15 Delicious Yorkshire Ginger Parkin Recipes

Yorkshire folk can be quite demanding. They like their Ginger Parkin moist and sticky, ready for the start of winter on November 5th. That date is also known as Bonfire Night to mark Guy Fawkes’ failed plot to blow up Parliament in 1605.

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Don’t make the mistaking of thinking this is a Ginger Cake or, woe betide, a Ginger Bread. It’s a warming piece of comfort baking that specifically contains oatmeal and ginger. Without those crucial ingredients, it’s simply not a Ginger Parkin. Perfect for cuddling up on Bonfire night!

These 14 recipes largely follow the same method which is detailed below. They’re all subtly different and most of all, fun to do using lots of easy to find ingredients.

15 Delicious Yorkshire Ginger Parkin Recipes

Method

The method of cooking a Yorkshire Parkin will be largely consistent throughout these recipes. This is really handy for such a rewarding, comforting piece of baking.

Equipment

You will need an 8” x 8” baking pan lined at the bottom with parchment paper unless stated otherwise. You’ll also need a large bowl, a deep saucepan and a wooden spoon. That’s about it.

Melting Ingredients

You’ll want to melt your butter or margarine, sugar, and syrups together in a trusted, deep pan. Be careful. There’s a fine line between simply melting together these ingredients and boiling them. They simply need to be combined and mixed together at a warm temperature.

Once the butter has melted it should be easy to dissolve the sugar, if that’s included for melting. With a few gentle stirs, the syrup(s) will soon combine to create a deliciously sticky, moreish mixture.

Dry Ingredients

The dry ingredients are combined separately. This should consist of flour (self-raising or all-purpose), oatmeal, and various combinations of spices. Sugar may be involved here if it isn’t being melted.

If you really want an enhanced flavor you can add more spices than specified to your liking. Of course, ginger is a staple spice that simply has to be included.

However, there are others you can add that will work well too. Take a look in your spice cupboard and you should be able to find another spice you can use to create a twist. Alternatively, simply double up the spices to make it even more flavorful.

Once the dry ingredients are mixed in a large bowl, the butter and syrups mixture is gradually incorporated. You’ll know it’s mixed when all the oatmeal is coated and it’s viscous enough to be poured into a tin.

Science Experiment (Optional)

Some recipes also involve what looks like a science experiment which is fun. A mixture of baking soda and a liquid that then fizzes up and adds some lift to your cake.

Eggs And Milk

A lot of recipes will use a single egg and some milk. The eggs tend to bind the mixture together while the milk brings a runny consistency. The Ginger Parkin should be poured into your baking pan to be wonderfully moist.

Baking Duration

Finally, there is the baking. Ginger Parkin is usually baked at around 300°F though the temperature and duration may differ.

Waiting

Yet hang on, once the Ginger Parkin is baked you should wait. Not just until it’s cool but at least three days before it’s even more moist and sticky. Trust us, it’s worth the wait.

15 Delicious Yorkshire Ginger Parkin Recipes1

1. Nutmeg, Mixed Spice, Or Even Pumpkin Pie Spice Make This Recipe A Bit More Intriguing.

  • Oven Temperature: 
  • 275°F
  • Melting Ingredients:
  •  8oz soft, unsalted butter with 12oz golden syrup, 4oz soft dark brown sugar, and 3oz black treacle
  • Dry Ingredients: 8oz self-raising flour, 2oz medium oatmeal, four teaspoons ground ginger, two teaspoons nutmeg, and a teaspoon pumpkin pie spice with a teaspoon baking powder
  • Eggs and Milk: Add two beaten eggs gradually, a tablespoon at a time. Add two tablespoons of milk if the mixture isn’t as loose as you like.
  • Baking Duration: One and a half hours. Check every ten minutes after an hour until it springs back when prodded

2. This Recipe Uses Ground Mace For A Lighter Flavor

  • Oven Temperature: 300°F
  • Melting Ingredients: 3oz butter, 4oz black treacle, 3oz golden syrup, and 7oz loosely packed brown sugar
  • Dry Ingredients: 8oz medium oatmeal, 3oz all-purpose flour, one a half teaspoons baking powder, two teaspoons ground ginger, a teaspoon mixed spice, a quarter teaspoon ground mace, 1oz crystallized ginger, and a quarter teaspoon salt
  • Eggs and Milk: One beaten egg with two tablespoons whole milk
  • Baking Duration: 70-80 minutes.

3. Some Recipes Like This One Keep It Simple With The Only Spice Being Ground Ginger

  • Oven Temperature: 275°F
  • Melting Ingredients: 4oz light brown muscovado sugar, 5oz unsalted butter, 7oz black treacle, 3.5oz golden syrup
  • Dry Ingredients: 9oz self-raising flour, a pinch of salt, two teaspoons ground ginger, and 5oz medium oatmeal
  • Eggs and Milk: One egg and 6oz semi-skimmed milk
  • Baking Duration: An hour

4. Crystallized Ginger Can Really Bring A Warm Bite To Your Ginger Parkin Recipe

  • Oven Temperature: 300°F
  • Melting Ingredients: 2oz each of butter, black treacle, and golden syrup
  • Dry Ingredients: 8oz self-raising flour, 4oz soft brown sugar, 2 tablespoons ground ginger, a teaspoon baking soda, 2oz crystallized ginger, and 2oz medium oatmeal
  • Eggs and Milk: One egg and 7fl oz milk
  • Baking Duration: An hour

5. This Recipe Uses Black Treacle For A Deeper Flavor

  • Oven Temperature: 315°F
  • Melting Ingredients: 4oz soft, unsalted butter with 6oz golden syrup, 2oz soft dark brown sugar, and 3oz black treacle
  • Dry Ingredients: 7oz self-raising flour, 3oz medium oatmeal, a tablespoon ground ginger, and a teaspoon mixed spice
  • Eggs and Milk: One beaten egg with four tablespoons of milk
  • Baking Duration: 50 minutes to an hour

6. This Recipe Uses Lard And More Golden Syrup To Increase The Moistness

  • Oven Temperature: 330°F
  • Melting Ingredients: 3oz lard, 3oz margarine, and 16z golden syrup
  • Dry Ingredients: 8oz medium oatmeal, 8oz plain flour, 2oz granulated sugar, and a tablespoon ground ginger.
  • Eggs and Milk: Sprinkle a teaspoon of baking soda on top of the mixture then pour over 10 fluid oz of boiling milk over the top. Leave to stand for five minutes then mix.
  • Baking Duration: 1 to 1 and a quarter hours

7. Some Traditional Recipes Stick To A Limited Range Of Ingredients And A Different Method. Instead Of Melting, Rub The Butter Into The Flour And Sugar Then Mix With The Treacle And Other Dry Ingredients.

  • Oven Temperature: 350°F, down to 285°F
  • Rub together 3oz butter with 8oz self-raising flour, and 3oz light brown sugar
  • Further Ingredients: Two tablespoons of syrup (you could mix golden syrup and treacle), a teaspoon baking soda, a teaspoon ground ginger
  • Eggs and Milk: One egg and a 12oz of warm milk, or until it’s a runny consistency
  • Baking Duration: 350°F for the first ten minutes then 285°F for the final 25 minutes

8. Wondering What To Do With That Leftover Apple Sauce? Try This Recipe, It’s A Little Bigger And Requires A 9” x 9” Tin

  • Oven Temperature: 350°F
  • Melting Ingredients: 4oz apple sauce, 8oz brown sugar, 5oz black treacle, 4oz golden syrup, and 4oz skimmed milk
  • Dry Ingredients: 8oz medium oatmeal, 8oz wholemeal flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, a tablespoon ground ginger, and half a teaspoon salt
  • Eggs and Milk: The milk in this recipe is used in the melting stage, add an egg white to the dry ingredients
  • Baking Duration: 40-50 minutes

9. This Recipe Doesn’t Include Golden Syrup For A Darker Ginger Parkin. The Butter And Sugar Are Also Creamed Before An Egg Is Beaten In

Ginger Parkin (or thank you for babysitting)
Source: mamacook
  • Oven Temperature: 350°F
  • Beating Ingredients: 2oz margarine, 5oz brown sugar, and an egg
  • Dry Ingredients: 9oz self-raising flour with 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • Eggs and Milk: The egg is used with the margarine and sugar. Mix 2 tablespoons black treacle with 7 fluid oz of milk then add to the flour mixture.
  • Mix in a teaspoon baking soda with a tablespoon of boiling water then quickly throw that into the batter.
  • Baking Duration: 45-60 minutes in a 9” x 9” baking tin

10. Another No-Egg Recipe Is This One

  • Oven Temperature: 275°F
  • Melting Ingredients: 4oz butter and 4oz lard
  • Dry Ingredients: 24oz each of medium oatmeal and all-purpose flour, 4oz each of black treacle and light brown sugar, an oz ground ginger, and a teaspoon baking powder.
  • Eggs and Milk: Add a bit of milk if needed for a runny consistency
  • Baking Duration: One and a half hours

11. A Different Sugar Such As Demerara Can Make A Subtle Difference Too In This Recipe

  • Oven Temperature: 350°F
  • Melting Ingredients: 8oz golden syrup and 4oz margarine
  • Dry Ingredients: 8oz medium oatmeal, 2oz demerara sugar, a teaspoon ground ginger, half a teaspoon baking soda, and a pinch of salt
  • Eggs and Milk: No eggs, 2 and a half fluid oz of milk
  • Baking Duration: An hour

12. If You Have Got Fine Oatmeal, Use It In This Recipe For A Smoother Consistency

  • Oven Temperature: 300°F
  • Melting Ingredients: 3oz butter and 12oz golden syrup
  • Dry Ingredients: 12oz fine oatmeal, 4oz all-purpose flour, a teaspoon baking powder, and two tablespoons ground ginger
  • Eggs and Milk: One egg and two tablespoons milk
  • Baking Duration: Three-quarters of an hour

13. You Can Also Decorate Your Ginger Parkin With This Recipe

  • Oven Temperature: 335°F
  • Melting Ingredients: 4oz each of unsalted butter, treacle, golden syrup, and light brown sugar
  • Dry Ingredients: 8oz plain flour, two teaspoons baking powder, 8oz medium oatmeal, two teaspoons ground ginger and 3oz crystallized ginger pieces
  • Eggs and Milk: Only 6fluid oz milk, no eggs
  • Baking Duration: 50 minutes

Once baked and cut, mix together 5oz of icing sugar with three to four teaspoons of water. Once it’s viscous, drizzle it over the parkin.

14. This Recipe Even Comes With A Rhubarb Accompaniment

  • Oven Temperature: 275°F
  • Melting Ingredients: 5 and a half oz each of soft brown sugar and softened butter, 9oz golden syrup and 2 and a half oz treacle
  • Dry Ingredients: 4 and a half oz medium oatmeal, 6oz self-raising flour, 3 tablespoons ground ginger, a teaspoon each of nutmeg and mixed spice, and a pinch of salt
  • Eggs and Milk: 2 beaten eggs and a fluid oz milk
  • Baking Duration: 1 and a quarter hours
  • Rhubarb Accompaniment: Gently heat 1 and three-quarter oz butter, 2 and a half oz sugar, the zest of an orange with five tablespoons of water in a large frying pan. Poach 4 rhubarb sticks cut into 2” lengths until tender then serve next to the Ginger Parkin.
Kathryn Sewell

Kathryn Sewell

Hi! I'm Kate and I have been baking and cooking for as long as I can remember. I like to share the most interesting tips and recipes I try here on What Kate Baked for you to enjoy. If you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share send it over on social.

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