Sonker: A Southern delicacy

Unique to Surry County, N.C., sonker is a dessert similar to a pot pie or a cobbler, made by blending fruit and unshaped dough, often sweetened with sugar or sorghum cane molasses. Crusts can vary from crumble toppings to deep dish to a dumpling biscuit or traditional pie crust. Sonker filling can range from sweet cherries, peaches, and blackberries to savory sweet potatoes. Some bakers also top off their dish with a syrupy dip or icing. When it comes to sonker, pretty much anything goes.

Though the origins of the dessert aren’t documented, most people agree that it came from locals trying to use fruit past its ripeness during hard times.

An entire trail has been dedicated to the beloved dessert.

The Surry Sonker Trail spans a number of different towns all within a 35 minute drive including Dobson, Elkin, Mount Airy, Pilot Mountain and the Village of Rockford. The eight stops along the trail visit two bakeries, a winery, coffee shop, historic general store, restaurant, and an upscale casual steakhouse.

Each year the Surry County Historical Society hosts the Sonker Festival, which is held the first Saturday in October at the Edwards-Franklin House west of Mount Airy.

For more information on the Sonker Trail visit sonkertrail.org.

Stops on the Sonker Trail:

Old North State Winery
308 N. Main Street
Mount Airy, N.C., 27030
(336) 789-9463

Down Home Restaurant
243 N. Main Street
Mount Airy, N.C., 27030
(336) 783-0007

Miss Angel's Heavenly Pies
153 N. Main Street
 Mount Airy, N.C., 27030
(336) 786-1537

The Living Room Coffeehouse & Winebar
215 E. Main Street
Pilot Mountain, N.C., 27041
(336) 444-4359

Rockford General Store
5174 Rockford Road
Dobson, N.C., 27017
(336) 374-5317

Putters Patio & Grill at Shelton Vineyards
134 Twin Oaks Road
Dobson, N.C., 27017
(336) 353-1075

Roxxi & Lulu's Bakery
111 W. Market Street
Elkin, N.C., 28621
(336) 530-4004

Southern On Main
102 East Main Street
Elkin, NC  28621
(336) 258-2144

[ Read more travel features by Amy Trainum on her website SouthernDeparture.com. ]

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