These Southern Persimmon Desserts Are As Classic As It Gets

By Southern Living Editors November 29, 2021
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Persimmon trees have been growing wild and thriving throughout the South for ages, especially in places that see cool weather come fall (like North Carolina), which allows these bright-orange, plump, squishy fruits to develop a uniquely mild, honey-like sweetness. Persimmon season typically runs from late October through February, which is perhaps why the winter fruit pairs so well with spiced dessert recipes that belong beside your apple pie and pumpkin Bundt. 

Persimmon recipes have been included in Southern community cookbooks and family recipe boxes for generations, but many have forgotten their delicious draw. We've got the top three essential Southern persimmon desserts to get you started, so time to tuck into a newfound, old-fashioned treat. Will that be cake, pie, or pudding?

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Persimmon Pudding

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Persimmon Pudding

This richly spiced dessert gets into the fall spirit. A familiar recipe that's been seen in many tattered Southern church cookbooks, persimmon pudding is dense and moist, able to be cut into squares. 

"I can't recall exactly when I first tasted persimmon pudding, but I do know the place: my grandmother's North Carolina dairy farm kitchen, where I spent many happy hours feasting on the simple, seasonal Southern dishes I still love to cook today," says writer Nancie McDermott.

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Persimmon Cake

Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Persimmon Cake

Southerners love our spice cakes, especially in the fall and around Christmastime, and this indulgent cake maintains a nice spice level from the cinnamon, while walnuts add crunch and persimmons add moisture and a hint of honey sweetness. This is a classic Bundt that'll have people asking for the secret ingredient they can't put their finger on.

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Persimmon Pie with Pecan Streusel

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Persimmon Pie with Pecan Streusel

Make your own crumbly pecan-studded streusel to crown the center of this pie, providing an extra autumnal note to the silky-smooth, gently spiced filling. A North Carolina favorite where persimmon trees grow wild along the perimeter of North Carolina's corn and tobacco fields, wherever forests meet furrows, persimmon pie feels old-fashioned and different from your usual pumpkin pie. 

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