Persimmon Pudding (Recipe + Video) - Little Sweet Baker (2024)

This delicious persimmon pudding is delightfully moist and chewy. It’s loaded with naturally sweet persimmons and has the most beautiful aroma of brown sugar and cinnamon. Persimmon Pudding (Recipe + Video) - Little Sweet Baker (1)

What does persimmon taste like?

Persimmons have a very mild and sweet taste, like pumpkin sweetened with honey. Certain types of persimmons, like Hachiya, can have a very unpleasant, chalky taste if not fully ripe. But once completely ripened, the texture is silky and watery like applesauce and quite enjoyable to eat. Other types, like Fuyu, can be eaten while the fruit is still a little firm.

What is persimmon pudding?

Persimmon pudding is an American dessert made with persimmons. It’s very moist, sweet, and dense in texture, similar to an English toffee pudding. It’s often served with ice cream, whipped cream, or hard sauce. Persimmon Pudding (Recipe + Video) - Little Sweet Baker (2)

Why this recipe is so great:

  • Packed with fruit – For those who are lucky enough to have a persimmon tree in their backyard, this is a great way to use a lot of that lovely fruit. For those who love persimmon, well then this dessert was made for you, because it’s jam-packed with it.
  • Easy to make – All you have to do is mix the wet and dry ingredients separately, combine the two, and bake! Easy peasy.
  • Mouthwatering good – There are only 4 tablespoons of butter in this 13 x 9″ cake, yet it’s rich and dense like a brownie. With the mild taste of persimmon fruit, brown sugar and cinnamon were added to bring a warm depth of flavor to the pudding cake. The taste is fruity and sweet with a hint of molasses and spice. It’s super moist and has a nice contrast with the added walnuts or pecans to balance the chewy texture.
  • Here are some reviews:

“Made this yesterday. My family can’t stop eating it. Great recipe and helpful information on working with persimmons!” -Mary

“It’s awesome! I’ve waited all year to have persimmons again to bake this wonderful cake. It’s my boyfriend’s fav cake. Thank you for ur fantastic recipe!” – Shireen

“I LOVE this recipe. Have made it at least a dozen times and works every time. Haven’t met anyone who doesn’t love it, even those who don’t like persimmons.” – Belinda Persimmon Pudding (Recipe + Video) - Little Sweet Baker (3)

Ingredients you’ll need:

  • Overripe persimmons
  • Unsalted butter
  • Eggs
  • Granulated & brown sugar
  • Vanilla extract & ground cinnamon
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder & salt
  • Walnuts or pecans

How to make persimmon pudding:

(the ingredient amounts are listed in the printable recipe card further below) Persimmon Pudding (Recipe + Video) - Little Sweet Baker (4)

  1. Remove any seeds and lightly puree the persimmon pulp to break apart the seed casings using a stand or handheld blender. Measure out 2 cups for the pudding.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the persimmon pulp, butter, eggs, sugars, and vanilla.
  3. In a separate bowl, toss together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Sift the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and stir by hand until combined. Fold in the chopped nuts.
  4. Pour the batter into a greased 9×13″ glass baking dish. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Expert tips:

What type of persimmon to use:

Any type of persimmons that gets soft when ripened, like Hachiya, Sharon fruit, or wild American persimmons are best to use for this recipe.

How to ripen persimmons:

The old trick my mom taught me was to place the unripe persimmons in a plastic or paper bag with an apple. The natural ethylene gas released from the apple will help ripen the persimmons quickly, in about 3-6 days.

How to make persimmon pulp:

Remove the stem and break or cut the fruit in half. Remove any hard black seeds and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Then using a stand or handheld blender, pulse the fruit a few times to break up the seed casings. And there you have it, persimmon pulp. Persimmon Pudding (Recipe + Video) - Little Sweet Baker (5)

FAQ:

Where did persimmon pudding originate?

In the state of Indiana, where wild persimmons are native to the region. Persimmon festivals are also popular in the area, where they host persimmon pudding contests. Some recipes go as far back as 150 years.

Does persimmon pudding need to be refrigerated?

It can be kept at room temperature for a day or two, but after that, it should be refrigerated because the cake is quite moist.

Can persimmon pudding be frozen?

Yes, persimmon pudding freezes well. Tightly wrap the cake in a double layer of plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature or warm up slices in the microwave before serving.

You might also like:

  • Sticky Toffee Pudding
  • Easy Bread Pudding
  • Baked Rice Pudding

Did you make this recipe? Please kindly leave a comment with your star rating below.

Print

Persimmon Pudding (Recipe + Video) - Little Sweet Baker (6)

Persimmon Pudding Recipe

  • Author: Lily Ernst
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 45 min
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 min
  • Yield: 18-24
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: bake
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

A dense, moist, and chewy spiced pudding cake made from the delicious persimmon fruit.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (500ml) persimmon pulp (about 3 large, 4 medium, or 6 small fruits)
  • 4 tbsp (60ml) melted unsalted butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup (200g) lightly packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar (see notes*)
  • 1 tsp (5ml) vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) salt
  • 1 tsp (5ml) ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup (125g) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13 x 9″ glass baking pan and set aside.
  2. Remove the stem and break or cut the fruit in half. Remove any hard black seeds and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Then using a stand or handheld blender, pulse the fruit a few times to break up the seed casings. Measure out 2 cups.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the persimmon pulp, butter, eggs, sugars, and vanilla.
  4. In a separate bowl, toss together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
  5. Sift the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and stir by hand until combined. The batter will be lumpy. Fold in the chopped nuts and pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
  6. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the edges start brown too quickly, loosely cover with foil and continue baking until done. Enjoy with some vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired.

Notes

*Most readers love this recipe as is. Though I have received feedback from a few readers that have reduced the amount of granulated sugar by half (or even omitted it altogether) because they found the cake too sweet. So depending on how sweet your persimmons are and your taste preference, feel free to adjust the amount of granulated sugar accordingly.

Leftovers can be tightly covered and stored at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Keywords: persimmon pudding recipe, persimmon pudding cake

This recipe was originally published on November 16th, 2018, and has been recently updated with new photos and more information.

Persimmon Pudding (Recipe + Video) - Little Sweet Baker (2024)

FAQs

Why did my persimmon pudding turn black? ›

But after baking, this pudding will turn dark brown. Don't worry! That's perfectly normal. It's the reaction between the pigments in the persimmon and the alkaline baking soda in the batter that creates this browning.

What is persimmon pudding made of? ›

Combine sugar, persimmon pulp, eggs, and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Pour in milk and melted butter.

How do you tell if a persimmon is ripe? ›

A ripe persimmon will have a deep orange or reddish color, depending on the variety. It should also feel soft, but not mushy when gently pressed. The texture should be akin to a ripe tomato. The ultimate test, however, is its taste: a ripe persimmon will be sweet and free from any astringency.

Do you eat the skin of persimmons? ›

Persimmons have a delicate honey-like flavor and silky texture. They can be eaten fresh, dried, or cooked, and are very versatile in recipes. Persimmon peels are completely edible. Whether or not to peel the fruit is a matter of personal preference and the recipe that you're using.

What does baking soda do to persimmons? ›

When persimmons are beaten to a pulp, tannins form complexes with carbohydrates, causing the pulp to stiffen to a gel-like consistency. When baking soda is added, a reaction with the moist and slightly acidic persimmon creates carbon dioxide (CO2), which also plays a role in encouraging the pulp to thicken.

What happens if you eat an unripe persimmon? ›

They are also a good source of fiber and manganese. If the taste wasn't enough, people should steer clear of unripe persimmons because the tannins, stomach acid and indigestible plant material can form a bezoar: a hard mass that can lead to gastric obstruction and surgery.

Why are persimmons so rare? ›

The common persimmon is rarely grown as a food or ornamental plant. One reason for is that it is extremely slow growing.

Why do persimmons make you pucker? ›

Astringency in persimmons is caused by tannins, the same chemicals that make tea, red wine, and unripe bananas and peaches cause your mouth to pucker.

Why do people peel persimmons? ›

The peel of a persimmon is safe to eat, but it can have a more crunchy or crisp texture that might be distracting to the overall flavor. You can peel a persimmon quickly using tools in your kitchen to enjoy eating your fruit in no time.

Why does your mouth feel weird after eating a persimmon? ›

Persimmons contain tannins, a type of plant compound that can make your mouth feel dry, chalky, or puckered. Unripe persimmons have a high tannin content, leading to this sensation. Fully ripe persimmons have fewer tannins, resulting in a sweeter taste and less mouth discomfort.

How many persimmons can you eat a day? ›

How many persimmons can you eat a day? A. It is better not to eat more than one persimmon or 100 g of fruit in a day. Excessive consumption of persimmons may lead to intestinal blockages, nausea, vomiting, or constipation.

What month do persimmons ripen? ›

When Are American Persimmons Ripe? American persimmons ripen in early fall, between September and October in most parts of the country. The fruit takes on a deep orange-yellow hue and the skin becomes almost translucent when fully ripe.

Why cant you eat persimmons on an empty stomach? ›

Excess in persimmons, hawthorns, tea, alcohol or food increasing gastric acidity can cause such stones," said Dr Lu Ying, director of Shanghai Yida Hospital's digestive disease department. "Eating persimmons with an empty stomach or eating an excessive amount of raw persimmons is likely to result in a stone.

Can persimmon be eaten with peel? ›

How to Eat Raw Persimmons. For a sweet (Fuyu) persimmon, you should use them when they're still quite firm. Start by rinsing the fruit, removing the leaves, and slicing it like you would an apple into your desired shape. The peel is edible — so take a bite!

Why do persimmons turn black? ›

The mechanism of this alteration has been studied in depth, and the oxidation of tannins has been reported as a key process. Other factors frequently associated with internal browning is storage under controlled or modified atmospheres; in this case the flesh browning occurs mainly in the flesh of the fruit.

Is it safe to eat persimmon with black spots? ›

Pick out firm persimmons that are bright orange without too much black staining. A little bit of black staining is fine, but don't pick one that has large dark black spots - the black will be on the inside as well and while there is no harm in eating that, it feels weird eating fruit with black spots inside.

What is the black mold on my persimmons? ›

It is a fungal disease, thriving in wet conditions and often appearing in spring. You'll recognize anthracnose persimmon tree diseases by the black spots that appear on the leaves. The tree may lose its leaves starting at the bottom branches.

Are black persimmons edible? ›

Eat the black ripe fruit raw or use the pulp in wine, breads, pies, jams, sauces and puddings. Be sure to get all the pulp off around the seeds, but don't eat them!

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