© Sparks 2024, Going Postal
Well then, seems I’ve been pressured into writing this one as a result of a suggestion from a Puffiness (who shall remain nameless (Yes, I’m looking at you…)).
Rather than celebrating the dreadful Americanism that is Halloween, I thought this year I would rekindle my passion for Bonfire Night, by making a proper Parkin cake. Stood around a bonfire as a kid, and after the jacket spuds, came the treacle toffee and, best of all, the Parkin.
Now, I’m not of the Yarkshire persuasion, but the recipe that follows is a Yorkshire version which is best – clearly. The pale shadow that is Lancashire Parkin doesn’t have nearly enough treacle and therefore is overly sweet and doesn’t contain the bitterness that the chewy cake deserves.
Given that Parkin, while it can be eaten the same day from the oven, does benefit from a few days maturation when it turns into a dark, chewy, sticky sweetmeat, which only the English can create, then resist the temptation to “test” if you can. So, assuming that The Boss posts in good order, you should have time to make this and celebrate the best political idea we’ve had in four centuries.
Recipe
Ingredients – (sorry for those of the Imperial persuasion, I was brought up on both, so Metric it is, bloody Frenchies!)
INGREDIENTS – with some comment…
200 grams Butter Unsalted – Lies. Use whatever butter you have. Arguably salted is better – more bite.
100 grams Soft Dark Brown Sugar – Better if you have, but muscovado would work, but the cake will look lighter.
125 grams Black Treacle – non-negotiable (otherwise you’re into Lancashire territory…)
125 grams Golden Syrup – as above, but if you want really bitter and less sweet, you could use treacle…
150 grams Medium Oatmeal – Seems difficult to find easily, but fine or medium oatmeal will work (I used half and half of each). At a pinch, and this is strictly heresy, really, as you’ll lose the texture, you could blitz porridge oats to create a very coarse flour.
150 grams Self Raising Flour – if you have plain flour only, double the Baking Powder below.
½ teaspoon salt – essential if you are using unsalted butter
¾ teaspoon Baking Powder – need this for the rise
3 teaspoon Ground Ginger – generous heaped teaspoons
1 teaspoon Ground Mixed Spice – not essential, but adds some depth.
2 Large eggs lightly beaten
2 tbs Milk – better to be whole milk, of course. Guido didn’t have semi…
Method
Heat your oven to 170-180 Deg C/Gas 4
Line an 8” square, deep-sided baking tin with greaseproof paper (I just laid two strips at 90 degrees, hanging slightly over the edges, which worked, and gave me something to use to lift the cake out to cool).
Place the butter, Black Treacle, Golden Syrup and Dark Brown Sugar in a pan over a low heat. Heat gently until all the sugar and butter have melted.
Take off the heat and leave to cool a little.
Place all the dry ingredients – consisting of Oatmeal, Flour, Salt, Baking Powder, Ginger and Mixed Spice, into a large heat-proof bowl and gently mix together.
Pour the sugar/treacle mix over the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
Add the milk and mix.
Add the beaten eggs and mix until well combined. The mixture shouldn’t be hot, but do check to make sure you don’t scramble the eggs.
Pour into the baking tin, and place in the oven.
Bake in the oven for 35 mins and check it by putting a skewer into the centre of cake. If it comes out clean (no sticky gubbins on it) then you’re done. If not, put in for another 10 minutes and test again.
My experience was the cake was perfect at 45 minutes, but I’d say check early to avoid disappointment and a dry cake…
Once done, and out of the oven, leave it in the tin to cool for around 15 mins before removing from the tin then leave to cool completely – ideally on a cooling rack.
Now for the difficult bit – As I said, Parkin improves with age, so when cool, cut into pieces and keep tightly wrapped (greaseproof paper is good to separate into layers) in an airtight container for 2 – 5 days, before eating the treacly goodness.
© Sparks 2024, Going Postal
As it is Ms S who is the baker, I rarely do cake, but since I managed it, I’m sure you can.
Enjoy, and remember, remember the 5th of November.
Thinking about it, maybe we should send some to The Don. Given his Anglophile nature, maybe he’d like something after his election win on November 5th, 419 years after the first go to destroy the deep state…
© Sparks 2024
