Home » Recipes » 23 Best Persimmon Recipes (& Produce Guide)
by Marcie //October 13, 2021 (updated 2/23/23)
This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using our links. Please see my privacy policy for more details.
If you’re wondering what to do with persimmons, look no further than this collection of 23 of the Best Persimmon Recipes! You’ll find recipes for persimmon cookies, cake, salad and jam to name a few, and you’ll also learn about the types of persimmons, nutrition information and more about this delicious fruit!
Fall is my favorite season hands down, and persimmons are a big part of that. I always hate saying good-bye to summer tomatoes and berries, but all I have to do is think about the start of persimmon season and I cheer right up!
I didn’t have any exposure to persimmons until my son came home from school in the 3rd grade and told me about a persimmon tasting that they’d had at school that day.
He told me how much he loved them, then he handed me three recipes that he’d gotten from school. One of the recipes was a salad, so I went right to the store to pick up the ingredients that I needed to make it.
That salad is still one of our favorite recipes, and my love for persimmons has only grown over the years. Now I use it everywhere I can in both sweet and savory recipes.
They’re so versatile and absolutely delicious. 🙂
What are persimmons?
Persimmons are edible fruits from the Diospyros family that originated in China, where it was cultivated for centuries. They spread to other parts of Asia including Korea and Japan, and finally the first plant was introduced in California in the mid 1800’s.
The word Diospyrosderives from the Greek words “dios” and “pyron”, which may be translated as “divine fruit”.
Persimmon color ranges from gold to deep orange, and they’re either round with a flat bottom or oblong like an acorn.
Common types of persimmons
The most common types of persimmons are fuyu and hachiya varieties, and while they look similar, they cannot be used interchangeably.
When are persimmons in season?
Persimmon season begins in the fall and ends in early winter.
How to tell if a persimmon is ripe
You can tell when persimmons are ripe as they’re very soft and they become deeper in color.
What does a persimmon taste like?
Persimmons have a sweet, honey flavor that’s reminiscent of an apricot. A soft, ripe persimmon is much sweeter than a firm one.
What is the difference between Fuyu and Hachiya persimmons?
Fuyu persimmons are rounded with a flat bottom and may be eaten raw when they’re crisp or very ripe.
Hachiya persimmons are acorn or heart shaped, and are astringent due to high tannin levels. This means that the fruit is inedible until it’s fully ripe (when ripe, the fruit is extremely soft).
How do you eat a persimmon?
Fuyu: Slice off the top and either slice into rounds or wedges. There’s no need to peel the persimmon as the skin is edible, and it adds a great texture as well. When fuyu persimmons are firm, they may be eaten like an apple, used in appetizers, or added to persimmon salad, salsa, etc. When they become very soft and ripe, they’re even sweeter, so they’re great to use in smoothies, jam and baking.
Hachiya: Hachiya persimmons should not be eaten raw unless they’re very soft as they’re extremely astringent. Once ripe, simply cut off the top and scoop out the soft flesh. From there, the pulp may be used in smoothies, jam and baking recipes like my persimmon cake.
Can you eat persimmon skin?
It depends on the type of persimmon! Fuyu persimmon skin is edible, but hachiya persimmons are very astringent, so the skin is usually not eaten.
Health benefits of persimmons
Persimmons have a multitude of nutritional benefits. They’re high in vitamins and minerals including Vitamin A, C and B, potassium and manganese. They also contain the plant compounds tannins and flavonoids.
Persimmons are also an excellent source of antioxidants, including flavonoids and beta-carotene.
How to store persimmons
I store my persimmons at room temperature in my fruit bowl for up to 5 days depending on ripeness. When the persimmons become very soft, I move them to the refrigerator and use them within a day or two.
Once very ripe, scoop the pulp from the persimmon. Store the flesh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
How to cut a persimmon
Simply remove the collar, then cut out the small core from the top (like you would a tomato). From there, scoop out the flesh or cut it into wedges, depending on the ripeness and type of persimmon you’re using.
More recipe round ups you’ll love:
- Butternut squash recipes
- Carrot recipes
- Corn recipes
- Cranberry recipes
- Delicata squash
- Fig recipes
- Leek recipes
- Kabocha squash recipes
- Poblano pepper recipes
- Pomegranate recipes
- Radish recipes
- Rhubarb recipes
- Shish*to pepper recipes
- Swiss Chard
- Tomatillo recipes
23 Persimmon Recipes
If you’ve ever wondered what to do with persimmons, you’re not alone. People ask me how to use them all the time, which prompted me to gather this collection of both sweet and savory persimmon recipes.
I hope the recipes below inspire you to enjoy this delicious fruit a number of different ways!
Persimmon Salad
Persimmon Salad is sweet, savory and absolutely delicious! It's tossed in an apple cider dressing and it comes together in minutes!
Get the Recipe
Persimmon Cake with Brown Butter Orange Frosting
Persimmon Cake with Brown Butter Orange Frosting is dense, moist and full of flavor! It's a delicious, versatile cake that's perfect for dessert, holidays and even breakfast and brunch!
Get the Recipe
Cranberry Apple Persimmon Sangria
I know you need a good holiday co*cktail and there’s nothing easier, (or prettier!) than a pitcher of fruity sangria!
Apple and Persimmon Salad with Chinese 5 Spice Cornbread Croutons
The star of the show in today’s apple and persimmon salad are these gorgeous persimmons!
Persimmon Cookies
A delicious seasonal persimmon cookies recipe that does an excellent job to highlight the honey-like flavor from ripened Fuyu persimmon fruit.
Get the Recipe
Avocado Toast with Persimmon, Pomegranate and Fennel
This toast is one of those “non-recipe” recipes. It starts with a simple avocado and goat cheese mash and is then topped with persimmon, pomegranate seeds and thinly sliced fennel.
Spiced Persimmon Smoothie
Persimmon smoothie is the perfect smoothie for fall. Made with persimmons, banana, ginger, cinnamon and cloves, it’s slightly spiced and deliciously sweet. It’s also quite the little immune booster!
Fall Harvest Salad
It’s a salad to end all salads. The Fall Harvest Salad is equal parts beautiful and delicious and while it looks fancy – it couldn’t be easier to throw together!
Paleo Persimmon Bread
This Paleo Persimmon Bread is a healthy treat that uses pureed Fuyu persimmons for flavor and moisture, and is loaded with toasted walnuts & golden raisins!
Harvest Cranberry, Persimmon and Burrata Salad.
Crisp and sweet, totally delicious and easy to prepare too! Perfectly fit for the Thanksgiving table.
Persimmon Bacon Bites with Rosemary Goat Cheese
These persimmon bacon bites with rosemary goat cheese are the perfect festive appetizer and only require four ingredients! This post is sponsored by Cavit in partnership with Honest Cooking.
Persimmon Cheesecake
You’ll love this classic New York cheesecake, nestled in a spicy gingersnap crust, and topped with a sweet and seasonal persimmon topping!
Kale Salad With Chickpeas, Cranberry & Persimmon
A delicious healthy kale salad recipe slowly roasted on a sheet pan to crunchy perfection! Roasted chickpeas, cranberry and persimmon kale salad is light and packed with sweet and spicy flavors!
Persimmon Chutney
This quick, easy persimmon chutney is amazing all on its own. Sweet, sour, lightly spiced.
Persimmon Coconut Overnight Oats
Persimmon Coconut Overnight Oats – sweet ripe fruit is combined with shredded coconut, rolled oats and almond milk for super-easy grab-and go breakfast.
Salad with Persimmons & Delicata Squash
Spinach salad with persimmons and delicata squash is a hearty and robust side dish. It’s finished with caramelized onions, pistachios, and white wine vinaigrette. Add it to your holiday table for a pop of fall color.
Get the Recipe
Persimmon Muffins
These are similar to banana muffins in that you add in the mashed fruit and it blends in to be part of the batter rather than in chunks. Hachiyas are best for this since they are more pulpy but if you have overripe fuyus, they would also work.
Red Sangria with Orange, Persimmon, and Pomegranate
Red Sangria with Orange, Persimmon, and Pomegranate is easy, classic red sangria with pinot noir wine, brandy and pomegranate juice!
Get the Recipe
Turmeric Persimmon Smoothie
This beautiful golden Turmeric Persimmon Smoothie is your ultimate Fall smoothie! Vegan, Easy & Delicious!
Vanilla Bean Pear Persimmon Pie
This vanilla bean pear persimmon pie deserves a feature on your holiday dessert table. Warm spiced pear and fuyu persimmon slices flecked with vanilla bean nestled into a buttery flakey vanilla gluten-free pie crust.
Roasted Delicata Squash, Fig and Persimmon Wild Rice Salad
Roasted Delicata Squash, Fig, and Persimmon Wild Rice Salad is packed with kale, pomegranate, and tossed in a spiced maple vinaigrette!
Persimmon Jam – No Sugar Added Easy Persimmon Jam Recipe
This simple persimmon jam uses no additional sugar or pectin! An easy, winter treat perfect for spreading on toast with no canning necessary.
Winter Fruit and Yogurt Breakfast Bowls
Loaded with persimmons, pomegranates and grapefruit segments, these bowls will have you falling in love with Winter fruits all over again.
Sources:
posted in: Fall, Produce Guides, Recipe Roundup, Recipes, Winter // 16 comments
Get new recipes in your inbox each week!
« Previous PostCrockpot BBQ Meatball Subs
Next Post »Fudgy Peanut Butter Brownies
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
-
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness — Reply
You are making me crave persimmons! Now I need to buy some this week 🙂
And I love your Thanksgiving feature on your homepage right now… such a good idea!
-
flavorthemoments — Reply
Thanks Nicole and I hope you get those persimmons! 🙂
-
-
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary — Reply
I had no idea what a persimmon was until culinary school! And I always forget we have a persimmon tree on our property until I see the small orange fruit every year. This guide is reminding me I need to go out there and check on it! And then obviously make all 23 of these recipes because they all sound delicious! Your produce guides are always the best, Marcie!! Cheers!
-
flavorthemoments — Reply
I knew what a persimmon was before culinary school but I’d never tried baking with them before that. It was life changing! Thanks so much Chey and I can’t wait to try these recipes as well! 🙂
-
-
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health — Reply
Oh man I want to go to that elementary school, lol! So cool that they introduced them to persimmons. I use to get them all the time when we lived in California but I haven’t seen them here at all. 🙁
Maybe next time we go to Atlanta I’ll be able to find them and make one of these delicious recipes. So much awesome inspiration!
-
flavorthemoments — Reply
The food tastings were such a great way to get kids to try new things…sadly it didn’t last long. 🙁 I wish I could send you some persimmons!
-
-
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven — Reply
I don’t cook with persimmons NEARLY as often as I should! I’m seriously dying over how amazing these look, Marcie! I wanna try each and every one of those gorgeous recipes!
-
flavorthemoments — Reply
Thank you Sarah! I can’t wait to try so many of these recipes too. 🙂
-
-
Katherine | Love In My Oven — Reply
It’s cute that your love of persimmons started with inspiration from your son! I must just glaze over these at the supermarket, because I’ve yet to notice them enough to buy them! You’ve convinced me that I must keep my eyes peeled for them next time I go!
-
flavorthemoments — Reply
My son was so adorable when he came home with those recipes and he still loves that salad. 🙂 Thanks Katherine and I hope you find some persimmons!
-
-
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking — Reply
I’ve never had a persimmon, but I think I need to go out and look for some! Love how versatile they are, and when they’re cut, they look so fresh and juicy! Thanks for sharing all of those recipes Marcie!
-
flavorthemoments — Reply
Persimmons are life changing…it isn’t fall for me without them now. 🙂
-
-
Katie — Reply
Thanks for your detailed post – it was exactly what I needed! I just moved to Israel, where there are so many persimmons, and just tried my first one. After a few bites I started looking up recipes online immediately – they are phenomenal!
-
flavorthemoments — Reply
That’s so nice that persimmons are prominent in Israel and I hope you find many recipes that you enjoy in this post!
-
-
Kelly | Foodtasia — Reply
Can you believe I haven’t had a persimmon! They look so pretty but I was never sure what to do with them! Thanks for all the great ideas!
-
Marcie — Reply
Thank you Kelly and I hope you try them!
-
