Simple Yorkshire Parkin Recipe
Parkin is a Yorkshire classic. Every year we make this gingery oat cake to enjoy on Bonfire Night, traditionally 5 November. As soon as I’m reaching for the parkin recipe I know that the seasons are turning! This is a slight twist on the traditional Yorkshire parkin recipe however, as the original calls for black treacle. Black treacle is becoming harder to find around here, so I’ve tweaked the recipe.
Here’s my Yorkshire parkin recipe without black treacle! It’s still a delicious oaty ginger cake with delicate spicing, perfect to enjoy with a mulled cider or cup of hot chocolate.

This blog may contain affiliate links through which, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read full privacy policy.

Yorkshire Parkin Recipe
Equipment
- 7 Inch Square Cake Tin
- Bowl
- Small saucepan
- Greaseproof Paper
Ingredients
- 200 grams unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- 4 tablespoons full fat milk
- 275 grams golden syrup – you can substitute 75g black treacle for a more traditional recipe
- 85 grams dark brown sugar
- 100 grams porridge oats
- 250 grams self raising flour
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 0.5 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 160ºC/ 140ºF. Grease and line a 7" (17.78cm) square baking tin with greaseproof paper.
- Add the syrup, sugar and butter to a pan and melt, making sure the sugar is dissolved. Remove the mixture from the heat.
- In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, mix together the flour, porridge oats, ginger, nutmeg and mixed spice. Add the sugar, syrup and butter mixture and combine well.
- In a separate jug, combine the egg and milk. Add to the rest of the mixture and combine well, before pouring the parkin mixture into the prepared cake tin.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the top is firm. Allow to cool before serving, and enjoy!
Parkin is a cake that gets better with age, so if you can, make this parkin a few days in advance and allow the flavours to mingle together. It’s also perfectly acceptable to enjoy this parkin warm, just baked, or with a dollop of custard as a delicious pudding.
Parkin is best stored at room temperature in an airtight container and should keep for up to a week.

For more cosy Autumn bakes, why not try Easy Gingerbread Muffins Recipe, Apple and Parsnip Cake or Spiced Pumpkin Muffins Recipe?