Traditional Yorkshire Parkin Recipe

Author:

This gingery oat-based cake is one of my fondest childhood memories that I would like to share with you.

Traditional Comfort Food

This COVID-19 lockdown has made me want to make some recipes that bring comfort and bring back those memories of being together on a crisp Guy Falks night in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. This gingery oat-based cake is one of my fondest childhood memories that I would like to share with you.

Although most of the traditional ingredients are widely available in England, if you're like me and living abroad (I'm in Peru), you may not have access the exact ingredients you need. Never fear: you can adapt it to what you have available and it will taste just as good.

Ingredients

200g / 1 cup self-raising flour, sieved
200g / 2 cups fine or medium oats
200g / 1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons ground ginger
100g / 1/2 cup butter
2 small eggs
5 tablespoons milk
200g / 2/3 cup treacle (or golden syrup or molasses)

Instructions

Grease a 160 x 260cm baking pan and line the bottom with greaseproof paper.
Add all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
Warm the treacle (or golden syrup or molasses) butter and milk until the butter has melted. Add the dry ingredients with the egg and mix well. You should now have a thick, sticky, and slightly runny mix.
Pour in the mixture to the baking pan and bake for 50-55 minutes on the middle shelf at 160c / 325f / gas 3.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I can't get treacle? Don't worry; it's not very often that I can get hold of it, either. Substitute with golden syrup, corn syrup or even maple syrup. The thicker and stickier the syrup the better.
How do I eat it? If you are asking this question, you shouldn't be let out of the house unassisted. (Just kidding.) It's fantastic eaten on its own. it is quite dense and rich, so you only need to cut a small finger bar size.
Do I need to bake it for an hour? Really? YES. Don't be tempted to bake it on a higher temperature. You need to slow cook the oats without burning the sugar.
It's brown. How do I know if it's cooked? Just insert a knife into the centre and if it comes out clean, it's baked to perfection. Enjoy!

Comments

lemonkerdz (author) from LIMA, PERU on June 05, 2020:

Thank you Liza. If you make this just be prepared to put on a few pounds..... but it’s worth it.

Liza from USA on June 04, 2020:

I have always looking to use treacle in my culinary experience. I agree sometimes we had to use whatever we got and to get the same feeling of eating the food that we fond, especially when we are living abroad. Thanks for sharing the recipe.