Pesche di Prato, meaning peaches from Prato are sweet treats consisting of two small, round, brioche-dough cakes soaked in Alchermes liqueur, paired in two with vanilla custard, and finished with a generous dusting of powdered sugar.
Allegedly, they were created in 1861 during a party in Prato’s Piazza del Duomo while celebrating the Italian unification. These sugar-coated confectioners' peaches were an instant success, and they have been around ever since. Due to the elaborate, time-consuming preparation, pesce di Prato are traditionally reserved for celebrations such as birthdays or weddings.