Persimmon Cookies Recipe QUICK, EASY | White On Rice Couple (2024)

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by Todd + Diane

This popular persimmon cookies recipe is awesome with a cold glass of milk. When Fall arrives and persimmons are plentiful, make a batch of these to share! It’s an old recipe that Grandma used to make and I still have her original written recipe! We originally published her recipe back in 2011 and have updated the information in this article about what the best persimmons are for her cookies. Enjoy!

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Persimmon Cookies Recipe from Grandma

This cookie recipe is direct from my Grandma’s recipe box to you. They are a gloriously soft, moist cookie. Somewhere in-between the texture of a cookie and a fluffy cake, these persimmon cookies are similar to the cookie part of a whoopie pie cookie’s texture, but with the addition of toasted nuts and dried raisins or cranberries.

Grandma will always be one of my greatest kitchen inspirations. Anything she had in her rotation would almost always be a guarantee that I’d like it. Grandma left me with my first memories of cooking, and of trying octopus, and of learning as a five-year-old that I actually liked cooked carrots. If there was something I didn’t think I’d like, she would affectionately but unwaveringly insisted I try them. “You don’t have to eat them all, just try them.” After I found this recipe in Grandma’s recipe box and my mom declared it was one of her favorite cookies that Grandma would make, Diane and I knew we had to make a batch. And then another, and another… Over the years it has become a must have for us every fall & winter.

Video Making Grandma’s Persimmon Cookies

Best Fall and Winter Cookies

Why every fall & winter? That is the season for persimmons. It has always been one of our favorite trees to grow. As it’s beautiful leaves change color then drop in the fall, they reveal the bounty of fruit slowly ripening on it’s branches. As most of our garden in going dormant, the persimmon’s ripening fruit, in it’s stunning orange, fills our hearts.

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Different Persimmons for Baking or Eating: Hachiya vs Fuyu

There are two main types of persimmons: astringent and non-astringent. The Hachiya is by far the most common astringent persimmon, and Fuyu is the most common non-astringent variety. The Hachiya persimmons (and other astringent varieties) are nearly in-edible until they are complete ripe. When ripe the flesh will be soft like pudding, but anything less than gooey soft means they are not ready yet so just give them more time to ripen (they’ll ripen fine on the counter). They Fuyu persimmons (and other non-astringent varieties) have a larger range of deliciousness. They’ll still have an astringency when un-ripe, but once they get a nice color, the flavor becomes quite nice, even while they are still firm. You can eat or cook with them like a crunchy apple. Given enough time, they too can soften and become more pudding like (similar to the Hachiya persimmons), but most often they are eaten or cooked while crunchy. Here’s a great article on different varieties of persimmons for all you persimmon-nerds like us.

Best Persimmon for Cookies

What is the best type of persimmon for this recipe? By far, the Hachiya (and similar varieties) are the best kind for the cookies. You want a soft persimmon puree, and the Hachiyas, when ripe are exactly that. Just pop off the top and scoop out the flesh. It should be so soft, you barely need to mix it to have a puree texture (a few smallish lumps are fine in the cookies). You can use the Fuyu types if they are given the chance to ripen up really soft, but they won’t always ripe properly that soft if they are picked too soon (which often happens when picked commercially).

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Persimmon Cookies Recipe QUICK, EASY | White On Rice Couple (4)

Persimmon Cookies Recipe

Yield: 36 cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

These are a gloriously soft, moist cookie. This recipe based on as written from my grandmother's recipe card. Dough freezes well.

4.60 from 45 votes

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (113 g) butter , softened
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) baking soda
  • 1 cup (260 g) ripe persimmon pulp (about 1-2 very ripe persimmons)
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) kosher salt or sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml) ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml) ground clove
  • 1 cup (120 g) chopped toasted nuts (walnuts or pecans are our favorite choices)
  • 1 cup (145 g) raisins or dried cranberries

Equipment

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to Bake at 325°F/163°C. Grease or line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

  • Scoop the persimmon pulp from the fruit. (The easiest way we've found to do that is to lift the top leaf/stem section from the persimmon, then use a spoon to scoop out the pulp.) Break up the pulp a little to make the texture less varied. (It will get broken up more when you beat it into the batter. It's ok to have some bite sized intact pieces).

  • Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg, and then add baking soda and persimmon pulp. Mix well (the mixture may still be a bit clumpy).

  • In another bowl combine flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and whisk together by hand until well combined, about 30 seconds.

  • Stir the dry mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined. Stir in the nuts and raisins or cranberries. (Chilling the cookie dough at this point will help give fluffier cookies.)

  • Drop spoonfuls of the dough onto the prepared sheet pan (a medium cookie scoop works great for this step). Keep cookies small and far apart as they spread out.

  • Bake at 325°F/163°C for 15-18 minutes or until set and light golden around the edges. Allow to cool and serve.

Video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 115kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 67mg, Potassium: 88mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 86IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 115

Love for our Persimmon Tree

Our Homegrown Persimmons (these are a giant fuyu that have been allowed to fully ripen). We were able to eat it crunchy like an apple and when they ripened soft, they were perfect for cookies. Update: Our persimmon tree died in 2016 due to the drought. But thankfully we have the photos to remember their gorgeous and delicious memories. We have a new tree (a regular fuyu – not a giant fuyu), that we’ve started and will hopefully take off and be as beautiful as its predecessor.

Persimmon Cookies Recipe QUICK, EASY | White On Rice Couple (12)
Persimmon Cookies Recipe QUICK, EASY | White On Rice Couple (13)
Persimmon Cookies Recipe QUICK, EASY | White On Rice Couple (14)
Persimmon Cookies Recipe QUICK, EASY | White On Rice Couple (15)

More Easy Recipes

  • persimmon fool pudding
  • crispy potato pancakes
  • heirloom tomato salad
  • Grandma’s fudge
  • easy homemade fudge

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60 comments on “Grandma’s Persimmon Cookies”

  1. Sherry December 6, 2023 @ 10:55 am Reply

    I just made a batch of these persimmon cookies. They are moist and tasty, but I think the recipe would benefit from a little more salt and a teaspoon of vanilla to really make the flavors pop. Surprisingly, the cookies are not that sweet. I have never made persimmon cookies before but I noticed a lot of recipes have a sugar glaze on top. That might be a nice addition to these cookies as well. Overall, the recipe is definitely worthy of making again.Persimmon Cookies Recipe QUICK, EASY | White On Rice Couple (19)

  2. Jo Jenkins April 16, 2020 @ 4:14 am Reply

    So 9 years after you posted this recipe, I see that I’m another quarantine baker using their frozen pulp. My spouse took out 2 cups of frozen pulp, and I mistakenly removed another 4 cups from the freezer (long story)…so I had to find another way to use other than pudding. We already made 2 batches of that! So I hunted for just the right cookie recipe, and yours was perfect. I used both dark & golden raisins and made a double batch. I iced the cookies while they were still warm for a nice glazed effect. My spouse declared that they were better than any of the cookie batches I made at Christmas. So this recipes will be a seasonal tradition!Persimmon Cookies Recipe QUICK, EASY | White On Rice Couple (20)

    • April 16, 2020 @ 5:23 pm Reply

      That’s awesome. So glad everyone loved the cookies & thanks for sharing!

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Persimmon Cookies Recipe QUICK, EASY | White On Rice Couple (2024)

FAQs

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.

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.

How to prepare persimmons for baking? ›

Peel and cut the tops off of the persimmons, cut them in half crosswise. Place cut side up in baking dish. In a small bowl, combine honey, melted butter, lemon juice, cinnamon, allspice, ginger and salt.

What do I do with a persimmon? ›

Fuyu persimmons are incredibly versatile… not only can you eat them raw in a salad or wrap a slice in a piece of prosciutto and drizzle it with balsamic glaze, but you can also cut them into wedges and roast them, or make a chutney to accompany roasted pork like I did. They also make a great upside down cake!

What not to mix with persimmon? ›

Potato and persimmon: if you eat them together very often they can form kidney stones.

Are persimmons a natural laxative? ›

The fruit is easily chewable and has a delicious flavour, but it is not recommended for diabetics, obese and sufferers of gastroduodenal ulcer. Persimmons have a creamy and sweet pulp and have laxative, diuretic and hepatoprotective.

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 do persimmons make my mouth weird? ›

This sensation can be described as dry, puckering, or even like your mouth has been coated with a layer of silt or talc. The reason behind this peculiar feeling is the high tannin content in persimmons [2]. Tannins are a class of astringent chemical compounds found in plants, including persimmons.

Is it bad to eat a persimmon that is not ripe? ›

There are two different kinds, fuyu and hachiya. Hachiyas are more acorn shaped, and you really shouldn't eat them before they're ripe, since they'll taste bitter and chalky; ripe hachiyas are sweet and squishy, and dark orange-red. Fuyus are lighter, like a yellow-orange color, and more tomato-shaped.

Which type of persimmon is best for baking? ›

Fuyu persimmons serve a multi-purpose use. They're best eaten raw or sliced and added to salads, cereal, smoothies, but they are also suitable for baking and roasting. Hachiya persimmons, on the other hand, boast a creamy, jelly-like consistency best for baked goods such as muffins, cookies, bread, and puddings.

What is the difference between a persimmon and a Sharon fruit? ›

Sharon fruits are persimmons that have been placed in a modified atmosphere to remove the astringency typically found in the variety's flesh. Removing astringency allows for the persimmons to be consumed when firm or soft, a trait distinguishing the fruits from Triumph persimmons.

How do you soften persimmons for baking? ›

Persimmons will ripen and soften at room temperature or by wrapping the fruit in paper or a paper bag will increase the concentration of ethylene gas to enhance the ripening time. Once ripe, store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

What pairs well with persimmons? ›

The flavor of the persimmon is mild and sweet, almost like squash or pumpkin, so pair it with warm, autumn spices, like cinnamon and cloves.

What do Japanese do with persimmons? ›

Hachiya persimmons are often used in the traditional practice of making "Hoshi-gaki" or dried persimmons and they're treated to a life in the lap of luxury. After being hung out to dry and forming new skin, they are peeled and then treated to daily massages for at least a month to unleash their deep flavor potential.

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.

How do you reduce astringency in persimmons? ›

Storage at − 20 °C and − 80 °C temperatures up to 60 days has been found to be an effective method to remove astringency of persimmon fruits.

What are the benefits of baking soda on fruit? ›

The benefits of baking soda.

Baking soda and water can be an effective way of removing some pesticides. A 2017 study found that submerging apples in a baking soda solution for 2 minutes removed more pesticides than a 2-minute soak in a bleach solution or a rinse under running tap water.

What happens when you add baking soda to fruit? ›

Baking soda is a natural cleaning agent that decomposes and lifts off leftover pesticide residue on produce. It also has abrasive qualities that scrub off dirt and other debris on the surface of fruits and vegetables. Vinegar is another common solution that's used to clean produce.

What does baking soda do for fruit? ›

The US Food and Drug Administration, the US Department of Agriculture and other scientists agree: use a cold water soak with baking soda to effectively help remove dirt, chemical residue, and other unwanted materials from your fresh vegetables and fruits.

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