Name: Parkin
Yield: 12

Parkin

Step #1

Method (Makes 1 unit – 12 portions)

Step #2

Place the all the ingredients under cake into a bowl and beat for 1-2 minutes to form a smooth batter.

Step #3

Pour into a well-greased pre lined 23cm (9inch) square cake tin.

Step #4

Bake in a preheated oven 170°C (340°F) gas mark 3 for 40-45 minutes until firm to the touch.

Step #5

Leave in the tin to cool before turning out.

Step #6

Wrap in baking parchment and then foil. Keep up to a week till it becomes sticker and softer.

Why it works

The word parkin was a popular surname in Yorkshire and means Peter. There are other parkins – such as Lancashire parkin – but it doesn't contain oats. Parkin is an age-old cake featuring oats and treacle/molasses to create a sticky, chewy cake with a deeply robust flavor that only improves with time! Traditionally, it requires no decoration but I have sliced one, spread it with ginger jam and a vanilla butter icing - yes, it was delicious.