Brussels' Special Speculoos Shop

The crisp speculoos cookies are made almost entirely by hand and molded in wonderfully detailed hand carved wooden molds. Of course the shop has many other delicious goodies, too. It is worth a visit at any time because many wonderful antique wooden molds, including Saint Nicholas, are displayed above the baked goods displays, as well as the always delicious European breads and sweets. The shop is so busy that even locals queue for these tasty treats.

There are five Dandoy shops in Brussels and their products are also sold in other shops in Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.

Large Saint Nicholas speculoos cookies fill the window before St. Nicholas Day.

Speculoos Saint Nicks come in various sizes and shapes, sometimes packaged with other treats. He is also available molded in marzipan.

How is speculoos made? At Dandoy the dough is made of flour, butter, dark brown sugar, baking soda and salt, flavored with vanilla, cinnamon and clove. Pastry craftsmen thoroughly knead the dough, the press it by hand into well-floured speculoos boards. Excess dough is cut off with a thin wire. The mold is tapped on the table surface to loosen the cookie which is put on a greased pan and baked in a large conveyor belt oven.

Two statues of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of bakers as well as children, grace the shop.

Dandoy shops in Brussels
• 31, rue au Beurre (Boterstraat)
• 14, rue Charles Buls (Charles Buls straat)
• 50, rue de Rollebeek (Rossebeekstraat)
• 22, place Saint-Job (Sint-Jobs plein)
• 112 rue de l'Eglise (Stockel)
• 9a, place Brugmann (Brugmann plein)

Dandoy shop in Waterloo, Belgium
• 296 Chée de Bruselles

Dandoy shop in Tokyo
• Daimaru Tokyo Station — B1
• 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku

Dandoy St. Nicolas Speculoos booklet, with recipe

Link

Photos: C Myers and J M Rosenthal, unless otherwise noted
Photo of the Patron Saint of Bakers statue: courtesy of Michael Craske

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