Cake
1 24-ounce bag Midstate Mills Tenda-Bake Maple Burst pancake mix
2½-3 cups buttermilk
¼ cup sifted cocoa
Ham and Redeye Gravy
2 heaping cups Phillips Brothers country ham trimmings
1 cup Larry’s Beans espresso coffee, brewed strong
Frosting
1 cup vegetable shortening
¼ cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon almond extract
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1¼ cups cooked Phillips Brothers country ham trimmings
Redeye Gravy Drizzle
1½ cups sifted powdered sugar
½ cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons Appalachian maple syrup
½ cup redeye gravy
¼ cup Carolina Nut Cracker pecan pieces, toasted and chopped
For the cake: In large bowl, stir together pancake mix, buttermilk and cocoa.
Cook pancakes in skillet according to package directions, making large-size cake layers about 8 inches in diameter. Let cool.
For the ham and redeye gravy: Heat skillet on medium-high heat. Add country ham pieces with about 1 cup water to hot pan, and cook until water evaporates.
Once evaporated, continue cooking ham bits until crispy, about 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove ham with slotted spoon, and set aside.
Add 1 cup strong coffee to ham drippings, and stir with whisk to scrape up any bits to make redeye gravy.
Bring to a boil, and cook several minutes to reduce by half.
Strain through coffee filter to remove dark bits, and cool.
For the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed, cream shortening and butter. Add almond extract.
Gradually mix in sugar, 1 cup at a time, scraping sides and bottom of bowl several times.
Add milk and syrup, and continue to beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
With spatula, fold 1¼ cups country ham bits into frosting.
Spread between pancake layers and on top, letting some drip down sides of cake.
For the drizzle: Put all drizzle ingredients except pecans into a microwave-safe bowl.
Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until blended and pourable.
Cool slightly; drizzle over top of frosted cake.
Scatter toasted pecan pieces and remaining ham on top of cake.
Try the other quintessential North Carolina cakes that appeared originally with this one:
The Krispy Kreme Cake
The Pimento Cheese Cake
The Nabs Cake
The Pepsi ‘N’ Peanuts Cake
To commemorate our 90th anniversary, we’ve compiled a time line that highlights the stories, contributors, and themes that have shaped this magazine — and your view of the Old North State — using nine decades of our own words.
From its northernmost point in Corolla to its southern terminus on Cedar Island, this scenic byway — bound between sound and sea — links the islands and communities of the Outer Banks.
Us? An icon? Well, after 90 years and more than 2,000 issues celebrating North Carolina from mountains to coast, we hope you’ll agree that we’ve earned the title.
After nearly a century — or just a couple of years — these seafood restaurants have become coastal icons, the places we know, love, and return to again and again.
