Star Pecan Pie

Ingredients

• 1 cup firmly brown sugar dark packed
• 0.8 cup plus light
• 4 large eggs 
• 0.7 cup pecan halves 
• 1.5 cups pecans lightly toasted chopped
• 18 servings classic pastry shell and pastry stars 
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 6 tablespoons butter unsalted melted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• 1 tablespoon whipping cream 

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• baking paper
• oven
• whisk
• wire rack

Directions

1. Prepare dough for Classic Pastry Shell and Pastry Stars.
2. Roll three-fourths of dough to 1/8" thickness on a lightly floured surface.
3. Place in a 9" pie plate; trim off excess pastry along edges. Fold edges under, and crimp.
4. Place pastry in refrigerator while preparing Pastry Stars and pie filling.
5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
6. Roll remaining dough to 1/8" thickness on a lightly floured surface. Using a 1" star-shaped cutter, cut out 12 stars. Repeat procedure using a 1 1/2" star-shaped cutter to cut out 5 stars.
7. Transfer stars to prepared baking sheet.
8. Whisk together 1 egg and cream in a small bowl.
9. Remove pastry from refrigerator.
10. Brush egg wash over Pastry Stars and around crimped edge of pastry.
11. Whisk remaining 3 eggs in a bowl.
12. Whisk in brown sugar and next 4 ingredients; stir in chopped pecans.
13. Pour filling into pastry shell. Arrange pecan halves around outer edge of filling. Arrange Pastry Stars on top of pie.
14. Bake at 350 on bottom oven rack for 50 to 55 minutes or until filling is set and pastry stars are browned.
15. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
16. Pecan Pie with Grand Marnier: Prepare main recipe as directed above, but add 2 Tbsp. Grand Marnier to filling and substitute 1 tsp. orange extract for vanilla.
17. Bake as directed.
18. Chocolate Pecan Pie: Prepare main recipe as directed above, but add 2 (1-oz.) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted, to filling along with butter.
19. Bake as directed.