Shoo-Fly Cake Recipe

If you like molasses, you'll like this easy coffee cake!

4 cups flour
2 1/3 cups packed light brown sugar (1 lb.)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, cut into pieces, softened
2 cups boiling water
1 cup molasses
2 tsp. baking soda

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.

2. In a bowl with an electric mixer on low speed, combine the flour, brown sugar, and butter. Work into fine crumbs.
Remove and reserve 1 1/2 cups of the crumbs for the topping.

3. In a small bowl, combine the boiling water, molasses, and baking soda; add to the mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until the batter is smooth and thin. Poor the batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs over the top.

4. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean, about 40 minutes.

5. Cool the cake to room temperature in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into big squares and serve directly from the pan.

Makes one 13 x 9 inch cake; serves 12-16.

Richard Sax. Classic Home Desserts. (out of print book)