Chiavi di San Pietro

Chiavi di San Pietro, meaning the keys of St. Peter, are ancient Palermitan key-shaped cookies that are nowadays rarely found in local pastry shops. Traditionally, they were prepared on the 29th of June for the feast of St. Peter, the holder of the keys of heaven. Originally it was a very simple biscuit made with wheat flour, sometimes with the addition of almond flour, covered in light, honey-based glaze, but local pastry chefs also used to offer more rich, elaborately decorated versions to satisfy the requests of young Palermitans, who, allegedly, often bought them as a gift for their future wives, hoping they will unlock and open their hearts.