Gooey Salted Brown Sugar Pecan Cookie Bars

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper. 2. In a pot, combine the pecans, maple syrup, and bourbon (if using). Simmer over medium heat, 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Strain the pecans away from the syrup and place in the baking dish. Set the syrup aside for the pie.3. Toss the pecans with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with sea salt. Let cool, then scoop the pecans out of the dish, leaving a handful of nuts in the dish.4. Chop the pecans and set aside.5. In a bowl using an electric mixer, beat together the flour, sugar, and butter. Beat, adding 1-3 tablespoons water as needed until the dough is in small crumbs and packs together. Press firmly over the pecans. Freeze. 6. Whisk together 1 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, and 1 egg yolk until well combined. Add the 1/3 cup of the reserved maple syrup and the cream. Whisk in the butter and vanilla. Fold in the pecans and chocolate. Pour into the crust.7. Bake for 25-30 minutes until puffed on top but still wiggly in the center. The longer you bake, the more set the bars will be. Remove from the oven and let cool. Slice into bars, drizzle with chocolate and sea salt. Let set.