A picnic must always have something sweet to round it off; a jam tart or two, some chocolate biscuits or even a slice of cake. This being an autumn picnic meant that the sweet must have a seasonal feel. Pears were an obvious choice but you can’t finish a picnic with just a pear that would be akin to having a carrot instead of a birthday cake. No, these pears needed some warmth and caramelised pears seemed just the ticket.
Parkin is a traditional cake eaten on Bonfire Night so I made some a few days before the picnic as I had heard it is a cake better left before eating. This would be the perfect accompaniment to the warm gooey pears.
You will need:
4 pears, quartered pips removed
125g butter
4-5 tbsp dark soft sugar
For the Parkin:
120g butter
100g black treacle
50g golden syrup
100ml milk
120g dark soft sugar
200g self raising flour
150g oatmeal
1 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp each ground cinnamon and nutmeg
2 eggs
A few days before picnic day make the Parkin. In a saucepan melt together the butter, treacle, syrup, milk and sugar until combined. Remove from the heat and stir in the flour, oatmeal and spices and then mix in the eggs. Pour the mixture into a greased and lined 21cm square cake tin and bake at 170C for an hour or until the cake is cooked. A fantastically simple cake which makes the house smell like a spice shop.
When it comes to picnic time, use the same pan that you used for the cider and melt the butter in the pan. When the butter is frothy add the sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add the pears and allow them to soften for five minutes or so. You don’t have much control over the temperature on the BBQ so it’s best to watch the pan or it may catch. When the pears are ready put them onto a plate and crumble the Parkin over the top. A brilliant end to the picnic if I do say so myself. The pears are sticky and warm and the spicy, dark, soft cake pairs extremely well with the buttery caramel.
Having a picnic in the autumn was a great experience and is something I hope to do again; I’d make sure that there were inexhaustible supplies of tea next time. It was a little cold and the wind was whipping around us but we all had fun and some great food. If you thought the season for outdoor eating was over, think again.
I must say this is delicious and very tempting. I love what you have done here! All new to me. Thank you!
That’s new to me but it looks awesome!
I’ve loved these posts. Really inspiring, the pear and parkin combo is perfect
Mmmm. Funnily enough, I was thinking about making a parkin ‘cos we had a lovely one at Medlar in London. This’ll do! Thanks.
Love the idea of a cold weather picnic. The challenge this year seems to be finding cold and dry weather though!
looks divine! i only posted a pear recipe tonight too. LOVE pear x
FABULOUS! And do you know what? I MUCH prefer a winter picnic to a summer one, with flasks of soup or hot chocolate and hearty treats – this is a LOVELY recipe, just the sort of picnic food I love! Karen
Delicious! Great idea of crumbling the parkin over the pears, gives it a real dessert-y feel!
This looks delicious!! Cake with pears..count me in!
first time I am hearing of parkin but not the last
Delicious!
Cheers
CCU
I sure would love to have some of that pear with the sticky syrup over it…. looks so divine!
I’ve never heard of parkin before but thanks for the post so I now know what it is! We love pears and this sounds like a very nice dish! I haven’t gone to picnic for a long time, but autumn or spring picnic is so beautiful and I love it!
A carrot instead of a birthday cake indeed! Beautiful way to finish off the picnic series. Comfort and smiles all the way
oooh I do love a the spices in the parkin, they must go so well together with pear.
i just loved the dishes you brought for your autumn picnic, everything is so delicious and perfectly seasonal!
Interesting recipe with pear…first time that I heard of parkin…
Looks good…thanks for teaching me a new item and hope you are having a great week
This is new to me, but the Parkin looks perfect for the picnic! Always great to learn new things from your posts!
I agree a Picnic should always end with a good sweet thing! I did not know that Parkin is a traditional cake eaten on Bonfire Night.
Another wonderful seasonal dessert with parkin. Never heard of it before but by reading the ingredients , it sounds delicious & full with spices! A must try recipe for me. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely picnic you are having there. I love your picnic basket…
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Thanks,
Sarah
Okay, this is totally new to me but I’d go on a picnic with you ANYTIME! This looks lovely and invites me to take a bite.