Persimmon Fool Food

PERSIMMON MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan or two 24-cup mini-muffin pans with paper liners. Cut the persimmons in half and scoop out the pulp into a food processor; pulse until smooth.
• Combine the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon and lemon zest in a large bowl. Whisk 1 1/4 cups of the persimmon puree (or the applesauce and carrot baby food), the eggs, egg white, melted butter and yogurt in a small bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined (it's fine if the batter is lumpy).
• Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling each three-quarters of the way. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 20 to 24 minutes for regular muffins or 14 to 18 minutes for mini muffins. Cool slightly in the pan, then transfer the muffins to a rack.

PERSIMMON-GINGER BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Line with enough parchment so there is a 2-inch overhang on the 2 long sides of the pan (this will help you lift the bread out of the pan).
• Sift the flour and baking soda into a medium bowl.
• Melt 1 stick of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until brown, nutty and fragrant, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a large heat-proof bowl, cool for 5 minutes. Add the dark brown sugar, sour cream, vanilla, vinegar, ginger, orange zest, nutmeg, eggs, 1 cup of the persimmon puree and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and whisk until completely combined.
• Fold the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until the bread is deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool the bread in the pan for 15 minutes. Use the parchment to help lift the bread out and cool completely on a rack.
• Meanwhile, process the granulated sugar, remaining 1 1/2 sticks butter, 1/2 cup persimmon puree and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor until light and creamy.
• Serve slices of bread warm and slather with persimmon butter.

PERSIMMON BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F.
• Butter and flour Bundt pan.
• Peel persimmons.
• Press pulp through coarse sieve into medium bowl.
• Measure 1 1/3 cups persimmon puree into small bowl.
• Mix baking soda into puree and set aside.
• Beat sugar and butter in large bowl until blended (mixture will be grainy).
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Mix in vanilla.
• Sift flour, cinnamon, salt, allspice and cloves into butter mixture; blend well using rubber spatula.
• Mix in persimmon mixture, walnuts and currants.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake cake until tester comes out clean, about 55 minutes.
• Cook cake in pan on rack 5 minutes.
• Turn out cake onto rack; cool completely.
• Sift confectioners' sugar over cake.

PERSIMMON FOOL

Steps:

• Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small heatproof cup and let stand 1 minute to soften. Stir together persimmon purée, sugar, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt in a bowl until sugar is dissolved.
• Melt softened gelatin in cup set in a saucepan of simmering water, then stir into persimmon purée. Beat cream in another bowl with an electric mixer until it just holds stiff peaks, then gently fold into purée. Divide fool among 4 stemmed glasses and chill, covered, at least 8 hours (it will set softly).
• Just before serving, peel Fuyu persimmons, seeding if necessary, and chop. Top fool with chopped persimmons.