How to Bake Persimmon Cookies

I sat next to Julie H. all during junior and high school mainly because my last name started with an 'H', but she was also a close neighbor. She had a persimmon tree in her yard and taught me how to make these delicious cookies.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
   
   Ingredients:
   1 cup Persimmon pulp
   1 tsp soda
   1 cup sugar
   1/2 cup shortening
   1 beaten egg
   2 cups flour
   1/2 tsp each: cinnamon, salt, cloves, nutmeg
   1 cup nuts
   1 cup raisins (optional, but in original recipe; could substitute any dried fruit available today such as dried cranberries, craisins, etc.)

2. Combine pulp and soda. Set aside. Cream shortening and sugar. Add beaten egg, mixing well. Add flour mixture and pulp alternately, mixing well after each addition. Add nuts and raisins mixing well.

3. Drop by teaspoonful onto cookie sheet spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake for 12-15 minutes. These are more cake-like than a flat cookie, so they will not spread too much. Remove from cookie sheets and cool on rack.

Tips & Warnings

• I have also used Texas persimmons, which are smaller than the ones in California and they were very well received
• Not for dieters!

[ahickpoet]

on 1/11/2009 There was a persimmon tree down the street from my parents' house, and I always wondered what might be done with persimmons. They are a bit pulpy for my taste just to eat. And you never want to bite into a green one!