Here is my family's recipe for shoo-fly pie. It's a Pennsylvania Dutch dessert made with molasses. I grew up eating store bought shoo-fly pie all the time, but you just can't find it even a couple hours outside of the Pennsylvania Dutch region. So, if I want it now, I have to make my own. This is the recipe that my great grandmother used, but I have no idea where she got it from - whether it was passed down to her, or picked up from a family friend. According to her, Grandma's brand molasses was the best.

If you're used to store bought shoo-fly pie (i.e. if you shop at Redner's), this recipe is a little drier, and with a stonger molasses flavor. My daughter actually likes the store bought better, but everyone else in the family likes this recipe better.

• In Bowl, mix like pie crust:
  • 4 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup shortening
  • 2 cup sugar
  • Reserve 1 cup for crumbs
  • 1 tspn baking powder
• In Separate Bowl, mix:
  • 1 1/2 cup hot water
  • 1 cup molasses
  • 1 tsp baking soda
• Add second bowl to first bowl - gets like cake dough
• In a separate bowl, mix:
  • 2 cup molasses
  • 1 1/2 cup hot water
• Add water/molasses mix to 3 prepared pie shells
• Add cake-like dough to pie shells
• Top with reserved crumbs
• Bake at 375º for 30-45 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean