For the frosting: In a large bowl,
with mixer at low speed and gradually increasing to medium, beat butter and powdered sugar until butter is broken into pea - size pieces and incorporated with the sugar, scraping bowl occasionally, about 3 minutes.
Blend the dry cake mix (from step # 1) with water, oil and eggs in a large bowl with an electric
mixer at low speed until moistened.
Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and pulse (or
mix at low speed) until just combined.
Add into cookie dough and
mix at low speed until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Slowly add dry ingredient mixture to wet ingredients,
mixing at low speed (I did mine in thirds).
Transfer to a large bowl, and beat with
a mixer at low speed until slightly cooled, about 1 minute.
If you are using an electric mixer with an hook attachment to knead, combine all ingredients except butter in the mixing bowl and
mix at low speed until a soft dough forms.
Pour in the flour, drape a kitchen towel over the stand mixer to protect yourself and the counter from flying flour and pulse
the mixer at low speed about 5 times, a second or two each time.
With
the mixer at a low speed, add the flour mixture and beat gently until all the flour has been absorbed and the dough looks crumbly.
Lacking a bread machine, dump all the ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer, and using the dough hook,
mix at low speed 4 - 5 minutes.
Then set
the mixer at low speed and carry on until all the ingredients become homogeneous.
Mix at low speed, until blended, about 1 minute.
With
the mixer at low speed, beat in the pumpkin, sour cream, bourbon or vanilla, cinnamon, allspice, and salt.
Add to butter mixture and
mix at a low speed until combined.
Place butter, brown sugar, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl; beat with
a mixer at low speed 1 to 2 minutes; increase speed to medium, and beat until well blended.
Mix by hand until dough forms, or
mix at low speed with electric mixer.
Add half of the flour mixture and
mix at low speed until just incorporated.
Mix at a low speed to incorporate all ingredients.
Mix at a low speed, gradually adding the sugar until it has completely dissolved.
... and
mix at low speed until the sugar is dissolved.
Add flour and
mix at low speed until combined, scraping down bowl once or twice.
Add the flour and salt and
mix at low speed until incorporated, about 2 minutes.
Using an electric
mixer at low speed, beat 1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, and sorghum in another large bowl, occasionally scraping down sides, until smooth, 2 — 3 minutes.
To make the filling, combine butter and shortening using an electric
mixer at low speed.
Alternatively, you can put the ingredients in a blender,
mix at low speed for 10 seconds and then high speed for 1 minute.
In large bowl, combine all crust ingredients;
mix at low speed until blended.
Mix at low speed for 2 minutes.
In large bowl, blend egg whites, cake mix, water, oil and citrus zest with electric
mixer at low speed 30 seconds or until moistened.
With
mixers at low speed, slowly begin to pour the protein powder mixture into the creamed butter.
Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and
mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and with
the mixer at the lowest speed, beat in the flour, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl.