Viking Delight Expected To Make Bakery History

A Derbyshire bakery has said that it expects to sell its 27,000th limited edition Thor Cake by the end of the year making history for the popular bakehouse.

Back by popular demand, the Viking-inspired treat is only on the shelves at Stacey’s Bakery for a limited period each year. This year, the family-owned firm estimates it will clock up its 27,000th sale, signalling an ‘historic’ milestone for the local traditional bake.

The fourth-generation family firm, 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 5 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 a tradition of its own, firmly establishing the lead-up to November 5 as time for selling Thor Cakes over the past eight years. This year, for the first time, it will continue making the treat in the run up to Christmas.

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 period, that’s really something.”