Maiori is not only famous for its scenic beauty, but also for a unique dessert: chocolate eggplant. Although the eggplant is usually associated with savory dishes, on the Amalfi Coast it is transformed into a surprising sweet specialty, appreciated by all who dare to try it. This dessert is the star of the tables during the Feast of the Assumption in Maiori, where it is eaten in large quantities.

The origins of the recipe probably go back to the time of the Saracen invasions (8th–9th centuries), when sweet eggplants were already known. However, the modern version is due to the nuns of Santa Maria della Misericordia, who are said to have contributed to the spread of sweets such as struffoli and roccocò. It is said that the recipe even conquered the Tsar's court, thanks to a stay in Campania of the niece of Nicholas II, who was enchanted by the taste of this cake.

Another theory attributes the invention to the monks of a convent in Tramonti, who prepared fried eggplants covered with a sweet liqueur-like sauce, later replaced by chocolate. Today there are several variations of the recipe: the traditional one from Maiori is enriched with chopped almonds and candied fruit.