Parkin is the spiced cake traditionally associated with Bonfire Night in northern England.
Parkin is a moist cake made chiefly with oatmeal and black treacle or molasses, usually flavored with ginger. It is strongly associated with Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it is commonly eaten around 5 November alongside other seasonal treats.
The cake’s ingredients reflect northern English baking traditions. Oats were widely available, while treacle supplied sweetness and a deep color. Recipes differ between regions and households, so texture can range from relatively soft and sticky to firmer and more crumbly.
Parkin is often confused with other British cakes served at autumn celebrations. It is not the same as gingerbread, although both may contain ginger, and its oatmeal-and-treacle combination gives it a distinctive identity. Bonfire Night foods also include baked potatoes, sausages, and toffee apples, but parkin is the classic northern cake.