Pecan Cheesecake Pie

Pecan Pie and cheesecake meet in beautiful harmony with this dessert that we’ll surely be serving at Thanksgiving from now on.

Crust:
1 recipe single crust pie pastry

Cream Cheese Filling:
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, at room temperature
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract
½ tsp. kosher salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar

Brown Sugar Filling:
2 large eggs
½ cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup dark or light corn syrup
1-2 Tbsp. (½-1 oz) Tennessee whiskey
1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract

Pecan Layer:
½ cup pecans, chopped
1¼ cups pecan halves

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Crust:  Unwrap chilled pie dough disk, and place on a lightly floured surface. Let stand at room temperature until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle dough with flour, and roll into a 12” circle. Carefully fit dough circle into a 9” deep dish glass pie plate; fold edges under, and crimp. Line pastry with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights or dried beans.

Bake in preheated oven 15 minutes. Transfer piecrust to a wire rack, and remove pie weights and parchment. Let crust cool 30 minutes.

Cream Cheese Filling:  Beat cream cheese, egg, vanilla bean paste, and salt in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes. Add sugar, and beat until filling is smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Spoon filling into prepared piecrust.

Brown Sugar Filling:  Whisk eggs until bright yellow and well combined. Add brown sugar, corn syrup, Tennessee whiskey, and vanilla bean paste, and whisk together until thickened and smooth.

Sprinkle chopped pecans over Cream Cheese Filling in piecrust. Gently spoon Brown Sugar Filling over chopped pecans. Arrange pecan halves over Brown Sugar Filling. Place pie on a baking sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (175°C), and bake until filling is puffed up and set and crust is golden brown, 40-45 minutes.

Transfer pie to a wire rack, and cool completely, 2-3 hours.

Makes 8 servings.

Serve with whipped cream, if desired.