Backcountry Cuisine: Shoo-Fly Pie

Backcountry Notes ^ | February 11, 2010 | Jay Henderson

[jay1949]

Like Stack Cake, Shoo-Fly Pie is a genuine example of folk cuisine, its origin obscure and its recipe subject to variation. There are two conventional wisdoms concerning Shoo-Fly Pie, one holding that it is a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch food and the other that it is an example of old-time Southern vernacular cuisine. There is however no evidence that Shoo-fly Pie existed prior to the expansion of sorghum molasses production in the last half of the 19th century and it seems likely that, also like Stack Cake, Shoo-Fly Pie resulted from the increased availability of this inexpensive form of sugar.

[carmody]

ShooFly was a favorite of my Pennsylvania family. I love it! (But some people aren’t so crazy about the taste.)

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

We visited Shipshewanna? (unsure of spelling) Indiana in the 1980’s, and ate at an Mennonite restaurant. They served shoo-fly pie, and I wasn’t really impressed. Could have just been the recipe, but their version seemed rather bland.

[Daveinyork]

I once was invited to a social gathering at an Amish family's home in Lancaster county, PA. One of the desserts was a shoo-fly pie made with chocolate custard instead of molasses. You haven't lived until you've tasted that.

[amishman]

I too have Amish friends, and Daveinyork is correct, Chocolate Shoo Fly is wonderful. My favorite places to get traditional SFP commercially in Lancaster County are Bird-in-Hand Bakery, Dutch Haven, and Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop. Hershey Farm makes some good traditional SFP as well. As for the chocolate, Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop has the best I’ve had.

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting.

FYI ping

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Had it as a child visiting “Amish Country” in Pennsylvania.

Not impressed. But that was 35 years ago, and could have just been that particular recipe.

[squibs]

Tastes similar to gingerbread cookie from the molasses.
Best with whipped cream ( cool whip or ready whip ).
I downloaded a recipe for cake style with molasses from an
Amish cooking site. Used to take it to work with a couple cans of ready whip. Those animals would clean it out in less than an hour.

[Vendome]

Use to get this at Zinn’s diner, exit 21, Penn. Turnpike.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks for the ping.

[Daveinyork]

Zinn’s diner. I used to stop there for their creamed chipped beef over home fries when my cholesterol was in danger of becoming deficient - a problem I do not have now.

[Vendome]

But you can still eat Scrapple, right. LOL.

[Daveinyork]

“But you can still eat Scrapple, right. LOL.”
Not even at gunpoint. The Bible says the pig cheweth not the cud, and is unclean. Scrapple sure qualifies as unclean. Since I don’t live in Philly, I’m safe.

[Vendome]

I would have to be starving and looking at the end of the world before I would eat Scrapple. LOL