Shoofly Pie Cupcakes

If you saw my post on shoofly pie bars, you now know what shoofly pie is (if you didn't see the post, have a look).  I could say that shoofly pie cupcakes are my cupcake interpretation of shoofly pie.  But, it's more fun to say that shoofly pie cupcakes are the cupcake version of shoofly pie bars, which are the bar version of shoofly pie.

Shoofly pie cupcakes are sticky sweet cupcakes made with sugar syrup and brown sugar crumbs.  They are best served warm with whipped cream or à la mode.

Shoofly Pie Bars

Shoofly pie (or Shoo-Fly pie) bars are a modern twist on the classic Pennsylvania Dutch pie made with sugar syrup (more on which kind of syrup later). Shoofly pie bars start with a buttery oatmeal shortbread base - solid enough for you to hand-hold the bars. Above the shortbread is a blend of spiced brown sugar crumbs and sugary syrup that solidifies into a moist/spongy cake layer (it's what coffee cake wishes it could be).  The top is scattered with a few more of those brown sugar crumbs for good measure. 

Though you may never have tried shoofly pie (and I can almost guarantee that you've never had shoofly pie bars), shoofly pie bars are one of those desserts that feels familiar and homey (after all, they're mostly butter and sugar) - nothing avant garde like cucumber juice.  Shoofly pie bars taste like a timeless dessert: a simple, sweet touch to end a meal.

But, the way your shoofly pie bars taste has a lot to do with what syrup or syrup blend you use.