Recent in Recipes

North Carolina Sonker Is the Dessert Recipe You Haven’t Tried Yet

Sonker is North Carolina’s most popular dessert that most people have never even heard of, let alone baked at home. It was invented to feed a hungry crowd, and a wide variety of sonker recipes are handed down from generation to generation in Surry County, North Carolina. The bakeries, diners and home cooks there use the best fruit from each season to bake sonkers throughout the year.

To taste the real deal, stop at several local spots on the Surry Sonker Trail and experience the many flavors of the Carolina sonker for yourself. No road trip in your future? Make this blueberry sonker recipe at home and you’re an hour away from blueberry heaven!

What Is Sonker?

Unlike fruit cobblers that have batter spooned in dollops over the filling, sonker recipes have a thick pancake-like batter poured over a hot, baked fruit base.

The heat from the fruit filling cooks the topping from below while the oven provides a gorgeous golden brown crunch on the top. The final result is a cross between a cake and a biscuit. Rumor has it that the name “sonker” comes from a Scottish word that means “saddle” and refers to how the smooth topping sits like a saddle over the baked fruit filling below.

Bakers from Surry County originally turned to these deep-dish fruit desserts to feed hungry farmhands because they were less fussy to make than pies and could be scaled up to serve a crowd. You can find sonker recipes made with apples, peaches, cherries and even sweet potatoes coming out of Southern ovens all year!

Learn more about the difference between cobblers, crisps, and crumbles.

North Carolina Sonker Recipe

This blueberry sonker recipe is inspired by the best sonkers on the Surry Sonker Trail. It makes 6 generous portions and is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Blueberry sonker dessert ingredients

Ingredients

For the filling:

  • 6 cups (3 pints) fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch

For the topping:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the filling

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a large mixing bowl, add the blueberries, sugar and salt. Give the berries a gentle stir to combine them evenly. If using frozen berries, there is no need to thaw them first, unless they’re all stuck together.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the water and cornstarch with a fork. Pour the mixture into the bowl of blueberries and gently toss to coat.

Step 2: Bake the filling

Pour the blueberry filling into a deep 8-inch square baking dish. Place the dish on a baking sheet lined with parchment to prevent the bubbling filling from creating a sticky oven spill.

Bake for 15 minutes for fresh berries and 30 minutes for frozen berries. Use a spatula to stir the filling, making sure to scrape the bottom of the dish. The cornstarch will begin to cling and you’ll want to combine it with the blueberries at the top of the mixture.

Smooth the filling back out into an even layer and bake for an additional 15 minutes for fresh berries and an additional 30 minutes for frozen berries. The filling should be hot and bubbling.

Step 3: Prepare the topping

While the blueberry filling is in the oven, prepare the sonker topping.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

Add the milk, melted butter and vanilla and whisk together until smooth. The mixture will look like thick pancake batter.

Step 4: Assemble the sonker

Blueberry sonker dessert instructions

When the blueberry filling has finished its first bake, the fruit mixture should be hot and thick. Pour the sonker topping over the filling, starting at one corner and moving evenly over the surface. The batter will settle into place; there shouldn’t be any need to smooth it with your spatula. Be sure to scrape all the batter out of the bowl onto the filling.

Step 5: Bake for the last time

Blueberry sonker dessert

Bake the blueberry sonker for an additional 35-40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean when pricked in the center of the topping. You may wish to rotate the pan in the oven halfway through baking so that the top is evenly browned.

The sonker is best the day it’s baked. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!

Blueberry Sonker Recipe Variations

Want to take your sonker up another notch? Try one of these fun variations.

  • Add a dash of almond extract to the fruit filling before you bake it.
  • Sprinkle in a few blackberries and raspberries for a triple berry sonker.
  • Sprinkle a tablespoon of cinnamon sugar over the batter before baking for a sparkling crust.
  • Serve with peach-flavored ice cream for an extra fruity treat.
Vintage Crisps, Cobblers and Buckles
1 / 57
Hamsher, Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Exps Cmbzz17 38023 D11 29 4b 2

Fresh Plum Crumb Dessert

My old-fashioned dessert has the perfect sweet-tart balance with its fresh-plum tang and sweet, crispy topping. Imagine it warm from the oven, served with a scoop of ice cream…yum! —Janet Fahrenbruck-Lynch, Cincinnati, Ohio
Exps Cmbzz17 27862 D11 29 1b 5

Blueberry Buckle with Lemon Sauce

This recipe is a family favorite, served warm as dessert, plain or with a scoop of ice cream. My family also likes it cold as a coffee cake. But the lemon sauce topping makes this traditional dessert a little different, enhancing the flavor of the blueberries. —Maureen Carr, Carman, Manitoba  
Ginger Mango Grunt Exps Cimz17 45026 B07 18 1b

Ginger Mango Grunt

These tender dumplings in a chunky fruit sauce are loaded with vitamins C and A, helpful in nourishing and protecting skin. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, CA
Summer Blackberry Cobbler Exps159520 Thhc2377563b05 04 6bc Rms 2

Summer Blackberry Cobbler

My husband is from Alabama, so I like to treat him to classic Southern desserts. This cobbler is a must-have for us in the summer. —Kimberly Danek Pinkson, San Anselmo, California
Lemon Berry Dump Cake Exps Sdfm17 199963 B09 30 2b 3

Lemon Berry Dump Cake

This sweet-tart cake recipe is so much fun to make with my grandkids. They love just "dumping it all in" and watching it magically become a pretty, delicious dessert. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Tropical Cranberry Cobbler

Tropical Cranberry Cobbler

The sunny island flavors of pineapple and orange go so well with the tart cranberries in this Hawaiian-inspired dessert. A scoop of vanilla ice cream makes it a creamy treat. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Chocolate Covered Cherry Dump Cake Exps Sdfm17 200180 B09 30 9b 4

Chocolate-Covered-Cherry Dump Cake

My mother-in-law loves chocolate-covered cherries, and I used to make this chocolate cherry dump cake every year for her birthday. Now we've moved away, but I make this for my kids on her birthday and they still feel near her. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas    
Peach Rhubarb Crisp Exps31928 Th950745a12 06 5b Rms

Peach Rhubarb Crisp

When a visit to the local farmers market left me with an abundance of quickly ripening peaches and a few stalks of rhubarb, I created this sweet-tart recipe. —Sandy Kimble, Salinas, California
Exps Cmbz17 27855 D11 30 5b 2

Rhubarb Mallow Cobbler

My mom used to make this cobbler every year when I was growing up. Now we take fresh rhubarb to my son in Texas so he can share this recipe with his family. —Judy Kay Warwick, Webster City, Iowa
Exps28963 Hb143427b07 18 1b

Cranberry-Pear Apple Crisp

With its crunchy golden topping and flavorful blend of tart cranberries and sweet apples and pears, this dessert makes a refreshing finish to heavy winter meals. —Lois Gelzer, Standish, Maine
Minister's Delight

Minister's Delight

A friend gave me this recipe several years ago. She said a local minister's wife fixed it every Sunday, so she named it accordingly —Mary Ann Potter, Blue Springs, Missouri
Apricot Crisp Exps19135 Sd2232457b08 25 1bc Rms 5

Apricot Crisp

During the week, homemade fruit crisp is a treat you likely don't have time to prepare. But these individual crisps call for canned fruit and bake for a mere 15 minutes.
Exps22394 Cw163681d12 09 3b 3

Rhubarb Strawberry Cobbler

Mom's yummy cobbler is a truly wonderful finale to any meal. This family favorite is sweet and tart, chock-full of berries and rhubarb, and the thick crust is so easy to make. —Susan Emery, Everett, Washington  
Cherry-Blackberry Crisp

Cherry-Blackberry Crisp

I've used mulberries instead of blackberries in this old family recipe. Whichever you choose, it's a mouthwatering treat. —Wanda Allensworth, Webster City, Iowa
Exps178025 Tohca153054b11 25 1b 1

Sweet Potato, Pear, and Fig Crisp

My unusual fruit crisp celebrates the flavors of the holidays. Offer it as a side, or add ice cream to make it a standout dessert. —Deanna McDonald, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Apple-Pecan Gingerbread Cobbler

Apple-Pecan Gingerbread Cobbler

My favorite cobbler recipe is a scrumptious blend of gingerbread and apples. It’s easy to make and perfect when topped with ice cream. —Lois Hendrix, Redondo Beach, California
Cookie Swirl Cobbler Exps Thfm17 198745 C09 23 5b 6

Cookie Swirl Cobbler

An extra-rich chocolate chip cookie dough and crescent roll topping provide a tasty twist on a classic cherry cobbler. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. —Jeanne Holt, St. Paul, Minnesota
Apple Snickerdoodle Dump Cake

Apple Snickerdoodle Dump Cake

With an apple farm just down the road, I'm always looking for creative ways to use up those bushels. We love this cozy cake with caramel drizzle and a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. —Rachel Garcia, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Exps Cmbz17 10153 B11 30 2b

Macaroon Apple Cobbler

Especially when I'm just serving a dessert, I like to prepare this. I'll usually make it with fresh apples, but I've also sometimes used home-canned ones. —Phyllis Hinck, Lake City, Minnesota
Exps37474 Gi163846a12 16 1b 1

Grilled Peach Sundaes

These peaches with a hint of grill flavor are sweet and juicy. We serve them in a waffle bowl with ice cream. That’s jackpot at our house. —Nancy Dentler, Greensboro, North Carolina
Favorite Blackberry Cobbler Exps49404 Th1789929 D81d 2

Favorite Blackberry Cobbler

We grow blackberries on our farm that our family enjoys in pies, jams, jellies and cobblers. I love to pull them out of the freezer in January and make this recipe for blackberry cobbler to enjoy summer's sweetness. —Lori Daniels, Beverly, West Virginia
Exps 43381 Sd1440074d35c Rms 4

Berry Delicious Rhubarb Crisp

What a perfect springtime dessert! It's filled with color and fresh fruit flavor the whole family will savor. I sometimes grate about a tablespoonful of fresh orange or lemon zest and add it to the crumb mixture for extra flavor. —Sharon Hadinger, Dublin, Ohio
Peach Rhubarb Crisp Exps31928 Th950745a12 06 5b Rms

Peach Rhubarb Crisp

When a visit to the local farmers market left me with an abundance of quickly ripening peaches and a few stalks of rhubarb, I created this sweet-tart recipe. —Sandy Kimble, Salinas, California
Slow Cooked Blueberry Grunt Exps Jmz18 72454 C03 08 8b 2

Slow-Cooked Blueberry Grunt

If you love blueberries, then you can't go wrong with this easy dessert. For a special treat, serve it warm with vanilla ice cream. —Cleo Gonske, Redding, California
Ginger Apple-Pear Crisp

Ginger Apple-Pear Crisp

Enjoy autumn aromas—apples, cinnamon and spices—in this delicious recipe. It's even better with a scoop of vanilla or pumpkin ice cream! Whipped cream is always an option. —Holly Battiste, Barrington, New Jersey
Slow-Cooker Peach Crumble

Slow-Cooker Peach Crumble

I look forward to going on our beach vacation every year, but I don't always relish the time spent cooking for everybody. This slow-cooker dessert (or breakfast!) gives me more time to lie in the sun and enjoy the waves. Melty ice cream is a must. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
Apple Cornbread Crisp

Apple Cornbread Crisp

With its hearty ingredients and quick prep time, this warm apple crisp makes a smart dessert for any fall night. It reminds me of the recipe my grandmother would serve after our big family seafood dinners. It's absolutely wonderful topped with ice cream. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland    
Slow Cooker Berry Cobbler Exps Hrbz16 18544 D09 07 3b 5

Slow-Cooker Berry Cobbler

I adapted my mom's yummy cobbler recipe for slow cooking. With the hot summers here in Arizona, we can still enjoy this comforting dessert, and I don't have to turn on the oven. —Karen Jarocki, Yuma, Arizona
Rhubarb Mandarin Crisp

Rhubarb Mandarin Crisp

An attractive dessert, this crisp is also a popular breakfast dish at our house, served with a glass of milk rather than topped with ice cream. Because it calls for lots of rhubarb, it's a great use for the bounty you harvest. —Rachael Vandendool, Barry's Bay, Ontario
Exps27844 Fb143426d05 08 6b

Spiced Fruit Crisp

When it comes to a heartwarming treat on a chilly winter's day, this home-style crisp is hard to beat. The gingersnap-crumb topping nicely accents the apples, pears, raisins and dates. —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas    

The post North Carolina Sonker Is the Dessert Recipe You Haven’t Tried Yet appeared first on Taste of Home.



source https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/north-carolina-sonker-recipe/

Subscribe to receive free email updates:

0 Response to "North Carolina Sonker Is the Dessert Recipe You Haven’t Tried Yet"

Post a Comment