Pecan Pie

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Set a 9-inch cake ring (with 1 1/2-inch sides) on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; set aside. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out one disk of dough to a 13-inch round. With a dry pastry brush, sweep off the excess flour; fit dough into cake ring, gently pressing into the edges and up the sides. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Using a sharp paring knife, trim dough flush with the top edge of ring. Chill pie shell until firm, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F.

   Step 2

   Line another baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the remaining dough to an 1/8-inch thickness. Using leaf-shaped cutters, cut out 12 leaves (we made seven larger ones for the outside edge and five smaller ones for the middle); transfer to the prepared sheet. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg and the heavy cream; brush over leaf cutouts, and transfer to the refrigerator.

   Step 3

   Line chilled pie shell with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges begin to turn golden, about 20 minutes. Remove parchment and weights; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

   Step 4

   In a medium bowl,whisk together the remaining 5 eggs, the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, molasses, bourbon, vanilla, and salt. Stir in the chopped pecans. Pour filling into the cooled pie shell; arrange reserved leaves and whole pecans on top of pie.

   Step 5

   Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake until a knife tip inserted into the center of the pie comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer the pie (still on the baking sheet) to a wire rack to cool completely before unmolding. Pie can be kept at room temperature, loosely covered with aluminum foil, for up to 4 days.

2. Pecan Pie how-to

   Step 6

   Leaf-shaped cutouts of pie dough are placed among whole pecans in a decorative pattern over the filling before the pie is baked.