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Shoofly Pie

Shoofly Pie

Cuisine:American

Course:Dessert

20m prep 40m cook 1h 0m ready

One 9-inch single-crust pie There are both “dry bottom” and “wet bottom” versions of this Pennsylvania Dutch specialty. The dry-bottom pie is almost like soft gingerbread in a crust, while the “wet” one, as in our version, consists of a molasses custard topped with crumbs.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • 1
    • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
    • (1 teaspoon sugar, for sweet pies)
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 sticks (8 oz or 225g) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
    • 6 tablespoons (90g) ice water mixed with 1 tablespoon distilled white or cider vinegar
    • 1 to 3 teaspoons ice water
    Sub-recipe steps
    1. Whisk together in a medium bowl or pulse briefly in a food processor: 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour; (1 teaspoon sugar, for sweet pies); ½ teaspoon salt
    2. Add: 2 sticks (8 oz or 225g) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
    3. If mixing the dough by hand, work in the butter, flattening the pieces between your fingers until they are roughly pea-sized or a little larger with some larger, flattened pieces. If using a food processor, add all the fat at once and pulse until the butter pieces are mostly pea-sized. Sprinkle the dough with: 6 tablespoons (90g) ice water mixed with 1 tablespoon distilled white or cider vinegar
    4. Blend the water gently into the dough with a silicone spatula or pulse until it just holds together. If the dough is still dry and crumbly, add: 1 to 3 teaspoons ice water
    5. The dough should not be wet or sticky but should hold together when squeezed. Divide the dough in half, shape each into a disk, and roll out immediately as directed in Rolling Pie Dough, or wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days. Prepare as directed in Lining a Pie or Tart Pan with Dough. To fill and bake, see individual recipes. For a baked shell, see About Blind Baking Crusts.
  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
  • ⅔ cup packed (155g) dark brown sugar
  • 5 tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (340g) molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup (235g) boiling water
  • 1
    • 1 cup cold heavy cream
    • (2 teaspoons to 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 to 4 tablespoons sifted powdered sugar, or 2 teaspoons honey, to taste)
    • (½ teaspoon vanilla)
    Sub-recipe steps
    1. Beat in a large bowl (chill the bowl if your kitchen is very warm) with a hand mixer or balloon whisk or in a stand mixer set at medium-high speed, until stiff and billowy but not grainy: 1 cup cold heavy cream; (2 teaspoons to 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 to 4 tablespoons sifted powdered sugar, or 2 teaspoons honey, to taste); (½ teaspoon vanilla)
    2. Use immediately.

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Line a 9-inch pie pan with: ½ recipe All-Butter Pie or Pastry Dough, or 1 recipe Pat-in-the-Pan Butter Dough

  2. Step 2.

    Bake the crust as directed in About Blind Baking Crusts or About Pat-in-the-Pan Crusts. Position a rack in the center of the oven. Adjust the oven temperature to 400°F.

  3. Step 3.

    Combine in a medium bowl: 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour; ⅔ cup packed (155g) dark brown sugar; 5 tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter, softened

  4. Step 4.

    Mash with a fork or chop with a pastry blender until crumbly. Beat in a separate medium bowl until blended: 1 cup (340g) molasses; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon baking soda

  5. Step 5.

    Stir in thoroughly: 1 cup (235g) boiling water

  6. Step 6.

    Stir half of the crumb mixture into the molasses mixture, and pour into the prepared crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture evenly over the top. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and bake until the edges are firm, 20 to 30 minutes more. Let cool completely on a rack.

  7. Step 7.

    The pie can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. Serve accompanied with: Whipped Cream

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