Black-Bottom Maple-Pecan Bars

Sometimes a slice of pecan pie is just too much after a meal of chicken and waffles or a bowl of shrimp and grits, so we came up with these bars that are only slightly less indulgent. I like a little chocolate with my pecan pie, so we bake these on a chocolate crust. Slice them into bite-size pieces to serve as petit fours, or cut them the size of a standard brownie for a more substantial dessert. After noon, wash them down with a glass of bourbon.