Persimmon Cookies Recipe (2024)

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Quick Summary

Spicy, soft, and moist persimmon cookies with raisins and a sweet orange glaze. This persimmon cookie recipe uses ripe Hachiya persimmons.

It’s December which means it’s time to turn on the ovens and get baking. My holiday baking list is long so I can’t waste any time. I asked Josh if he had any requests for Christmas cookies this year and of course he added his favorite Lime Coconut Snowballsand Brown Butter Salted Caramel Snickerdoodlesto the list, but he also asked if we could make Persimmon Cookies. I looked at him with a blank stare. I’ve never even had a persimmon or a persimmon cookie. Josh said his mom used to make Persimmon Cookies every year and he loved them. Well, Josh’s mom came to visit us last week from California and brought us a bag full of persimmons. Guess what we made? Yep, a batch of Josh’s mom’s famous Persimmon Cookies.

Josh’s mom had to show me what to do with a persimmon. I was clueless:) I guess there are two kinds of persimmons, Fuyu and Hachiyas, we used Hachiyas persimmons, which are better for baking. Make sure your persimmons are nice and ripe. We scooped out the pulp from the fruit to use in our cookies. The pulp is bright orange and sort of slimy:) I was a little afraid, but Josh’s mom promised me it was going to produce a good cookie…and she was right:)

The cookies have a few of my favorite spices-cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. The cookies also have raisins in them. If you are a raisin hater, you can leave them out or add dried cranberries, but we love our raisins:) Josh’s mom sometimes adds walnuts to the cookies, but since Josh is allergic, we left them out. The cookies have a cake-like texture and are super soft. They aren’t the prettiest cookie on their own, but the orange glaze dresses them up a bit and compliments the spices.

Ingredients

For the cookies:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup persimmon pulp, from about 3 persimmons
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries, optional

For the orange glaze:

2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter with the sugar. Beat in persimmon pulp, egg, and vanilla. Slowly add in the flour mixture until everything is combined. Fold in the walnuts, if using, and raisins.
Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for approximately 12-14 minutes or until cookies are brown around the edges and set. Let cool on baking sheets for five minutes and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the orange glaze, in a medium bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, orange juice, and zest together. Start with 2 tablespoons and can add more if the glaze is too thick. Whisk until smooth. Dip the cookie tops into the glaze and twirl the cookie. Set cookies back on wire rack for glaze to harden.

Nutrition

Calories: 140kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 66mg, Potassium: 80mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 89IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 1mg

Keywords cookies

Have you tried this recipe?

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If you like these Persimmon Cookies, you might also like:

Soft Gingersnap Cookies
Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

FAQs

What can I do with too many 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.

Know More ›

Which 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.

Tell Me More ›

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.

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How to prepare persimmons for baking? ›

Trim the leaves off the top of the fruit, remove the stem, and slice the persimmon in half. Continue slicing the fruit into wedges, removing the black seeds from the center. Eat the fruit slices raw (like an apple), add them to a salad or cheese plate, or use them in baked desserts.

What Cannot be eaten 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.

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What is the disadvantage of persimmon? ›

While ripe persimmons have lower levels of this compound and are safe to eat, unripe ones may cause adverse reactions. Symptoms of persimmon tannin poisoning can include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.