UNFROSTED WEDDING CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 325°. Meanwhile, line bottoms of 2 greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper., Cream butter, shortening, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. In another bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda; beat into creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir in coconut and chopped pecans., With clean beaters, beat egg whites on medium speed until stiff peaks form; fold gently into batter. Transfer to prepared pans., Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., For frosting, beat cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake. Top with coconut and pecan halves if desired. Store in refrigerator.

Steps:

• For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 350° with oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. 
• Beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until pale and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Beat until well combined, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl, as needed. 
• Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ground ginger, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture with the mixer on low. Beat until well combined, about 1 minute. Stir in the carrots and walnuts. 
• Drop spoonfuls (about 2 tablespoons each) of the dough on the prepared baking sheets using a 1 3/4-inch cookie scoop, spacing at least 2-inches apart. Bake two pans at a time, rotating halfway through cooking, until the cookies are lightly browned on the edges, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool the cookies on the pans for 3 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Repeat with the remaining cookies.
• For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla with the mixer on low, beating until combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Dollop a spoonful of frosting on the top of each cookie and spread all over the top. Sprinkle with orange jimmy sprinkles or chopped toasted walnuts, if you like.