The Sweet & Gooey Homemade Shoofly Pie Recipe Everyone Loves

Baking a classic shoofly pie brings memories of lazy afternoons in Pennsylvania Dutch country.

Sweet molasses whispers stories of traditional kitchens where simple ingredients became magical desserts.

Generations have cherished this rich, crumbly treat with its distinctive layers of flavor.

Sticky molasses mingles with a tender, cake-like bottom that melts in your mouth.

Humble ingredients transform into something extraordinary with just a few careful steps.

Warm spices dance through each slice, creating a comforting experience that connects you to culinary heritage.

Prepare to fall in love with a pie that celebrates the pure joy of homestyle baking.

Shoofly Pie to Sweeten Your Day

• Craft Comfort Dessert: Dive into a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch pie that wraps you in warmth and nostalgia, perfect for satisfying sweet cravings with minimal kitchen effort.
• Minimal Ingredient Magic: Create a stunning dessert using simple pantry staples like molasses, flour, and brown sugar, making this recipe budget-friendly and accessible for bakers of all skill levels.
• Layer-Rich Texture Adventure: Experience a delightful contrast between the silky smooth molasses filling and the crumbly, crunchy topping that adds exciting depth to every single bite.
• Quick Family Pleaser: Prepare a crowd-pleasing dessert that comes together quickly, requires basic baking skills, and promises to be a guaranteed hit at family gatherings or potluck events.

Ingredients for Shoofly Pie

• Pie Crust: A buttery base that provides a delicate foundation for the classic Pennsylvania Dutch dessert.

• Flour, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon: A sweet and spicy mixture that creates a crumbly, textured top layer for the pie.
• Cold Butter: Helps create a flaky, rich crumb topping with a delightful melt-in-your-mouth texture.

• Molasses: A deep, rich syrup that gives the pie its signature dark color and robust flavor.
• Hot Water: Helps dissolve and blend the molasses, creating a smooth filling base.
• Baking Soda: Provides chemical leavening and helps balance the intense molasses flavor.
• Egg: Binds the filling together and adds richness to the pie's texture.

How to Bake Shoofly Pie

Step 1: Prepare the Pie Crust

Warm up your oven to a toasty 375F (190C). Gently roll out the pie dough and nestle it into a 9-inch pie pan.

Use your fingers to create a beautiful crimped edge that gives the pie a homemade touch.

Step 2: Mix the Crumbly Topping

• Flour
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon

Use your fingertips or a pastry cutter to work the cold butter into the dry ingredients.

Keep mixing until the mixture looks like chunky, coarse breadcrumbs. Set this delightful topping aside.

Step 3: Craft the Molasses Magic

In a separate bowl, whisk together molasses and steaming hot water. Sprinkle in the baking soda and give it a good stir.

Fold in the beaten egg until the mixture becomes silky smooth.

Step 4: Bring the Pie Together

Pour the rich molasses mixture into your waiting pie crust.

Shower the crumbly topping evenly across the surface, making sure every inch gets some love.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the pie into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes.

You’ll know it’s ready when the filling sets and the top turns a gorgeous golden brown. Let the pie cool completely before slicing into this Pennsylvania Dutch classic.

Tips for Moist Shoofly Pie

• Blind bake the pie crust for 10 minutes before adding the filling to ensure a crisp bottom layer.
• Use robust or blackstrap molasses for a deeper, richer flavor that enhances the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch taste.
• Freeze butter before cutting into the dry ingredients for a more defined, crumbly texture that doesn't melt too quickly.
• Allow the pie to cool completely to help the filling set properly and develop a more stable consistency.
• Pair with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream to balance the intense molasses flavor and add a creamy contrast.

Variations on Shoofly Pie

• Pennsylvania Dutch Chocolate Shoofly: Enhance the traditional recipe by adding cocoa powder to the crumb topping and mixing dark chocolate chips into the molasses filling for a rich, decadent version.
• Nutty Maple Shoofly: Replace molasses with pure maple syrup and incorporate chopped pecans or walnuts into the crumb layer for a crunchy, aromatic variation.
• Spiced Pumpkin Shoofly: Blend pumpkin puree into the molasses filling and add pumpkin pie spice to the crumb topping, creating a seasonal autumn-inspired pie.
• Coffee-Infused Shoofly: Mix strong brewed coffee into the molasses liquid and sprinkle espresso powder in the crumb topping for a bold, robust flavor profile.

Pairings to Enjoy with Shoofly Pie

• Pair Robust Coffee with Bold Flavor: Rich, dark roast coffee complements the deep molasses notes, cutting through the sweetness and enhancing the pie's complex taste profile.
• Match Vanilla Ice Cream for Contrast: Creamy, cold vanilla ice cream provides a smooth counterpoint to the pie's intense, spicy crumb topping, creating a delightful temperature and texture balance.
• Serve Caramel Bourbon Sauce on Side: Drizzle a small amount of caramel bourbon sauce to amplify the molasses undertones, adding an extra layer of warmth and sophistication to each bite.
• Select Cream Liqueur as Dessert Drink: Irish cream or similar cream-based liqueurs offer a silky, sweet companion that echoes the pie's rich, indulgent character without overwhelming its distinctive flavor.

Storage Tips for Shoofly Pie

• Store cooled shoofly pie in an airtight container or wrapped tightly with plastic wrap for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Keep away from strong-smelling foods to preserve its delicate flavor.
• Wrap the entire pie or individual slices in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Warm refrigerated pie at 325F for 10-15 minutes. Cover edges with foil to prevent over-browning. Restore the crisp crumb topping and warm filling without drying out the crust.

FAQs

• What is the origin of Shoofly Pie?

This traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dessert originated in the early 1800s among Amish and Mennonite communities in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, using simple pantry ingredients during times when fresh fruit was scarce.

• Why is it called Shoofly Pie?

The pie got its name from the tendency of flies being attracted to the sweet molasses during the baking process, so bakers would have to “shoo” the flies away while the pie cooled.

• What does Shoofly Pie taste like?

It has a rich, deep molasses flavor with a sweet, cake-like bottom layer and a crumbly, brown sugar topping that creates a delightful contrast in textures.