Amish Shoofly Pie
Authentic,homemade Amish shoofly pie is a rare find. It seems the farther west you go, the less common shoofly pie. I don’t see it often in Indiana Amish settlements and points west, but it is still relatively common in Pennsylvania’s Amish communities. So I pounced when I saw a shoofly pie at a bake sale over the weekend in Pearisburg, Virginia’s Amish settlement. It was a classic “wet bottom” shoo-fly pie. As the name implies the top is firm with a bottom layer of oh-so-good ooey, gooey, molasses filling. And in Pearisburg they make the molasses themselves in their own “sorghum shack.” This is a view of the Amish community from high a hillside. 
See the tall smokestack? That is the sorghum shack. And see the amazing pie below? That’s the shoo-fly pie I bought (half-eaten…SIGH).
Amish shoofly pie
There are different recipes for this classic, in some more midwestern Amish settlements a more “cakey” pie is preferred, in Pennsylvania, you have a preference for classic “wet bottom” versions with the gooey molasses settling to the bottom and a crumb top to the top!
Ready to try shoo-fly pie yourself? Here’s a recipe from the Amish Cook’s Baking Book.
Makes one 9-inch pie
1 9-inch pie crust (homemade or store-bought)
1 cup molasses
2/3 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon baking soda
Topping:
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup shortening, softened
Dash of salt
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, combine the molasses, boiling water, and baking soda. Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shell.
To make the topping: In a large bowl, mix the flour with the sugar, shortening, and salt. Spread this crumb mixture on top of the molasses mixture in the pie shell. Bake until the center of the pie is set, about 45 minutes. Cool on a wire rack or windowsill until the pie is firm, about 45 minutes. Store any leftovers in a sealed cake safe. The pie will keep for about 5 days.
13 Comments
Barbara Thomas
Kevin, my friend, are you still running or cycling in the evening after doing this tour of sweets? I thank you for this recipe, will make for husband.
jodie
what a beautiful picture. I’m going to Va and NC next week. Maybe I can take a side trip to Pearisburg.
Karen Ruppel
I grow up on Shoo – Fly Pie. I make even now that I live in Texas. It’s great with coffee.
Wendy
Quit that. You are so not helping my efforts to lose weight! LOL
Barb Wright
My grandma used to make shoofly pie. As a child I loved it,but now it is to rich for me!! It does look good,tho’.I always wonder,how do you decide which treats to buy Kevin?
Kentuckylady717
The pie looks yummy….Kevin can you tell me what it taste like ? And don’t say Shoo Fly Pie 🙂 as I have no idea what that taste like 🙂 does it taste anything similiar to a pecan pie minus the nuts ????
Kentuckylady717
Oh now I see that Barb Wright said her grandma used to make it so she must have eaten lots of it eh Barb ? Can you kinda tell me what it taste lie ? Before I make one……
And has anyone had CREAMED CELERY ? I know the Amish make it for all their weddings, but just curious as to what it taste like….I would like to make that also…..
Kentuckylady717
Sorry Barb, meant to say taste like…..instead of lie 🙁 sorry…….)
Kevin can we please get an edit button on here ???????
Barb Wright
Besides being rich,the pie has a distinct molasses taste. I like molasses,but the flavor can be overwhelming. A couple years ago,Kevin posted a recipe for a maple syrup pie. I like it better,but I may be biased,since we make our own syrup!!
Kentuckylady717
KEVIN,
HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE US AN EDIT BUTTON ON HERE ???????WOULD APPRECIATE IT 🙂
Diana H
All this talk of sweets and ooey, gooey goodness and pies, sigh, guess I
will have to get busy baking. I like molasses in some cookies, but have never
tasted Shoo Fly Pie (guess the flies love it’s sweetness too).
Your photo is beautiful – can feel/picture descending into the valley and the
farm fragrances and morning dew on the grass on my bare feet. Thanks.
Paula Smith
Hi Kevin,
Did you watch “Breaking Amish” on Sunday Sept. 9, 2012 ??
There was a girl in a peach dress from Punxsutawney, Pa. whose china cabinet had some items with a little cardboard sign that said – Great Grandma Elizabeth Cobletz.
Wow! that really caught my attention. I am sure many others noticed it too.
Wish you would reply to this message.
Didn’t know any other way to write to you. The message I left on kwilliams@oasisnewsfeatures.com came back to me undelivered.
Your friend, Paula
Shinika
My husband loves shoo-fly pie. I made one once and decided that it would be a great dish for breakfast or brunch.