Shoo Fly Pie

Shoo Fly Pie

Shoo Fly Pie


The most famous of all Pennsylvania Dutch pies is the Shoo-fly Pie... a half-cake, half-pie creation. It's so-named because in years past, when pies were placed on window-sills to cool, housewives constantly had to 'shoo' away flies from their sweet and sticky pies. There are two kind of Shoo-fly pies... Plain Shoo-fly Pie and "Wet-Bottom" Shoo-fly Pie, by far the most popular kind. This recipe is for the gooey, wet-bottom version.

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1-1/2 T. vegetable shortening (such as Crisco®)
  • 3/4 cup dark brown sugar - firmly packed
  • 1 cup molasses or dark Karo syrup
  • 1 egg - slightly beaten
  • 3/4 cup hot water
  • 1 tsp. baking soda, dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water (in addition to the 3/4 cup water)

    Preparation -
    Mix the flour, sugar and shortening together until crumbly. Measure 1/2 cup of this mixture and set it aside. (This will be used for the crumb topping.) Add the molasses, egg and baking soda/hot water mixture to the remaining flour mixture. Pour the batter into an unbaked deep dish 9" inch pie shell. Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup of crumbs over top. Bake in a preheated oven at 400º for 5 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350º and bake for 30 more minutes. As the shoo-fly pie bakes, a gooey wet bottom will form in the pie crust, below the molasses crumb cake.


  • For more about Pa. Dutch Pies see -
    A Sampling of Pennsylvania Dutch Pie Recipes








    You Should Also Read:
    The Home Cooking Recipe Index and Site Map
    A Sampling of Pennsylvania Dutch Pie Recipes
    Simple Ingredients, Deliciously Prepared - Pennsylvania Dutch Style

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    This content was written by Sandy Moyer. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Allyson Elizabeth D´Angelo for details.