A Viking-inspired treat is back on the shelves of a local bakery, due to popular demand.
Stacey’s Bakery has once again brought its traditional Thor Cake back into circulation – with the four-generation family firm expecting to make its 17,000th sale of the delicacy.
The bakery, which has branches in Ilkeston’s Bath Street and South Street, as well as in Heanor and Eastwood, first brought the sweet treat to Derbyshire food lovers in 2016, after researching how it had become virtually obsolete in the region.
Thor Cake, which was traditionally made on November 5th and helped to bring Derbyshire communities together, is a spicy autumn biscuit with a chewy texture and a gingery kick, made from oatmeal, butter and treacle, with coriander and Demerara sugar.
Traditionally eaten on Bonfire Night, its flavours are similar to those of Yorkshire Parkin, but as a flatter biscuit-style of treat, it is tied to the East Midlands in that local communities would traditionally come together, bringing an ingredient each and baking the cake as a joint effort.
As well as following the custom of recreating the biscuit, Stacey’s has now started its own tradition, firmly establishing the lead-up to November 5 as time for selling Thor Cakes over the past six years.
David Stacey, managing director and great-grandson of the firm’s founder, Guy Stacey, said: “It’s become a bit of a highlight of our baking calendar, as well as something our customers look forward to. It’s really popular – so much so that we sell around 2,500 Thor Cakes each year, and considering they’re only available for a limited six-week period, that’s really something.”
For more information, visit www.staceys-bakery.co.uk