Shoo-fly pie is a type of American pie made with molasses associated with Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. While shoo-fly pie has been a staple of Moravian, Mennonite, and Amishfoodways, there is scant evidence concerning its origins, and most of the folktales concerning the pie are apocryphal, including the persistent legend that the name comes from flies being attracted to the sweet filling.[1]
Shoo-fly pie
Alternative names
Shoo-fly pie, molasses crumb pie, soda rivvel cake
The name shoo-fly was borrowed from a brand of molasses that was popular in parts of the U.S. during the late 19th century[citation needed]. Possibly related to the Jenny Lind pie (a soft gingerbread pie), it may have originated among the Pennsylvania Dutch in the 1880s as molasses crumb cake, and is sometimes called molasses crumb pie.[2] Traditionally it was not served as a dessert pie, but instead as a breakfast food with hot coffee.[3](pp221, 256)[2] The modern form of shoo-fly pie as a crumb cake served in pie crust was a post-Civil War innovation, when cast iron cookware and stoves made pie crust more feasible for home cooks.[4][3](p25)
It comes in two different versions: wet-bottom and dry-bottom. The dry-bottom version is baked until fully set and results in a more cake-like consistency throughout. The wet-bottom version is set like cake at the top where it was mixed in with the crumbs, but the very bottom is a stickier, gooier custard-like consistency.[6] Different recipes for the wet and dry versions appeared in the early 20th century – the dry version was suitable for dunking in a cup of coffee.[7]
Historyedit
Shoo-fly pie began as a crust-less molasses cake called centennial cake in 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.[2] There is no evidence of it being made before the American Civil War.[3] In the 1880s, home bakers added a crust to make it easier to eat alongside a cup of coffee in the morning, without plates and forks.[2][3] Precursors include Jenny Lind pie, a type of gingerbread cake that was named for the famed Swedish opera star, Jenny Lind, after her tour of America in the 1850s. Because shoo-fly pie traditionally contains molasses but no eggs, historians conclude that it was typically baked during the winter, when chickens laid fewer eggs and molasses could be stored in the cold weather without fear of it fermenting. The use of baking powder places its invention firmly after the Civil War and in the 1870s, when Pennsylvania Dutch bakers began using baking powder.[3]
Variationsedit
A Montgomery pie is similar to a shoo-fly pie, except lemon juice is used in the bottom layer.[7]Treacle tart is a pie with a filling made from light treacle.
Nameedit
The modern name comes from a particular brand of molasses from Philadelphia, Shoo-fly Molasses.[citation needed][2][8] The name "shoo-fly pie" was used in the 1880s, but its first appearance in print was after World War I.[4] The "Shoo-fly Molasses" brand was named after a popular circus animal that toured in Pennsylvania in the 19th century, "Shoo-fly the Boxing Mule".[2][9] The mule, in turn, may have been named after a song that became popular half a century before: "Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me".[2] The pie is mentioned in the song "Shoo-Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy", popularized by Dinah Shore in the 1940s.[10]
In the Pennsylvania Dutch language, shoo-fly pie is called Melassich Riwwelboi or Melassichriwwelkuche[11] (molasses crumb cake).[12] Before its modern name became popular during the 20th century, it was molasses crumb pie or soda rivvel cake (rivels are lumps of food).[3]
^"Shoo-fly pie: The sweet stuff of memories". The Washington Post. 22 November 2013.
^ abcdefghByrn, Anne (2016). American Cake: From colonial gingerbread to classic layer, the stories and recipes behind more than 125 of our best-loved cakes. Rodale. p. 73. ISBN9781623365431. OCLC 934884678.
^ abcdefWeaver, William Woys (11 May 2013). As American as Shoo-fly Pie: The foodlore and fakelore of Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 25, 221, 256. ISBN978-0-8122-0771-2 – via Google Books.
^ abDeutsch, Jonathan (25 May 2018). We Eat What? A cultural encyclopedia of unusual foods in the United States. Ulrich, Esther Martin. ABC-CLIO. p. 278. ISBN978-1-4408-4112-5 – via Google Books.
^"Shoofly pie". Recipes. The New York Times. Cooking – via cooking.nytimes.com.
^"Traditional shoo fly pie recipe". Our Heritage of Health. 20 August 2013.
^ abSmith, Andrew F., ed. (2007). The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. Oxford University Press. p. 536. ISBN978-0-19-530796-2. OCLC 71833329.
^Negley, Erin (12 March 2019). Pa. Dutch eats: Shoof-ly pie is Lancaster's sweetest, gooiest treat. LancasterOnline (video & recipe text). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
^Rummel, Rachel. "Mornings in Amish country called for pie-cake and coffee". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
^Stern, Jane; Stern, Michael (September 2011). Lexicon of Real American Food. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN978-0-7627-6830-1.
^"Melassichriwwelkuche". Pennsylvania Dutch Dictionary – via padutchdictionary.com.
^Stern, Jane (4 June 2009). 500 Things to Eat Before It's too Late: And the very best places to eat them. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 101. ISBN9780547416441 – via Google Books.
External linksedit
Thomas, Edith M. (1915). ""Pebble-dash" or shoo-fly pie". Mary at the Farm and Book of Recipes. Feeding America: The Historic American Cookbook Project. Michigan State University Library. p. 377. Retrieved 20 October 2023. Compiled during her visit among the "Pennsylvania Germans" — digital version of a cookbook page, page image only / no text
"Shoo-fly, don't Amish me". Yale Daily News. March 2006. — article on the pie which includes a recipe
February 15, 2024
shoofly, shoo, type, american, made, with, molasses, associated, with, pennsylvania, dutch, cuisine, while, shoo, been, staple, moravian, mennonite, amish, foodways, there, scant, evidence, concerning, origins, most, folktales, concerning, apocryphal, includin. Shoo fly pie is a type of American pie made with molasses associated with Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine While shoo fly pie has been a staple of Moravian Mennonite and Amish foodways there is scant evidence concerning its origins and most of the folktales concerning the pie are apocryphal including the persistent legend that the name comes from flies being attracted to the sweet filling 1 Shoo fly pieAlternative namesShoo fly pie molasses crumb pie soda rivvel cakeTypepiePlace of originUnited StatesRegion or statePennsylvaniaMain ingredientspie shell molasses Media Shoo fly pieThe name shoo fly was borrowed from a brand of molasses that was popular in parts of the U S during the late 19th century citation needed Possibly related to the Jenny Lind pie a soft gingerbread pie it may have originated among the Pennsylvania Dutch in the 1880s as molasses crumb cake and is sometimes called molasses crumb pie 2 Traditionally it was not served as a dessert pie but instead as a breakfast food with hot coffee 3 pp221 256 2 The modern form of shoo fly pie as a crumb cake served in pie crust was a post Civil War innovation when cast iron cookware and stoves made pie crust more feasible for home cooks 4 3 p25 Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Variations 4 Name 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDescription edit nbsp Slice of shoo fly pieShoo fly pie has been described as a crumb cake baked in a pie crust 5 The primary ingredients of the filling are molasses brown sugar and water Serving the cake in pie crust made it easier for people to eat it with their hands in the 19th century 2 It comes in two different versions wet bottom and dry bottom The dry bottom version is baked until fully set and results in a more cake like consistency throughout The wet bottom version is set like cake at the top where it was mixed in with the crumbs but the very bottom is a stickier gooier custard like consistency 6 Different recipes for the wet and dry versions appeared in the early 20th century the dry version was suitable for dunking in a cup of coffee 7 History editShoo fly pie began as a crust less molasses cake called centennial cake in 1876 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia 2 There is no evidence of it being made before the American Civil War 3 In the 1880s home bakers added a crust to make it easier to eat alongside a cup of coffee in the morning without plates and forks 2 3 Precursors include Jenny Lind pie a type of gingerbread cake that was named for the famed Swedish opera star Jenny Lind after her tour of America in the 1850s Because shoo fly pie traditionally contains molasses but no eggs historians conclude that it was typically baked during the winter when chickens laid fewer eggs and molasses could be stored in the cold weather without fear of it fermenting The use of baking powder places its invention firmly after the Civil War and in the 1870s when Pennsylvania Dutch bakers began using baking powder 3 Variations editA Montgomery pie is similar to a shoo fly pie except lemon juice is used in the bottom layer 7 Treacle tart is a pie with a filling made from light treacle Name editThe modern name comes from a particular brand of molasses from Philadelphia Shoo fly Molasses citation needed 2 8 The name shoo fly pie was used in the 1880s but its first appearance in print was after World War I 4 The Shoo fly Molasses brand was named after a popular circus animal that toured in Pennsylvania in the 19th century Shoo fly the Boxing Mule 2 9 The mule in turn may have been named after a song that became popular half a century before Shoo Fly Don t Bother Me 2 The pie is mentioned in the song Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy popularized by Dinah Shore in the 1940s 10 In the Pennsylvania Dutch language shoo fly pie is called Melassich Riwwelboi or Melassichriwwelkuche 11 molasses crumb cake 12 Before its modern name became popular during the 20th century it was molasses crumb pie or soda rivvel cake rivels are lumps of food 3 See also editPie in American cuisineReferences edit Shoo fly pie The sweet stuff of memories The Washington Post 22 November 2013 a b c d e f g h Byrn Anne 2016 American Cake From colonial gingerbread to classic layer the stories and recipes behind more than 125 of our best loved cakes Rodale p 73 ISBN 9781623365431 OCLC 934884678 a b c d e f Weaver William Woys 11 May 2013 As American as Shoo fly Pie The foodlore and fakelore of Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine University of Pennsylvania Press pp 25 221 256 ISBN 978 0 8122 0771 2 via Google Books a b Deutsch Jonathan 25 May 2018 We Eat What A cultural encyclopedia of unusual foods in the United States Ulrich Esther Martin ABC CLIO p 278 ISBN 978 1 4408 4112 5 via Google Books Shoofly pie Recipes The New York Times Cooking via cooking nytimes com Traditional shoo fly pie recipe Our Heritage of Health 20 August 2013 a b Smith Andrew F ed 2007 The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink Oxford University Press p 536 ISBN 978 0 19 530796 2 OCLC 71833329 Negley Erin 12 March 2019 Pa Dutch eats Shoof ly pie is Lancaster s sweetest gooiest treat LancasterOnline video amp recipe text Retrieved 18 April 2021 Rummel Rachel Mornings in Amish country called for pie cake and coffee Atlas Obscura Retrieved 18 April 2021 Stern Jane Stern Michael September 2011 Lexicon of Real American Food Rowman amp Littlefield ISBN 978 0 7627 6830 1 Melassichriwwelkuche Pennsylvania Dutch Dictionary via padutchdictionary com Stern Jane 4 June 2009 500 Things to Eat Before It s too Late And the very best places to eat them Houghton Mifflin Harcourt p 101 ISBN 9780547416441 via Google Books External links editThomas Edith M 1915 Pebble dash or shoo fly pie Mary at the Farm and Book of Recipes Feeding America The Historic American Cookbook Project Michigan State University Library p 377 Retrieved 20 October 2023 Compiled during her visit among the Pennsylvania Germans digital version of a cookbook page page image only no text Shoo fly don t Amish me Yale Daily News March 2006 article on the pie which includes a recipe Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shoofly pie amp oldid 1207680146, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
