handful

A handful is a small amount or quantity of something.

When we talk about a handful, we often think of holding a small amount of things in our hand - just enough for one person to grasp. For example, if you're baking cookies and someone asks for "just a handful", they mean just a little bit. You might take a few nuts out of the jar or sprinkle some sugar on top of a muffin. The idea is that it's not too much, but just right - easy to hold in your hand.