Parkin is like a ginger cake with oatmeal in it. It is a very quick and simple to bake and tastes amazing. The spices give off a wonderful aroma during baking. It is a traditional sponge cake from Northern England. It is one of the British bakes I have on my website.

Parkin Ingredients

• 100 grams oats
• 100 grams plain flour
• 100 grams butter
• 100 grams soft brown sugar
• 50 ml treacle or golden syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 medium egg
• 4 tablespoons milk
• pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon ginger powder
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice
• one quarter teaspoon cinnamon powder

Parkin Method

• Pre-heat oven to 160 celsius, fan oven

• Prepare a 18cm or 20 cm square cake tin with baking paper and put to one side

• Add oats, flour, salt, spices and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl

• Put butter, sugar and golden syrup in a pot and put on a medium heat on the hob until butter is melted
• Remove them from the heat and leave to cool for a few minutes, add the milk and stir

• Pour the mixture into the oat mixture, stir together, add the egg and mix

• Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin

• Bake in the oven for about 35- 40 minutes until firm and springy to the touch

• Test with a toothpick, if it comes out clean it is ready
• Remove from the oven, leave in the cake tin for about 10 mins and put on a cooling rack to cool completely.

Serve parkin by cutting it into bite size pieces or bigger pieces, whatever you prefer.

Other British bakes to try