Soul Cakes Offer Comfort as Halloween Looks Set To Be Toned Down in Pandemic
Published On Tuesday 29 Sep 2020 by Sticky Beak
See Recent News Articles
A family-run bakery is bringing back yet another sweet treat from the dead - after a previously revived product proved extremely popular.
Stacey’s Bakery, which has branches in Ilkeston, Eastwood and Heanor, is launching a ‘soul cake’ in time for Halloween.
Hailed as a classic ‘comfort food’, the baked goods aim to bring a smile to everyone’s faces in difficult times, especially in the colder Autumnal months and when tightened lockdown restrictions loom.
Soul cakes are an old English traditional cake, sometimes known simply as ‘souls’.
The tradition of giving out soul cakes on All Hallows’ Eve dates back to the Middle Ages, when children went door-to-door saying prayers for the dead, and continued into the 1930s.
On All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, children went ‘souling’, asking for soul cakes from house to house, possibly a precursor to trick or treating.
The round cakes are filled with allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger or other sweet spices, raisins or currants, and before baking are topped with the mark of a cross to signify that these were alms, or given as a mark of charity.
The launch of the spooky snack comes four years after Stacey’s brought back ‘Thor’ cakes, which are made with oatmeal, ginger and black treacle and were traditionally baked in Derbyshire communities on November 5.
David Stacey, director of the four-generation bakers, said the Thor cakes’ success had been “incredible”, with 2,500 sold in just one week and “people had gone crazy for them”.
He added that he hoped cake lovers would be getting on board with the soul cakes.
David said: “The soul cakes are something a little bit different.
“What people normally do at Halloween is go and buy a multipack of sweets, but I wouldn’t imagine that trick or treating will be something that many people will be doing this year, given the pandemic.
“Soul cakes are maybe going to be a little something for people to enjoy throughout the week of Halloween and throughout Autumn.
“People are going to be wanting comfort food as the nights get colder and darker, and restrictions mean that we can't get together with larger groups of families and friends.
“The aromatic ingredients - like nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger - lend themselves to providing that warmth that we all crave.”
The soul cakes will be on sale from early October and available throughout Autumn.
To find out more, visit www.staceysbakery.co.uk
| Restaurant revamp brings taste of Spanish sunshine to Mercia Marina A six-figure investment is set to take a much-loved bar and restaurant at Mercia Marina to new heights at one of the Midlands’ most popular tourist and beauty spots. Read The Article | |
| The Peacock At Owler Bar Near Sheffield, To Be Refurbished & Reopened By Longbow Before Christmas Longbow Venues, owned by Peak District hospitality entrepreneur, Rob Hattersley, will be taking on The Peacock at Owler Bar Read The Article | |
| Croots Farm Shop in Derbyshire wins two accolades in the Great British Food Awards The farm shop near Duffield scooped a silver medal for its dirty brisket burger in the burgers category and a bronze medal for its lamb and mint Read The Article | |
| Visitors flock to Derby's Cathedral Quarter Hotel after new owners take over New management at one of Derby’s major hotels has revealed that business is “extremely good” since they bought it in May. Read The Article | |
| All we want for Christmas ... is a curry Diners in Derbyshire are planning on swapping their Christmas turkey for chicken tikka this festive season after a recently refurbished Indian restaurant revealed it is almost fully booked. Read The Article | |
| Derby's newest Indian restaurant thanks the city after a thousand diners flock to try it out Management at Derby's newest Indian restaurant say more than a thousand diners have visited since it opened. Johns Geo and his friends Read The Article | |
| Why this gin-ius metal bottle captures the spirit of upstart Guerrilla Chicken An upstart Derby distiller which sells its vodka and gin in distinctive eco-friendly reusable metal bottles has picked up a host of awards at two prestigious spirit Read The Article | |
| Piccalilli Opens Its Doors in Nottingham A New Neighbourhood Dining Spot Celebrating the Best of British Flavours. Dan Coles, celebrated chef and Nottingham local, has opened the doors to his first solo venture Read The Article | |
| Best Santa In The Peak District Is Flying Back For Afternoon Tea The Maynard and The George Hathersage, both owned by independent hospitality group, Longbow Bars & Restaurants, have announced that Father Christmas will Read The Article | |
| Restaurant At 1650 Set To Relaunch With New Head Chef And 7-Course Tasting Menu Ye Olde Bell's Restaurant 1650 is set to relaunch this October with new Executive Chef, Terry Phillips at the helm. Terry joins the award Read The Article | |