“The name likely derives from Shoo-fly Molasses, which was produced in Philadelphia and named for Shoofly the Boxing Mule, a circus animal popular in 19th century Pennsylvania,” Louden said.

The supply of Lancaster County-made shoo-fly pie plunged earlier this month. Dutch Haven, a shoo-fly pie bakery and gift shop that sold tens of thousands of the molasses-based pies with a crumb ...