Yorkshire Parkin Blackberry Trifle Recipes

YORKSHIRE PARKIN & BLACKBERRY TRIFLE

Steps:

• Start by making the parkin. Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Line a 20cm square cake tin with baking parchment and grease well with butter.
• Put the butter and syrup in a small saucepan and heat gently until melted. In a large bowl, tip in the flour, sugar, ginger and bicarbonate of soda, then slowly pour in the butter and syrup, stirring all the time. Add the beaten egg and milk, then mix until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for about 1 hr or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
• Make the compote while the parkin is baking. Put the blackberries in a food processor with the sugar and lemon juice and blitz until smooth. Push the mixture through a sieve into a jug to remove the seeds, then stir in the amaretto. Put in the fridge until needed.
• Next, make the custard. In a large heatproof bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolk, sugar and cornflour until smooth and pale. Put the milk, cream and vanilla seeds into a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring regularly.
• When the milk and cream mixture is hot but not yet boiling, pour a little onto the egg mixture and whisk it in, then pour the lot back into the pan with the rest of the milk and cream. Continue to heat very gently, whisking all the time, until the mixture is glossy and is starting to thicken. Pour the custard through a sieve and cover with cling film to stop a skin forming while it cools.
• Once the parkin is cooked, turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• You can now assemble the trifle - cut the parkin into 16 squares and crumble or slice a few of these to fit the base of a large trifle bowl. Add just less than half of the compote and a few whole blackberries, then pour over half the custard. Give the dish a gentle shake to level the mixture, then repeat the layering process once more, reserving a few cubes of parkin. Pour a spiral of compote over the top of the final layer of custard, then use a skewer to drag spokes out from the centre to create a marbled effect. Scatter over a few whole blackberries, then chill until ready to serve. Just before serving, add the reserved parkin and the crystallised ginger, then dust with icing sugar.

THE PERFECT TRADITIONAL YORKSHIRE PARKIN

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat the oven to 275 F / 140 C / Gas Mark 1. Grease an 8 x 8-inch square cake tin.
• In a large, heavy-based saucepan, melt together the butter, golden syrup, brown sugar, and treacle over a gentle heat. Do not allow the mixture to boil; you simply need to melt them together.
• In a large, spacious baking bowl, stir together the flour, oatmeal, ginger, nutmeg, mixed spice, and baking powder.
• Gradually add the melted butter mixture, stirring to coat all the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
• Gradually beat in the eggs a few tablespoons at a time.
• Add a tablespoon of milk at a time if the mixture feels dry. You are looking for a soft cake batter. Stir well.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and cook for 1 1/2 hours, until firm, set, and a dark golden brown.
• Remove the parkin from the oven and leave to cool in the tin.
• Once cool, slice and store the parkin in an airtight tin for a minimum of three days for the best flavor.
• Serve and enjoy.

YORKSHIRE PARKIN

Steps:

• Generously grease an 8x8 inch baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Place the medium oatmeal in a large bowl along with the flour, spices, salt and baking powder.
• In a medium saucepan add the brown sugar, black treacle, golden syrup, butter and lard (if using). Heat the mixture until the sugar is melted (don't boil it) and remove from the heat. Let it cool for 5 minutes.
• Pour the hot mixture into the dry mixture and stir well to combine. Add the candied ginger, egg and milk and stir well to combine. The batter will be liquid and sticky.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake 70-80 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. The cake should be fairly firm but springy. Let the cake cool in the pan. Invert the cake onto a platter. Peel off the parchment paper. Cut the parkin into squares.Place the squares into an airtight container and let it sit for at least 3 days before eating. This is critical (see blog post).