces.

Wrap the whole thing or individual pieces in a double layer of cling film then freeze for up to a couple of months 

When you are ready to defrost – simply leave to thaw on the side and then cut & enjoy! 

Other Ginger Bakes 

Oh and let me know what you think and if you like ginger and love this  Yorkshire Parkin you are sure to love:

• Easy Ginger Loaf Cake – it’s so so popular! (especially on Pinterest?). It’s a lighter cake with a delicious lemon icing – Yum! 
• Lemon & Ginger Cheesecake  –The perfect shop stopping dessert that’s totally delicious 
• Ginger Ninja – Lovely warming Ginger cocktail

 

The Old School Recipe Group

I also have a Facebook Closed Group called UK Olds School & Traditional Recipes 

Come over and join this great honest and Large community Facebook for Old School Recipes if you’re interested

 Just use the join button if you like real home cooked tasty easy food!!

Loads of tips and tricks – I promise

Oh and why not join me on Instagram – I’d love to see you there 🙂 

Big Love Clare