I Lived In North Carolina More Than 5 Years And I’ve Never Had Sonker

A sweet, iconic food in North Carolina has escaped these lips — which is shocking, because I have tried almost everything that contains sugar. Sonker, a dessert from Surry County, is sort of like a pie and a cobbler all rolled into one. The pastry is so delicious an entire festival has been created in its honor. And what do you know — even a Surry Sonker Trail has been mapped out for folks to easily find this confectionary delight. Let's see what all of the fuss is about.

I come from a long line of bakers who taught me the process of crafting homemade egg noodles, crinkly molasses cookies, and lovely pies.

My sweet momma is pictured here making her mother's pie dough recipe during a recent visit - a treasured memory.

It makes me wonder why the paths of sonker and myself have never crossed.

The idea strikes me as almost impossible that something this buttery, fruity, and sugary has escaped my kitchen table.

What's even more mysterious is the scrumptious treat hasn't been kept locked away in a secret box.

As a matter of fact, seven businesses offer it along the Surry Sonker Trail website.

Anchored Sweet Treats and Savory Eats in Mount Airy is one of the businesses along the trail that creates and sells Sonker.

This unique bakery is located in Mount Airy.

At another stop - The Tilted Ladder in Pilot Mountain - the staff decided to serve the sonker in an elegant glass with milk or ice cream.

And Rockford General Store in Dobson is also on the Sonker map.

As you can see, the staff at this charming place welcomes questions about the enigmatic sonker of which I have a few.

You can even make a stovetop version of the delicious treat, kind of like chicken and dumplings

It seems folks go out of their way to celebrate the buttery-crusted goodness wrapped around a sugary fruit filling.

The Sonker Festival is a Surry County tradition presented each year by the Surry County Historical Society. It is a reminder of how these family recipes have been passed down for generations and are a regional tradition. The 43rd annual event takes place on Oct. 5, 2024 at the Edwards Franklin House.

I guess it's time to taste a bite.

Which flavor do you prefer?

I'm going to try this recipe for the iconic food in North Carolina one of these weekends. Have you ever made sonker? Could you let us know how it turned out in the comments below?

If you're around Mount Airy in September, visit the annual Mayberry Days Festival. And consider showing some state love with a Wear Your Roots tee shirt, sweatshirt, or hat. Use the coupon code NorthCarolina10 for 10 percent off of your purchase.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/north-carolina/mayberry-days-festival-nc/