Antwerpse Handjes

Antwerpse handjes, or Antwerpse handjeskoekjes, are small buttery almond shortbread biscuits shaped like outstretched hands, named for the legend of the Roman soldier Silvius Brabo who cut off the giant Antigoon's hand and threw it into the River Scheldt.

The dough is built from butter, ground almonds, sugar, and flour, enriched with a few egg yolks and a pinch of cinnamon, then chilled and rolled thin. Each biscuit is cut with a hand-shaped cutter, brushed with beaten egg, and baked at a low temperature until pale gold; the result is a tender, sandy biscuit that snaps cleanly and dissolves on the tongue.

Antwerpse handjes are sold in the chocolate and biscuit shops that line the Grote Markt and the Suikerrui in Antwerp, including traditional pâtisseries such as Goossens and De Koninck. They pair with a small cup of strong Antwerpse koffie, are part of any Belgian Christmas table, and are sometimes pressed into dark chocolate as a souvenir biscuit for visitors leaving the city.