Yorkshire Parkin

Time

4 3 2 1 Early-Mid Stages

Benefits

Participants

One to One or Group Activity

What you need

85g light soft brown sugar
200g golden syrup
85g black treacle
100g medium oatmeal
250g self-raising flour
200g butter (a little extra for greasing)
1 large egg
4 tbsp milk
1tbsp ground ginger
A 9-inch square cake tin and baking paper
Wooden spoon
Bowl
Fork

Intro

This traditional cake from Yorkshire is best eaten on Bonfire Night. But we also think it’s great right through autumn and winter, as its moist texture and spicy gingerbread flavour work like magic against the cold – especially with a nice cuppa.

This traditional cake is full of strong flavours, and the aromas will help to bring back memories during mixing and baking.

This recipe makes 16 squares.

Top tip

Simply labeling the ingredients will really help people at the exploratory stage of their dementia journey.

The Activity

Heat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan or gas mark 3.
Grease the tin, then line with baking paper.
Mix the egg and milk together with a fork.
Pour the syrup, treacle, sugar and butter into a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved.
Remove from the heat and gradually mix in the oatmeal, flour and ginger.
Next, mix in the egg and milk.
Once it’s well mixed, pour the mixture into the tin.
Place in the oven and bake for around 50 minutes to an hour.
The cake should feel firm and a little crusty on top.
Allow the cake to cool in the tin and then wrap up in more baking paper.
The cake can be eaten cool, however, if you wrap it in foil, it will keep for 4 or 5 days and will taste much softer and stickier. Yum!