California Persimmon Pudding Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Christmas

by: Miriam Bale

November30,2016

5

5 Ratings

  • Serves 10

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

Steamed persimmon pudding was a staple of Sunset Magazine and Bay Area Junior League cookbooks in the late 20th century. This version is slightly adapted from *Taste the Taste Seasons* by Linda Brandt, published by Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary to Children's Hospital at Stanford. It makes a perfect dessert for Thanksgiving or Christmas when persimmons are in season. (If using Hachiya persimmons as recommended, make sure the fruit is completely soft and jelly-ripe to avoid the pucker factor of unripe persimmons.) —Miriam Bale

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • Steamed Persimmon Pudding
  • 3 very ripe Hachiya persimmons* [see note below]
  • 1 1/2 teaspoonsbaking soda
  • 1/2 cupbutter (softened)
  • 1 1/4 cupssugar (or to taste, adjusted according to sweetness of fruit and accompanying sauces)
  • 2 lightly beaten eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoonsvanilla
  • 1 tablespoonbrandy (adjust to taste, up to 3 tablespoons)
  • 1 teaspoonlemon juice
  • 1 cupflour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoonscinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoonsalt
  • 1/2 cupchopped walnuts
  • 1 cupraisins
  • Lemon Sauce
  • 1/3 cupsugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoonscornstarch (disolved in water)
  • 2/3 cupwater
  • 2/3 cuporange juice
  • 2 teaspoonsgrated lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoonsfresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoonsbutter
Directions
  1. Steamed Persimmon Pudding
  2. Grease a 2-quart pudding mold and its lid with butter or spray with nonstick spray. (You can substitute foil for the lid.)
  3. Peel persimmons and place in a blender or food processor. Whirl until smooth, then transfer to a measuring cup. You should have about 1 cup of purée. Stir in baking soda; set aside. [*Note these should be extremely ripe, almost gooey Hachiya persimmons, bought or picked well in advance. In a pinch, very soft chopped Fuya can be added or substituted. This is preferable to Hachiya that are not completely soft, which will be too bitter to use.]
  4. Cream butter with sugar in a large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, lemon juice, brandy, and persimmon purée, whisking well to combine. [The persimmon purée will have hardened because of the baking soda, and may be difficult to incorporate. I find using the blender useful at this point, but some orange speckles in the mixture will still lead to a fine result.]
  5. Sift flour with cinnamon and salt into persimmon mixture. Stir to combine; fold in raisins and walnuts.
  6. Spoon mixture into prepared mold and secure lid (or cover tightly with foil). Place on a rack in a large pot filled with 2 inches of boiling water. Cover and steam for at least 2 1/2 hours, adding more boiling water as needed. Remove and set aside for ten minutes to cool.
  7. Invert pudding onto serving plate to unmold. Serve warm with traditional hard sauce or, as I prefer, with lightly sweetened whipped cream flavored with brandy to taste. Can also be served with Lemon Sauce (recipe below), as recommended in original recipe.
  1. Lemon Sauce
  2. To make sauce, combine sugar, cornstarch, water and orange juice in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, for 3 to 4 minutes until thickened. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes longer or until sauce is transparent. Stir in zest, lemon juice, and butter. Cool.
  3. Offer lemon sauce separately. Consider doubling if it's the sole sauce offered. [Note: The sauce is delightful, though I think even better on French Toast, or with whipped cream on a meringue or simple cake.]

Tags:

  • Pudding
  • Fruit
  • Brandy
  • Lemon Juice
  • Orange Juice
  • Persimmon
  • Raisin
  • Walnut
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Christmas
  • Thanksgiving

Popular on Food52

16 Reviews

arbequina December 18, 2022

Made this in an improvised steamer with a square cake pan mounted in a dutch oven and it turned out great! Baked at 300 (in a closed water bath in the dutch oven) and it was perfect. Super moist and spicy -- great texture and flavor. I may spring for a pretty bundt-shaped pudding mold if this becomes a staple.

GirlWomanPerson November 21, 2020

I made this three times in one week (without the brandy). It's just a really good, moist, sweet and spiced dessert. You can steam it in a water bath in the oven too, which is great.

GirlWomanPerson November 13, 2020

Made it without the brandy. It's simple and fantastic. The pudding is soft and sweet and the flavor of the persimmons holds up.

I also tried halving the recipe for a 4 cup mold and it worked too.

NXL March 12, 2020

I bought a pudding mold just to try this recipe, and I'm so glad I did! This is one of the most delicious, moist, dense cakes I've ever made . The lemon sauce is perfect with it.

Caroline November 30, 2018

Excellent. My 95 year old mother loves persimmon baked goods but can’t cook for herself any longer. My neighbor gave me some Hachiyas, so I tried this. My mother, sister and nieces thought it was fabulous, as did I.

I followed the recipe very closely. To cook it, I improvised, putting the batter into a glass casserole dish with glass lid, and placing that inside my great-grandmothers old roasting pan on a rack, and opening the steam vent in the very high lid. Added boiling water and put it in the oven. That was a busy day, so this is an estimate, but I think I steamed it for almost 3 hours at about 300 degrees. It was very moist, even a little gooey, in the middle but more cakelike at the edges. Adjust cooking time accordingly.

I was impatient to turn it out, so a little stuck to the bottom of the casserole; do let it cool first.

The lemon sauce is very good. I followed the suggestion to double the recipe. But one batch would be adequate if you don’t want the pudding swimming in sauce or leftover for other uses.

I will definitely make this again!!

Jennifer E. December 8, 2017

My great grandmother lived in L.A. and passed this same recipe with the lemon curd on to my mother and it has been part of our Thanksgiving/Christmas repetoire for the last 50 years. So fun to know it is unique to California, she must have seen it in the LA Times or Sunset!

Margarita U. January 1, 2017

To avoid problem mentioned in recipe with persimmons hardening I first creamed butter and had in separate bowls the eggs with brandy, the walnuts and the raisins. When it called for persimmons I then took out pulp and pureed it adding baking soda. Let it rest a few minutes then no problem adding fruit.

Margarita U. January 1, 2017

Delicious but mine fell apart. First tried steaming but instructions weren't clear. I couldn't get a rack inside a pot with cover. So steamed uncovered then baked. It fell apart but very tasty. I looked online and you can place a shallow bowl upside down in a pot so base of pudding tin doesn't have direct contact with heat. Then cover with lid. Other persimmon pudding recipes mention baking.

carswell December 22, 2016

I just put the pulp of 4 very ripe persimmons in the freezer. This recipe seems perfect for them.

Gabriella December 16, 2016

What kind of mold do you recommend? Would a glass dish work, or is a bundt pan better?

PJ December 14, 2016

My father made steamed Persimmon puddings (my parents lived in SF). I don’t remember where he got the recipe, but it was delicious. We would each get one to take home. One year we used the microwave to steam the puddings quicker. It worked like a charm. Now I have to find the recipe.

Ttrockwood December 6, 2016

I was born and raised in CA, visit often since my family has always lived there, and we even have a persimmon tree. But i have never ever seen persimmon pudding on a restaurant menu, in a bakery, at a holiday dinner, or offered at friends' homes....it may have been popular at one point but certainly not in the past 30yrs or so

Miriam B. December 6, 2016

Where in California? Were your parents & grandparents born there? I've heard feedback from others who have this as a family tradition, but mostly people saying their mothers or grandmothers made it.
Anyway, how lucky to have a persimmon tree in the family. You should try it!

Claire S. December 8, 2016

Maybe it's just the part of CA you lived in? I had a lovely persimmon pudding at the restaurant Camino in Oakland a few weeks ago!

antjas December 1, 2016

Did you really mean 1 tablespoon beaten eggs?

Miriam B. December 1, 2016

No, formatting error! Thanks for catching. (It should be two eggs.)

California Persimmon Pudding Recipe on Food52 (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 the difference between fuyu and hachiya persimmons? ›

Hachiya persimmons tend to be a little larger than Fuyu and are more acorn shaped. The main difference between Hachiya persimmons and Fuyus is that Hachiyas are extremely astringent until they are completely soft and ripe. If you bite into a hard, unripe Hachiya, you'll never forget it! Talk about mouth puckering.

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.

What is the persimmon season? ›

Just be sure to catch them while you can! They are in season from October through January. What to look for: Two common varieties are Hachiya and Fuyu; they differ slightly in appearance but have unique textures and flavors. Hachiya persimmons are round with one pointy end (think: super-sized acorn).

Why add baking soda to persimmon pulp? ›

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 do persimmons make my mouth weird? ›

Persimmons contain tannins, a type of plant compound that can make your mouth feel dry, chalky, or puckered.

What is the sweetest persimmon fruit? ›

When persimmon fans are asked which variety is the best-tasting, you may hear maru, suruga, saijo and even the Native American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) that grows in the Southeast as far west as Oklahoma. Its fruits are small but very sweet when soft.

Should you refrigerate persimmons? ›

It is best to store them at room temperature. Ripe persimmons are best eaten immediately, but you can refrigerate them for 1 or 2 days. Unripe persimmons will keep in the refrigerator for up to one month. Keep refrigerated persimmons unwashed in a plastic bag.

What is the best persimmon to eat? ›

As they ripen, they become jelly-like, just like the Hachiya variety. Fuyu persimmons are the better choice for eating raw because they're much more pleasant to eat even when they're crunchy.

What not to mix with persimmon? ›

Tea and persimmon contain tannins, which have been found to make protein harder to digest. So when tea and persimmon are eaten with crab, which is rich in protein, we might experience indigestion.

What are the health benefits of a persimmon? ›

Persimmons are a good source of vitamins A and C as well as manganese, which helps the blood to clot. They also have other antioxidants, which help reduce the risk of many serious health conditions including cancer and stroke. One serving of persimmons contains approximately: Calories: 118.

What do Japanese do with dried persimmon? ›

In Japan, Hoshigaki are eaten by themselves as a quick snack or eaten with walnuts and/or with Traditional Desserts like Dango, Mochi, or Raindrop Cake.

How many persimmons can you eat a day? ›

Persimmons may cause allergies in some people. Additionally, excessive consumption of persimmons can also lead to intestinal blockages, diarrhoea, vomiting, and other types of stomach related problems. Therefore, it is best to eat only one persimmon in a day.

Do persimmons grow in California? ›

Persimmon, Diospyros kaki L., is native to China and was first brought to the US in the mid 1850's (Ryugo et al., 1988). Most domestic commercial production of persimmons is centered in California, principally in Fresno, Tulare and San Diego counties.

Is Sharon fruit the same as persimmon? ›

Sharon Fruit, also known as Persimmon or Kaki, boasts a vibrant orange skin with a glossy finish. Unlike some other persimmon varieties, the Sharon Fruit remains firm even when ripe and can be eaten like an apple. It offers a sweet flavour with honeyed undertones and a slightly crunchy texture.

Why are my persimmons turning black? ›

On one hand, the application of heat treatments such as hot water or hot air can cause damage and discoloration in the fruit. On the other, although the main manifestation of chilling injury in persimmon is associated with textural changes, in some cases it has been also related to internal browning.

What is the black mold on my persimmons? ›

Fungal and bacterial infections cause black spots on persimmon leaves. High humidity and overwatering exacerbate the problem; proper care is crucial. Use fungicides and prune to treat and prevent further leaf damage.

Are black persimmons edible? ›

The fruits, borne on female trees, are edible once soft, with a flavor some liken to prunes, and are favorites of many birds and mammals.

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.

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