Spiked Gingerbread Cream Bars

Where do you stand on when people should start playing holiday music, wearing reindeer antlers, throwing ugly sweater parties, drinking buttered rum, and being holly jolly?

Personally, my stance is that people should do whatever they want. It’s March and you get a hankering for Mariah’s Christmas masterpiece? Roll down the windows and blast it. It’s July and you want eggnog? Enjoy. If that doesn’t take away from your own holiday spirit come wintertime, and if you’re not sneaking Christmas lights onto your neighbors’ houses, why does anyone care?

I guess the real question is when businesses should start decking their halls. I guess there’s some sadness around… what? Not giving each holiday its own dedicated month or something? I don’t know.

Thanksgiving and Christmas have always seemed synergistic to me. Thanksgiving might see some Christmas lights and jingle bells, and Christmas carries the feast and gratitude on to the end of the year. I don’t think they lose anything by being “combined,” so to speak.

Maybe you know something I don’t, though. Obviously businesses are looking to make money, so I’m open to the possibility that I’m missing something sneaky and consumeristic going on here. For instance, I agree that it’s a shame for businesses to open for Black Friday on Thanksgiving Day itself — though I also think Black Friday as a whole is a little gross.

Though my friend Dorothy and her daughter don matching shirts, hit brunch, and do Black Friday shopping together and the way they’ve twisted it into quality time makes my heart happy.

No matter what, I seem to end up at, “Do what works for you.” What works for me right now is serious Christmas gingerbread. This isn’t the bland version of gingerbread you find in the grocery store bakery section. This is a kicked up version specifically crafted for GINGERBREAD LOVERS.

You’ll be shocked at the spice measurements (and the blackstrap molasses) in these bars, but just trust me. The result is a sweet, spicy, and — thanks to some spiced rum — boozy treat perfect for celebrating this crazy time that isn’t Thanksgiving or Christmas, but smack in between!

One year ago: Cranberry Cheesecake Pastry Braid

Two years ago: Brown Butter Spice Cake with Whipped Icing

Three years ago: Brown Butter Pecan Gooey Butter Cake with Spiked Whipped Cream

Four years ago: Biscoff Spread Sandy Buddies

Five years ago: Salted Caramel Chocolate Trifle

Six years ago: Southern Pimento Cheese with Lavash Crackers

Seven years ago: Cinnamon Roll Cookies