These aren’t just any muffins – they’re oaty, spiced treacle muffins with an incredible cinnamon black treacle frosting!

They’re made oats, mixed spice and treacle to give a dense and intensely delicious parkin-like sponge.
They’re topped with a cinnamon and black treacle frosting that is so good, you’ll be licking the spoon and then going back for more.
Here’s how to make them.
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 200g salted butter
- 140g golden syrup
- 140g black treacle (or molasses)
- 90g dark brown sugar
- 275g self-raising flour
- 75g oats
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 medium egg
For the topping
- 500g icing sugar
- 100g cream cheese
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp black treacle (or molasses)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 160C (140C fan). Mix the sugar, butter, golden syrup and black treacle in a pan over a medium heat until melted. Set aside to cool.


Place the flour, oats, ginger and mixed spice in a large bowl and mix.


Pour in the cooled syrup mixture and stir.


Add the milk and beaten egg and mix until you have a thick batter.


Pour the mixture into a well-greased 12 hole muffin tray.

Bake for 30 minutes until gently risen and firm on top.

When cool enough to remove from their tin, transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

While they cool, make the frosting. In a bowl, whisk the cream cheese, cinnamon, treacle and 300g of the icing sugar together until smooth.


Add the remaining icing sugar and beat again to give a thick frosting.

Use a spoon or piping bag to spread the frosting on top of each muffin, then sprinkle with your chosen topping – I used fudge pieces and a little grated dark chocolate.

Store any leftover cakes in an airtight tin to keep them fresh. They’re so like parkin-cake, I think that they’re PERFECT for bonfire night in the UK. Why not pair them with my chocolate marshmallow fireworks?
If you’d like to print this recipe to try later, just hit PRINT on the recipe card below.
Oaty spiced treacle muffins with cinnamon black treacle frosting
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 200 g (7.1 oz) salted butter
- 140 g (4.9 oz) golden syrup
- 140 g (4.9 oz) black treacle or molasses
- 90 g (3.2 oz) dark brown sugar
- 275 g (9.7 oz) self-raising flour
- 75 g (2.6 oz) oats
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 medium egg
For the topping
- 500 g (1.1 lb) icing sugar
- 100 g (3.5 oz) cream cheese
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp black treacle or molasses
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160C (140C fan). Mix the sugar, butter, golden syrup and black treacle in a pan over a medium heat until melted. Set aside to cool.
- Place the flour, oats, ginger and mixed spice in a large bowl and mix.
- Pour in the cooled syrup mixture and stir.
- Add the milk and beaten egg and mix until you have a thick batter.
- Pour the mixture into a well-greased 12 hole muffin tray.
- Bake for 30 minutes until gently risen and firm on top.
- When cool enough to remove from their tin, transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
- While they cool, make the frosting. In a bowl, whisk the cream cheese, cinnamon, treacle and 300g of the icing sugar together until smooth.
- Add the remaining icing sugar and beat again to give a thick frosting.
- Use a spoon or piping bag to spread the frosting on top of each muffin, then sprinkle with your chosen topping – I used fudge pieces and a little grated dark chocolate.
- Store any leftover cakes in an airtight tin to keep them fresh.
Video
Nutrition
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Tony says
I made these and it’s an excellent recipe – I like black treacle so these are right up my street – they came out brilliantly.
Meagan says
Oh my goodness these look absolutely delicious!! I can’t wait to make them now!
Emily Leary says
Thank you Meagan! These Oaty Spiced Treacle Muffins are so tasty. I’d love to hear what you think if you give them a go :) Enjoy!
Norafiqin says
I love anything with cinnamon and cannot wait to try this recipe!! With the hols coming up, this gives an additional twist to my usual repertoire.
Emily Leary says
Thank you! I’m so pleased that you like this recipe and I’d love to hear how it goes :)
Shannon Gurnee says
These look and sound like some delicious muffins. I would love trying to make this sometime.
Emily Leary says
Thank you! These muffins are super tasty :) I hope you enjoy them if you give them a go!