Liers vlaaike

One of the most famous Belgian desserts, this sweet and spicy, tart-shaped filled pastry is prepared exclusively in the Flemish town of Lier. The delectable Liers vlaaike consists of thin, pâté brisée crust filled with a thick, creamy purée—the base is a typical, unsweetened shortbread pie crust, while the aromatic filling consists of coarse breadcrumbs, candy syrup, milk, and flour. However, the spicy flavor of vlaaike tarts comes from a secret combination of spices including cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and coriander. The original recipe is believed to be more than 300 years old, which makes Liers vlaaike one of the oldest baked goods from the province of Antwerp.