Chocolate Spice Cookies with Mascarpone Frosting and Candied Kumquats

Name: Chocolate Spice Cookies with Mascarpone Frosting and Candied Kumquats
Yield: Makes about 36 Servings
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter; 1 3/4 cups sugar; 2 large eggs, beaten to blend; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon plus a pinch cayenne pepper; 2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger; 8 ounces mascarpone or Neufchâtel cream cheese; 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1' pieces, at room temperature; 1 cup powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup sugar; 10 kumquats, thinly sliced; 1/2 vanilla bean, split in half and seeds scraped out

By Marissa LippertPhotographer Nicole Franzen

November 14, 2011

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Recipe notes