Italian Peach Cookies are two soft cookies sandwiched together with pastry cream then dipped in liqueur to resemble a peach.
Traditionally served for holidays and special occasions like baptisms and weddings. These are also a perfect dessert to complete that special Italian dinner.
This updated recipe was first published on April 10, 2010.
Well known Italian desserts, like Tiramisu, panna cotta and crostoli appear on menus around the world. But you may never have heard of this one.
These Italian cookies, known as “Pesche Dolci” which means sweet peaches, are pretty to look at and delightful to eat. There are also versions from Austria and other Eastern European countries filled with a variety of combinations of jam, chocolate, and pastry cream.
Don’t be daunted by how these look. Follow the step by step instructions and my tips for success.
Prepare the pastry cream and unfilled cookies in advance and assemble the day before serving. Perfect for parties and celebrations.
Ingredients for this recipe
Other than the basic cookie ingredients such as flour, butter, sugar and eggs, you will need a few extra ingredients.
- lemon zest and vanilla extract – for flavoring
- baking powder – creates a little lift
- milk – provides the cookies a cake-like texture
- Italian pastry cream – is the filling
- Alkermes – an aromatic and lightly spicy Italian liqueur use in traditional pastries
Ingredient variations
Pastry cream is delicious but the filling options are endless.
- nutella or any chocolate and nut spread
- peach jam
- ricotta – try my sweet ricotta recipe
- chocolate pastry cream or any of the variations in my pastry cream recipe
Alkermes is a traditional liqueur used for these cookies and gives an authentic flavor. However, there are alternatives.
- Use vodka or white rum with a few drops of red food coloring
- My mother always used cherry brandy instead – this is a good option
- Try Campari
- Red Vermouth such as Cinzano Rosso or Rosso Antico
- Peach Schnapps would be great
- A Raspberry liqueur like Framboise
Instructions
Preparing these cookies is quite simple and you’ll be thrilled with the results.
- Whisk together eggs and sugar. Then beat in butter, lemon rind and vanilla.
- Stir in flour, baking powder and milk.
- Roll into balls and bake.
- While still warm cut out or scoop out a small whole in the bottom of the cookie.
- Fill with pastry cream and join cookie halves.
- Dip in Alkermes then coat in sugar.
Tips for success
Follow these simple tips so that you too can make these cookies easily.
- For best results, weigh the flour
- If using cup measurements, stir the flour well then spoon into the measuring cup and avoid packing
- The dough should be soft and slightly sticky; add a little more milk if too dry
- Use a cookie scoop (#70) or weigh (20g) each portion to ensure even size cookies
- Roll dough between palms to form a smooth ball
- Don’t over cook
- Cut or scoop out the middle while the cookie is still warm
- After dipping in Alkermes, allow to stand on a wire rack to absorb before coating in sugar
- Refrigerate for 12 hours to ensure the cookies softens and the flavors meld.
FAQs
Yes! Substitute apple juice or peach juice coloured with a few drops of red food coloring.
Not necessarily but this allows the cookies to soften and achieve the correct texture
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 days.
Yes! Place in one layer in an airtight container and freeze for up to one month. Cookies will defrost quickly at room temperature when needed.
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Italian Peach Cookie recipe
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup (200g) castor sugar
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups (520g) all purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- pinch salt
- ⅓ cup (80mls) milk
- 1 cup Italian Pastry Cream
- ½ cup Alkermes liqueur see notes for other suggestions
- ¾ cup granulated white sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Line 3 large baking trays with non-stick baking paper.
- With an electric mix or hand held whisk, beat eggs and sugar until pale and thick approx 10 minutes.
- Whisk in cooled, melted butter, lemon zest and vanilla extract. Continue to whisk until thick and creamy mixture.
- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt and gently stir into the egg mixture. Followed by milk.
- Take a small amount of dough and roll into a ball. The size should be a little smaller than a walnut (approx ¾oz/20g). I have a little cookie scoop (ice cream scoop) which measures approx 1½in/3.5cm across (size #60 or #70 cookie scoop). This ensure even size balls. Make 52 little dough balls and place them onto the lined baking tray allowing a little room for spreading.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes. The cookies will be pale and are meant to be soft. Remove from the oven and leave to cool down a little bit.
- While still warm use a small knife or teaspoon to make a small hole in the bottom of the cookie. Use in another recipe like rum ball or truffles or crumble and sprinkle over ice cream.
- Fill each indent with pastry cream one then join the two halves together.
- Dip each peach into Alkermes liqueur. Drain on a wire rack for a few minutes to allow the liqueur to soak in. Then roll in granulated sugar.
- Place the peaches in cupcake cases and put them in the fridge for at least 12 hours before serving. They will soften beautifully.
Notes
- For best results, weigh the flour
- If using cup measurements, stir the flour well then spoon into the measuring cup and avoid packing
- The dough should be soft and slightly sticky; add a little more milk if too dry
- Use a cookie scoop (#70) or weigh (20g) each portion to ensure even size cookies
- Roll dough between palms to form a smooth ball
- Don’t over cook
- Cut or scoop out the middle while the cookie is still warm
- After dipping in Alkermes, allow to stand on a wire rack to absorb before coating in sugar
- Refrigerate for 12 hours to ensure the cookies softens and the flavors meld.
Marcellina, these peach cookies are so wonderful and very pretty! I love the tip about using peach juice to dip them into.
You just brought back beautiful memories: my nonna used to make these pearls for every holidays ! Thank you dear !
These look freaking adorable and yummy..just like real peaches. Good job, Marcellina.
I use Rosso Antico in place of the cherry brandy which works very well. I dont scoop out any middle but rather sandwich the two halves with nutella. This combination works really well…..happy baking
Yes that’s exactly how I make mine Rosso Antico and nutella
Ooooh that sounds really good!
OMG, these look like real peaches…. I was surprised they are actually cookies 🙂 Clever!!
Sawadee from Bangkok,
Kris
Oh my gosh, Marcellina! These look so beautiful, intricate, and deliciously adorable! I've never seen anything quite like these before. I can see why they are saved for special occasions–they are special indeed!