Pontefract Cakes

Pontefract Cakes: Soft Liquorice with Centuries of Yorkshire Character

Few additions bring more history to Pick and Mix Sweets than Pontefract Cakes. These soft, dark liquorice discs combine the deep sweetness of treacle with rich liquorice extract, creating a smooth, satisfyingly chewy sweet with an unmistakably traditional flavour.

Despite the name, there is no sponge, icing or anxious discussion about whether they have risen properly. A Pontefract Cake is compact, glossy and stamped with its distinctive emblem—a small piece of confectionery whose character is far greater than its dimensions.

Born in the Home of British Liquorice

Liquorice was cultivated around Pontefract from the sixteenth century, thriving in the deep local soil. In the 1760s, Pontefract apothecary George Dunhill was credited with adding sugar to liquorice and turning it from a traditional preparation into an enduring sweet. More than 250 years later, the result remains one of Yorkshire’s most recognisable contributions to confectionery.

A Richer Choice for Liquorice Lovers

Pontefract Cakes offer a softer, more rounded experience than firm liquorice sticks. Their gentle chew allows the treacle and liquorice flavours to develop gradually, bringing depth to retro hampers, traditional sweet jars and mixed selections. These are Sweets for people who appreciate bold flavour, proper texture and a story worth telling.

Browse our Online Sweet Shop for liquorice sweets, British classics and nostalgic confectionery selected for authentic flavour, dependable quality and lasting enjoyment.

For rich treacle sweetness, soft liquorice texture and more than two centuries of Yorkshire heritage, add Pontefract Cakes to your favourite Pick and Mix Sweets.