Shoo-fly Pie - biscuits and such
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Shoo-fly Pie

Dan’s birthday dessert request this year was shockingly not a cake (his birthday is the one day a year where I happily make a cake), but instead one of his favorite childhood desserts- a shoo-fly pie. I’d never had the pleasure of trying a shoo-fly pie before, so I was excited (and a bit nervous) to take on the challenge!

shoofly pie 3

Shoo-fly pie is a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch recipe, and it combines a rich chess-like molasses base with a butter and brown sugar crumb topping. I used black strap molasses which gave the pie an incredible dark color and an anise flavor and served each slice with a heaping dollop of freshly whipped cream. Dan gave it his personal thumbs up and said it tasted like home, which makes this a birthday dessert success story!

shoofly pie 2

 

Shoo-fly Pie

 

crust:

2 1/2 cups flour

2 sticks cold butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup cold water

1 egg

 

filling:

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup boiling water

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup black strap molasses

 

topping:

1 cup flour

1 stick salted butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 pinch of cinnamon

 

whipped cream:

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

 

In a food processor* combine flour, butter, sugar, and salt. Pulse until texture resembles cornmeal. Add in water, a few tablespoons at a time. Pulse until a dough ball forms, adding more water as needed. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

 

Pour your boiling water over baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Pour molasses into the water and whisk together. Add in egg and vanilla. Set aside. Heat oven to 375F.

 

In your food processor* combine flour, salted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Pulse until just combined. Mix 1/3 of the topping into the molasses filling.

 

Roll the pie dough out and transfer into pie dish. Pour molasses filling into the dish and top with remaining brown sugar crumble. Brush the crust with whisked egg. Bake for 40 minutes until crust is golden brown and the filling has mostly set (it’s okay if the center jiggles a bit). Cool completely before serving.

 

Combine whipping cream, sugar, and extract in a bowl. Whip until stiff and serve with room temperature pie. We recommend an as-much-whipped-cream-as-pie approach.

 

*it is completely acceptable and, depending on your state of mind, preferable to do this by hand. I find it to be incredibly relaxing to cut butter in with my fingers.

 

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9 Comments

  • Mischa @ Accidental Farm Wife

    27.01.2015 at 11:52 Reply

    The pie looks fabulous! I never think to make shoo-fly pie. My husband’s family is a pie family, so will have to make this for them.

  • Joanie @ ZagLeft

    27.01.2015 at 13:38 Reply

    I don’t think I’ve ever tried shoo-fly pie but have certainly heard of it. I bet it’s delicious. I’ll definitely have to try this recipe.

  • Heather

    27.01.2015 at 15:58 Reply

    ive never tried shoo fly pie, but it sounds delicious

  • Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire

    27.01.2015 at 16:19 Reply

    ive heard of shoo fly pie before but never tried it. Nor did I know what was in it. It’s definitely a different kind of pie and I’d be intrigued to try it!!

  • Susan@LunaCafe

    27.01.2015 at 17:40 Reply

    I’m so jazzed. I’ve always wanted to make a Shoofly Pie but just haven’t gotten around to it. Now I have no excuse. :-)

  • Catherine

    27.01.2015 at 18:24 Reply

    Happy Birthday to Dan. I am happy the pie was a success. I bet it was delicious!!

  • Heather at Basilmomma

    27.01.2015 at 18:25 Reply

    I recently had Shoofly pie in Northern Indiana Amish country! I forgot what a big deal this pie is in their culture. Tasty too :)

  • Pamela Thomas

    16.02.2017 at 18:56 Reply

    My grandma, an old German Baptist, from Goshen Indiana always made this pie for me whenever I visited from Michigan. I never liked molasses before but in this pie it’s heavenly. DasEssean House Inn in Middlebery IN, can’t keep enough in their bakery. Give it a try and you’ll be a fan forever.

  • Audrey J Chinn

    16.09.2018 at 17:26 Reply

    Shoofly and sweet potato pie are favorites in my family!

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