Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie with Phyllo Crust

Decadent and luxurious, this stunning pie features a rich, bourbon-spiked chocolate pecan custard ensconced in the flakiest crust. The secret is stacks of paper-thin sheets of phyllo dough that are burnished with melted butter and cinnamon sugar and baked until golden-brown and crispy. For an impressive holiday-ready presentation, bake it in the Pumpkin Casserole for easy and elegant oven to table serving.

9 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons bourbon

3 eggs, beaten

15 ounces pecan halves, toasted and coarsely broken

3/4 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

10 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed

Place a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350°F.

In a large saucepan set over medium heat, melt 5 tablespoons butter. Add the brown sugar, honey, and salt. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in bourbon. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes. Whisk the beaten eggs into the filling, and then stir in the toasted pecans and chocolate chips. Set aside.

Mix granulated sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and set aside.

Melt remaining 4 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan. Brush inside of casserole dish with a generous layer of melted butter. Unwrap the phyllo and place one sheet on a parchment-lined work surface. Brush phyllo sheet with melted butter, and sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon mixture. Stack another sheet of phyllo on top, brush with butter, and sprinkle with the cinnamon mixture. Turn each sheet 45 degrees to alternate the direction (diagonal, then perpendicular, then aligned with original sheet), repeating until all sheets are stacked. Transfer the stack from the parchment to the casserole dish. Press gently to mold to the bottom and up the sides of the dish. Fold in edges to form the rim of the crust, leaving room for the lid.

Gently pour pecan filling into crust. Carefully place dish in preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Cover with lid and continue baking until the center is puffed and just set, about 10-20 minutes longer. Remove from the oven, uncover and cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.