Persimmon Paintings and Cookies

abstract acrylic painting of two persimmons over strips of newprint

I broke out my acrylic paints for the first time in a long time – it felt good to just paint without any real goal in mind, just mixing color and having fun. I had some Fuyu persimmons in my fruit bowl and so they became an impromptu still life. I’ve always loved the color of persimmons – they always evoke autumn for me (they ripen here in October/November). I painted the top picture over strips of newspaper to give it more texture.

A few weeks ago I ran across a blog calling for artists and writers to submit recipes to share to help each other through the pandemic. I thought it sounded fun and community minded…but I did not get it together in time to participate in the call! But in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow, I’m going to share my recipe for Persimmon cookies. My grandmother gave me the recipe, but I’m 98% sure she got it from a cookbook (so it’s not some ancestral family recipe or anything). I’ve baked them many times and they make the whole house smell amazing and it is a fun way to entice Persimmon-doubters to try the fruit.

Persimmon Spice Cookies

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup of persimmon pulp (I’ve used both common varieties of persimmon – fuyu and hachiya. Hachiya gives a stronger persimmon flavor, but you have to wait until the fruit is extremely ripe before using due to astringency)
2 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
juice and grated peel from half a large orange
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup finely chopped pecans (optional – I don’t use but it’s in the original recipe)
1 cup golden raisins (I’ve also used dried cherries and that works too!)

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and add persimmon pulp. Sift all dry ingredients together and stir into egg mixture. Add pecans and raisins (if using). Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 375 degrees F for ~12 minutes. The cookies should be soft and cake-like. Enjoy!

For my friends and readers in the U.S., I hope you have a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday! I myself am staying home this year, so no travels for me this year – the first time in a very long time!

Acrylic painting of 4 persimmons


13 comments

  1. Between the painting and the recipe, I’m ready to eat these cookies! Thanks for the recipe! I know my son will love them. And maybe I can figure out a gluten free substitute so I can eat them, too! I make GF oatmeal raising cookies, so am thinking I could make this work.

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    1. Thank you, Jilanne! Let me know if you do wind up doing a GF version and how it turns out – I have several friends who are GF and I’d love to try to make a batch that way!

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  2. So vivid! Somehow I have got to nearly 50 years old and actually never tasted a persimmon. I will rectify that post haste, especially now that I have an interesting recipe. I’m the sort of person though for whom pecans are never *optional*. 😉

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    1. Thank you, Sunshine! I think you will like them – if you are at all nervous, start with the Fuyu type (short squat ones), they can be eaten straightaway and I think tend to be more mild in flavor. Enjoy!

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    1. Thank you, Kerfe! It was freeing to just paint without any plan or expectation – I need to do it more often, but its hard with a two year old who is VERY interested in all things art (have to wait until he is in bed)!

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    1. My grandmother had two very productive hachiya trees on in her yard and I miss them already (she passed away earlier this year and her property is being sold)

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  6. I have my grandma’s persimmon recipes too. There are trees on the property where we live and the last few years I gathered up a bunch and froze the pulp. When I share my persimmon baked good I hear a lot of grandma stories as we sit and munch on cookies. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

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    1. Thank you so much! I hope you had a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday. My grandmother had two very productive trees and we would always freeze the pulp. She passed away earlier this year and her property is being sold – I miss the trees already!

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