Shoo-Fly Pie

Another classic recipe from my copy of The Colonial Cookbook, Shoo-Fly Pie is a Pennsylvania Dutch treat.  The sweet molasses attracted flies as the pie cooled, leading to the unusual name.  

Shoo-Fly Pie

1 cup flour
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
4 Tbsp butter, softened
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup molasses

1 9" pie crust

Preheat oven to 375.

Mix the flour, brown sugar, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and ground cloves in a large bowl.  Mix the butter in with a fork.  The mixture will be crumbly.

Boil the water. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and molasses.  Stir well.

Put aside 1/3 cup of the crumb mixture.  Combine the rest with the molasses mixture. Pour into the pie crust.  Sprinkle with the remaining crumb mixture.  

Bake 30 minutes. Cool before serving.