Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400F.

Step 2

In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour and the brown sugar.

Step 3

Rub in the butter very well so there are no little bits of butter remaining. The mixture should look about like cornmeal and should clump together when you squeeze it and then sort of fall apart if you poke it.

Step 4

Squeeze some together so you have some pebbles of streusel and leave some of it sandy.

Step 5

In a medium bowl, whisk together the molasses and hot water. Thoroughly whisk in the baking soda and salt. Mixture may get sort of frothy and will definitely lighten in color. Thoroughly whisk in the beaten egg.

Step 6

Mix about half the streusel into the molasses syrup and pour into the prepared pie crust.

Step 7

Sprinkle the rest of the streusel in an even layer over the top of the pie.

Step 8

Carefully place the pie on the center rack of the oven. Bake for 15 minutes then reduce the heat to 350F.

Step 9

Continue baking for about 15 more minutes then cover the pie loosely with foil to prevent excessive browning of the crust. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until the pie is nicely puffed up all over. It will settle as it cools.

Step 10

Serve warm or barely warm with lightly sweetened (or even unsweetened) whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.