Guy Fawkes Day Cake (Parkin)

This desert is from North England, and it's really known as Parkin. It's a mildly sweet oat cake, and gods be praised it's the official dessert of Guy Fawkes Day, so I make it every November. It's really easy, and a wonderful little treat for fall.

If you can find Dark Treacle because you live in the U.K. or have a greater import section at your local market than I, go ahead and use 2/3 cup of that lovely elusive syrup. However, the rest of us will have to make due with mollasses and maple syrup.

This recipe is based on Joy of Cooking "Guy Fawkes Day Cake"

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Butter
• 1/3 c. Maple Syrup
• 1/3 c. Mollasses
• 2/3 c. Rolled Oats
• 1 c. All Purpose Flour
• 1 Tbs. Sugar
• 1/2 tsp. Ginger
• 1/4 tsp. Cloves
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
• 1 tsp. grated Lemon Rind or Candied Lemon Rind
• 2/3 c. Milk

Preheat oven to 350 F and grease one 8"x 8" pan

In a microwavable bowl or double boiler combine the butter, maple syrup, and mollasses. Heat gently until the butter has just melted, and stir well.

In a medium size bowl combine the rolled oats, flour, sugar, ginger, cloves, salt, baking soda, and lemon rind. Stir until combined.

Pour the warmed syrups into the flour and oats, followed by the milk. Stir until combined, the batter will be extremely thin. Pour into greased 8 x 8 pan and bake for 35 minutes, or until the cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan.

Let cool 10 minutes before turning out of pan to cool almost completely. This cake is typically cut in squares and served on a plate, like blondies. Consider enjoying them with whipped cream.