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.

How do you soften persimmons for baking? ›

Just like any dried fruit, you soak them. It doesn't take long (about an hour) and you can soak them in water, in fruit juice, or in a liquor/liqueur like rum, brandy, even something like limoncello, if you want some added zing in your cookies or cake.

What persimmons are good 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.

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 not to mix with persimmon? ›

Another set of cold food groupings to avoid include having crab with tea or persimmon. Xie explained: “Crab meat is a very cold type of food in TCM theory, and persimmon fruit is also cold in nature. Most people should avoid eating this food combination, as it can be hard on the digestive system.”

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 when 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.

Are persimmons good for you? ›

Persimmons are low in calories and high in fiber – a combination that makes them a good choice for weight control. Their mix of antioxidants and nutrients – including vitamins A and C – makes them ideal for a healthy diet.

Why cant you eat persimmons on an empty stomach? ›

Can I eat persimmon on an empty stomach? A. No, eating persimmons on an empty stomach is not advisable. Eating persimmons on an empty stomach may lead to the secretion of gastric juice leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting and gas.

What to do with too many persimmons? ›

One of the best options for copious amounts of any food is to freeze some for later. HalfPint suggests pureeing the persimmon pulp, putting it into plastic freezer bags to maximize your freezer space, and then making persimmon bread, smoothies, and steamed pudding with the thawed fruit pulp later on.

Are persimmons better with or without skin? ›

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 are the black things in persimmons? ›

🍄 Fungal Foes: Common Culprits Behind the Spots

Fungal infections are the prime suspects when black spots crash the persimmon leaf party. Cercospora and Anthracnose are the usual troublemakers, leaving their mark with spots that may have a powdery or bull's-eye appearance.

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

A yellow persimmon is edible, but not fully ripe. Do not eat an unripe green persimmon. Green persimmons will always taste astringent (whether they're of the sweet variety or astringent variety). You can eat persimmons overripe as well, with a spoon.

What is the black mold on my persimmons? ›

This disease is also known as bud blight, twig blight, shoot blight, leaf blight, or foliar blight. 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.

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? ›

This means “sturdy items with smooth skin will hold up the best (apples, pears, some melons and squash, etc.),” says House. Beyond that, studies have shown that while washing produce in a baking soda solution can reduce pesticide residues by 66.7–98.9%, washing in tap water alone can reduce by 26.7–62.9%.

How do you make persimmons less bitter? ›

In Indonesia, astringency from persimmons is removed by covering it with chalk. They should be left on the tree and not picked until after a hard frost. The short, light, freeze softens and sweetens them and takes away bitterness. Don't try putting them in your freezer, you'll probably ruin them.

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