In recent years, there has been a commercialization of the traditional Peruvian sweet, Turrón de Doña Pepa, which is found widespread throughout Lima.  Pre-packaged portions are now sold at grocery stores and Jorge Chavez airport year round, though traditionally the layered nougat, drizzled with chancaca and topped with sprinkles and candy, is only found freshly baked in neighborhood pastelerías in October and early November. The origins of the dessert, a variation of a classic Spanish nougat or alba nougat, has a history that extends back hundreds of years.

The setting for the origins of Turrón de Doña Pepa are tied to the month of October, called the Mes Morada, or the purple month, in Lima, Peru. This is when El Señor de Milagros, or the Lord of Miracles, a massive religious procession, is held in the historic center of the city. El Señor de los Milagros, painted on a wall by an Angolan slave in the Las Nazarenas Church in the district of Pachacamilla in what is now downtown Lima, is the most revered image of Christ on the Peruvian coast. In 1655, a massive earthquake struck Lima and much of the center was in rubble. Miraculously, the wall of Las Nazarenas where the image of Christ sat was left untouched, even as the rest of the church crumbled around it. People began to worship the image, called Cristo de Pachacamilla, and came from across the country to see it and a chapel was built around it. It was common belief that the image gave protection from earthquakes and could even cure people of grave illnesses. Each October tens of thousands visit Las Nazarenas church and on select dates march the image through the streets of downtown Lima in passionate displays of devotion.