Description
Shoofly pie is a sweet molasses crumb pie. With its rich flavor, gooey syrup, brown sugar, and crumb topping, this delicious treat has been a longtime staple in Berks County, PA. The sweet, delicious pie is a must-try for all pie enthusiasts. According to historian William Woys Weaver, shoofly pie started as a crustless molasses cake or Centennial Cake. It was baked in 1876 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Shoofly pie was a variation of the treacle tart. Treacle is a generic British term for any syrup made during the refining of sugar cane. Later, refined sugar became more affordable and overtook treacle as a sweetener. However, colonial Americans often substituted molasses for treacle in their recipes. A crust was added to make it easier to enjoy without needing a plate or fork. Dig in!