This holiday-festive pie features an easy shortbread cookie and pecan crust topped with sweetened mascarpone filling laced with an orange liqueur (or orange juice) and topped with a zesty cranberry glaze.

Mascarpone Cream Pie with Cranberry Glaze

Mascarpone Cream Pie:

6 tablespoons butter or margarine
7 ounces shortbread-type cookies, crumbled
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
1 (8-ounce) package mascarpone cheese, softened
2 teaspoons orange liqueur or fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cranberry Glaze:

1 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
1/3 cup seedless blackberry jam
1 1/2 tablespoons orange liqueur or fresh orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange rind

Garnish:

Orange rind strips

1. For Mascarpone Cream Pie: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook 3 minutes or until golden brown. Stir in cookie crumbs and pecans. Press mixture into bottom and up sides of a lightly greased 9-inch tart pan.
2. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes or until golden brown; cool.
3. Combine cornstarch and sugar in a medium saucepan; stir in cream. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Stir about 1/4 cup hot mixture into egg yolks; add to remaining hot mixture, and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Remove mixture from heat.
4. Stir in mascarpone cheese, liqueur, and vanilla until smooth. Pour into prepared crust.
5. Spread 2/3 cup Berry Glaze over filling; chill 8 hours. Serve with remaining Berry Glaze. Garnish, if desired.
6. For Cranberry Glaze: Cook all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring until cranberry sauce and jam melt. Strain mixture, discarding solids. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Makes 1 (9-inch) pie.