Shoofly pie is an old-fashioned dessert recipe made with a rich molasses filling and a buttery spiced brown sugar crumb topping. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

slice of shoofly pie served on a white round plate with a silver fork

If you’ve never had shoofly pie, you’re in for a treat. It’s a unique dessert, and so different from Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and other common pie recipes.

Shoofly pie is a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dessert with a thick, fudge-like molasses filling and a crumb topping. The pie gets its name from a brand of molasses that was popular throughout the United States in the late 19th century, although some think it comes from the fact that the molasses attracts flies, which then get trapped in the pie! 

top down view of shoofly pie in a pie dish

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Old-Fashioned Shoofly Pie Recipe

This traditional Amish dessert has a rich molasses flavor that is offset by the sweetness of the brown sugar crumble on top. The contrasting textures between the crust, filling, and crumb topping also contribute to making shoofly pie irresistible! While there are many different recipes for shoofly pie, they all share one key ingredient: molasses. 

Molasses is a type of syrup made from sugarcane or sugar beets. It has a deep, dark color and a bittersweet flavor that gives shoofly pie its unique taste. In addition to the molasses, many recipes also call for spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg in the crumb layer, which add even more depth of flavor to the pie. 

Top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream for an old-fashioned dessert your whole family will love!

steps to make shoofly pie

Ingredients For Shoofly Pie

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

For the Crumb Topping:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Dark brown sugar – Dark brown sugar has a deeper molasses flavor than light brown.
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Kosher salt
  • Unsalted butter – The butter will need to be cold and cubed. You can even pop it in the freezer for a few minutes to make sure it’s chilled well!

For the Filling:

steps to make shoofly pie

How to Make Shoofly Pie

  1. Prepare: Preheat the oven to 450ºF.
  2. Make the Crumb Topping: Combine all of the ingredients except the butter in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Use a pastry cutter or two butter knives to cut in the butter, until it reaches the consistency of cornmeal.
  3. Make the Filling: In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the molasses, water, and baking soda.
  4. Assemble: Pour the molasses mixture into the chilled pie crust. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the top. 
  5. Bake: Place the pie in the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 450ºF. Lower the heat to 350ºF and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until the pie is set. 
  6. Cool: Let the pie cool completely on a wire rack, then serve.
cross section of shoofly pie sitting on a metal pie spatula

Quick Tip

If you prefer a flakey crust, go ahead and make the pie crust in advance. The crust can easily be made the day before, giving the gluten time to relax and have a flakier texture when it is complete.

How to Store Shoofly Pie

It’s important to store shoofly pie properly to maintain its flavor and texture. It should be stored in a cool, dry place, and the pie should be covered to keep out any unwanted moisture.

If you are storing the pie for more than a day or two, you may want to place it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh; you can also freeze shoofly pie for up to 3 months. Let the pie come to room temperature before serving.

slice of shoofly pie on a white round plate with a forkful of the pie

FAQs

What is shoofly pie made of?

Shoofly pie is a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dessert that consists of a crumb topping over a molasses-based filling, all baked into a buttery pastry crust. The filling is made with molasses, water, and baking soda, although some recipes add other ingredients as well.

What does shoofly pie taste like?

The filling of the pie tastes similar to a molasses cake, with a deep, caramel-like molasses flavor and a buttery, spiced brown sugar topping.

What is another name for shoofly pie?

In some regions, shoofly pie is also known as molasses crumb pie. In the Pennsylvania Dutch language, it’s called Melassich Riwwerboi or Melassichriwwerkuche. Whatever you choose to call it, it’s always delicious!

Should you refrigerate shoofly pie?

You can store shoofly pie can at room temperature for a few days, but if you refrigerate it, it will last up to a week.

shoofly pie sliced to show cross section sitting in a pie dish

More Old-Fashioned Pie Recipes

Shoofly Pie

Shoofly pie is an old-fashioned dessert recipe made with a rich molasses filling and a buttery spiced brown sugar crumb topping. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
5 from 4 votes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients  

Crumb Topping

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 stick unsalted butter cold, cubed

Filling

  • ¾ cup molasses
  • ¾ cup boiling water
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 9” single crust pie pastry in tin chilled

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 450F.
  • For the crumb topping, combine all the ingredients except the butter into a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Cut in the butter until you reach a consistency of cornmeal.
  • Whisk together molasses, water, and baking soda.
  • Pour into the chilled pie crust and top evenly with the crumb topping.
  • Bake for 15 minutes at 450F and then lower the heat to 350F and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until set.
  • Cool the pie completely on a wire rack before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 159mg | Potassium: 510mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 354IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @kasey_allthingsmamma or tag #allthingsmamma!

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About Kasey Schwartz

For over 15 years, Kasey Schwartz, the mastermind behind All Things Mamma, has been the ultimate go-to for mouthwatering family recipes. Her work has been featured on Today.com, Buzz Feed, Better Homes and Gardens, and more, making her your go-to mom next door for all things delicious and family-friendly.

Comments

  1. Holly Ray says:

    5 stars
    Love your Shoofly Pie recipe ❣️
    Being born in PA myself my family made & ate many of our great grandmother’s Amish Shoofly pie’s 🥧
    Living in CA now so I can’t find the proper ingredients to make the pies anymore and I Miss them Soooo very much…
    Have a Blessed Day 🙏🥰

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