Old Fashioned Persimmon Pudding Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

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If you are looking for an old fashioned persimmon pudding recipe, look no farther. Our version is authentic and pure and full of true persimmon flavor.This simple recipe tastes like just like it should – like persimmons! Move over pumpkin, here comes the persimmon.

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Persimmon Pudding History

Are you familiar with persimmons? They are a fruit that grow wild in parts of the United States, including Indiana. Persimmons are orange in color, and they most often taste sweet and mellow. In appearance, persimmons are oval shaped with a waxy skin, thicker than that of a tomato.

While persimmons can be eaten raw, they are often turned into a dessert called Persimmon Pudding. This dessert comes in many forms – sometimes persimmon pudding is thicker and is cut into bars, or you’ll find it as a true, scoop-able pudding.

Some persimmon pudding recipes contain cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves to make it a taste like fall, but our recipe is true, pure persimmon flavor. Take a bite, and you’ll know it’s the sweet flavor of persimmon season.

How to Pulp a Persimmon

Our first tip: find a friend to gift you persimmon pulp already processed (Thanks Corey). Or purchase persimmon pulp already processed. IF this doesn’t work, or you can’t find persimmon pulp, proceed as follows to make your own.

  1. Cut persimmon in half.
  2. Remove seeds with a spoon.
  3. Add persimmons to food processor, and pulse until smooth.
  4. Pour persimmon mixture through a sieve, using the back of a spoon to force the mixture through.

Old Fashioned Persimmon Pudding Recipe

Let me tell you the story of this vintage persimmon pudding.

I’d like to say a friendship began with this version of persimmon pudding. At work, I was making small-talk with a client, and we began talking about food (my favorite topic). The conversation turned to These Old Cookbooks, and my love for old fashioned, vintage recipes.

Vintage recipes are a great topic of conversation. Everyone has a favorite recipe to share and a story behind it. This recipe is famous in the family of its owner. My client’s mom has been making this persimmon pudding for almost 30 years, and legend has it that anybody who truly loves persimmons goes bonkers over it. His mom had searched high and low for the perfect persimmon pudding recipe, and eventually she found a winner with this one.

Here’s the best part! They gifted me a copy of the recipe, and 2 cups of persimmon pulp all ready to go. It was epic!

Old Fashioned Persimmon Pudding Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (5)

How to tell when persimmon pudding is done?

This recipe is actually pretty unique. For one, it doesn’t contain any spices; instead the flavor comes straight from the persimmon. Secondly, the pudding bakes in the oven, and every 20 minutes, you open up the oven to stir.

The first time, it looks like a cake batter starting to form. The second, the color starts to darken, and each time more caramelization occurs and the color develops more and more. As a food scientist, I loved making this persimmon pudding. The science, the color change, the texture change – it was so much fun to bake!

Ingredient List

  • All Purpose Flour
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Baking Soda
  • Milk
  • Large Eggs
  • Persimmon Pulp

How to Make Persimmon Pudding

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Whisk flour, sugar and baking soda in a large bowl.
  2. Add 2 eggs, one at a time to the flour mixture, whisking until mixed. (No electric mixer needed.)
  3. Next, add 1 cup of milk while whisking; then add the persimmon pulp, followed by the remaining milk. Stir wet ingredients until a batter-like mixture forms.
  4. Pour into a deep, oven-proof baking dish (like a Dutch oven).
  5. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 1 hour, 40 minutes. Stir mixture every 20 minutes of baking.
  6. Remove from oven, and pour into a serving dish. Let cool completely before refrigerating.
  7. Serve topped with whipped cream

For the full recipe for Grandma’s Persimmon Pudding, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Recipe FAQs

  • Bake uncovered in a deep vessel. A dutch oven works great.
  • Stir the pudding every 20 minutes of baking until smooth. The color and texture will change each time.
  • Remove from oven and immediately pour into a serving dish.
  • Let cool completely before refrigerating.
  • Eat warm or cold from the refrigerator.
  • This keeps great when covered in the fridge.
  • Serve topped with whipped cream.
  • Love old fashioned pudding desserts? Try our Date Pudding with a warm sauce!

Our Favorite Vintage Dessert Recipes

Check out some more of our favorite vintage dessert recipes:

Lemon Meringue Pie

Sour Cream Apple Bars

Grandma’s Rhubarb Pie

Cream Cheese Mints

Grandma’s Fantasy Fudge

Old Fashioned Persimmon Pudding Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (13)

Is persimmon pudding supposed to be refrigerated?

Yes, the moist nature of persimmon requires it to be kept in the refrigerator to prevent mold growth.

Linking up to Weekend Potluck!

Old Fashioned Persimmon Pudding Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (14)

Print Recipe

Old Fashioned Persimmon Pudding

If you are looking for an old fashioned persimmon pudding recipe, look no farther. Our version is authentic and pure and full of true persimmon flavor. This simple recipe tastes like just like it should—like persimmons!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: amish persimmon pudding, old fashioned persimmon pudding, persimmon pudding, simple persimmon pudding

Servings: 16

Calories: 187kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 cups milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups persimmon pulp

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  • In a bowl, whisk sugar, flour and baking soda.

  • In a small bowl, crack both eggs. Add one at a time to the dry ingredients; whisk to incorporate.

  • Add one cup of the milk, and mix with the whisk.

  • Add the persimmon pulp, and mix well; add remaining milk and whisk until smooth and batter- like.

  • Pour into a deep, oven proof vessel (like a Dutch oven).

  • Bake for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Stir – scraping the sides and bottom – until smooth every 20 minutes. The pudding will start to resemble a batter and then will darken and thicken as it cooks.

  • Remove from oven, and pour into a serving dish. Let cool completely; cover and refrigerate.

  • To serve, spoon into a dish and top with whipped cream.

Notes

  • Bake uncovered in a deep vessel. A dutch oven works great.
  • Stir the pudding every 20 minutes of baking until smooth. The color and texture will change each time.
  • Remove from oven and immediately pour into a serving dish.
  • Let cool completely before refrigerating.
  • Eat warm or cold from the refrigerator.
  • This keeps great when covered in the fridge.
  • Serve topped with whipped cream.
  • Love old fashioned pudding desserts? Try our Date Pudding with a warm sauce!
  • The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 100mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 129IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg

Old Fashioned Persimmon Pudding Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (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 can I do with a ton of persimmons? ›

A number of community members suggest freezing persimmons whole, which results in instant persimmon sorbet (Psst: Recipes don't get any easier than this). You can also dry persimmons: “Do as the Japanese have done for centuries and dry them to make a delicious chewy fruit snack,” says Jan Weber.

How do you get persimmon pulp? ›

The seeds and stem can be removed and the pulp strained through a strainer, pushing the pulp through with a rubber spatula. A food mill will make faster work of this if you have a large persimmon harvest. Or you can put the fruit with the peel in a blender or food processor and process until smooth.

What should you not eat with persimmon? ›

Dairy: Consuming dairy products like milk, yogurt, or cheese immediately before or after eating persimmons may lead to digestive issues for some people. This is because persimmons are acidic and can curdle milk, potentially causing stomach discomfort. To avoid this, consider spacing out the consumption of dairy.

Why does my persimmon taste weird in my mouth? ›

Tannins are also responsible for the astringent taste and mouthfeel in other foods and beverages like strong tea and wine. Unripe persimmons have a particularly high tannin content, which is why they can be extremely astringent and unpleasant to eat.

Is it OK to eat 2 persimmons a day? ›

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.

Is it OK to eat a lot of persimmons? ›

Ingesting massive amounts of persimmons can cause bezoars to form. A bezoar is a hard mass that can lead to gastric obstruction. A diospyrobezoar is a subtype of bezoar. Diospyrobezoar are specific to persimmons.

Why aren t persimmons more popular? ›

The common persimmon is rarely grown as a food or ornamental plant. One reason for is that it is extremely slow growing. It takes four to eight years for a tree to bloom for the first time. Then the tree often won't begin producing fruit for another three years.

What does persimmon pudding taste like? ›

Sweet but subtle, persimmon pudding often contains hints of nutmeg or cinnamon, added spices that some say resemble the natural taste of the fruit.

Can dogs eat persimmons? ›

Yes, dogs can safely eat persimmon fruits as an occasional treat. While dogs can consume persimmon skin, they should not eat the seeds because these cause digestive problems. In addition, you should only feed your dog a few slices or a small handful a day, as large amounts of persimmons can lead to an upset stomach.

Where did persimmon pudding originate? ›

Persimmon Pudding is an American dessert. It has its roots in Native American cuisine which used native fruits to make loaves of bread. Although this pudding is similar to English breakfast puddings such as English Toffee Pudding, Fig pudding, or Quince pudding, this one originated here in the US.

What is the persimmon seed trick? ›

The persimmon seed may either have a fork, knife, or spoon shape on its inside. The fork is said to stand for a mild winter, while the knife shape means that there will be fridged winds. The spoon shape is supposed to represent a shovel and therefore you could expect plenty of snow in the upcoming winter.

Why do persimmons turn black inside? ›

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.

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.

Is it safe to eat persimmon with black spots? ›

If your persimmon flesh has some brown spots, don't worry—these are harmless and usually caused by a high concentration of sugars. Persimmons can simply be eaten by cutting them into slices as a fruity snack or delicious topping to porridge, oatmeal, or a bowl of yogurt.

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.

Can you eat dark persimmon? ›

Fuyu persimmons are still hard when ripe and will turn a slightly darker orange. They can be eaten when hard. Their skins are edible.

How can you tell if a persimmon is rotten? ›

An overripe persimmon tends to be mushy and may have dark, wrinkled skin. The color might be deeper than usual, and it could have an overly sweet, fermented smell.

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