Lottie Shaw’s award winning Yorkshire Parkin is our signature bake. The recipe for this warming, sticky ginger delicacy has been in Lottie Shaw’s family for over 100 years. It’s perfect served alone or topped with butter alongside a cup of tea. It’s also a lovely, wholesome dessert served warm, with custard. But, when our friends at Shepherd’s Purse suggested that our Yorkshire Parkin pairs perfectly with its blue cheese, it got us thinking about other creative parkin pairings. We gave Emma at Together To Eat the tasty task of choosing some more.

This is what she had to say:

Why does Yorkshire parkin pair so well with cheese?

Parkin served with cheese is an unexpectedly delightful match. Creamy and tangy, cheese cuts through the richness and sweetness of parkin, giving you the perfectly balanced, sweet and savoury bite. I’ve chosen five parkin and cheese pairings that might sound unusual but trust me, they work! Adding fruit gives a third flavour dimension that really tickles the taste buds.

 

Five Yorkshire parkin and cheese serving suggestions

• Where it all started: Simply serve with a slice of deliciously creamy Shepherds Purse Harrogate Blue, or another blue cheese or your choice. In the same way that fruit cake can be served with cheese, particularly in Yorkshire, the balance of textures and flavours, rich and sweet, really works a treat.
  
  
• Cream cheese, sliced banana and a sprinkling of Chia seeds
  As a big banana fan, this is probably my favourite way to eat parkin. The mild, nutty flavour of the seeds compliments the ginger well, whilst the banana adds a lovely, fruity freshness. A scraping of mild cream cheese adds moisture and depth.
  
  
  
  
• Jarlsberg cheese slices and orange marmalade
  Spread the marmalade directly onto the Parkin, then top with the cheese, or add the cheese slices to the Parkin followed by a dollop of marmalade. Regular and bitter marmalades both work well, the sweet orange complimenting the ginger. You could also swap the Jarlsberg for Edam cheese as they both have a mild and slightly nutty flavour.
  
  
  
  
• Cottage cheese topped with thinly sliced pear and sprinkled with pecan nuts
  Cottage cheese is having its moment, so we had to give this one a try! This mildly tangy cheese is a subtle addition of moisture and simple base for the sweet pear and pecans, which I toasted before topping.
  
  
  
  
• Crème fraiche topped with thinly sliced mango and sprinkled with seeds
  The slightly sharp flavour of the crème fraiche balances the sweetness of the Yorkshire Parkin, just as cheese does. If the flavour isn’t for you, cream cheese works just as well. I used pumpkin and sunflower seeds, but most would work, and the final topping of mango adds a glorious taste of summer, perfect for warmer days.
  
  

Find out more about the history of Yorkshire Parkin and do let us know through our Instagram or Facebook page if you try any of these combinations, or want to suggest any of your own.

Lottie Shaw’s offers a wide range of delicious Yorkshire Parkin treats, from the signature Yorkshire Parkin, to biscuits and even chocolate buttons.

Find out more at https://www.lottieshaws.co.uk/bakes/yorkshire-parkin/.