Persimmon Pudding

By FoodPornDirector

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter or shortening or butter-flavored Crisco
• 2 scant cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 quart ripe Hachiya persimmons (about 6 fruits), hulled and put through a food mill or ricer to remove seeds to make about 2 cups purée
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 cups (8.5 ounces) flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups fine breadcrumbs
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• Whipped cream, chopped pecans, ice cream or other toppings, for garnish

Preparation

Step 1

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 3 standard loaf pans or pie dishes.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, then the persimmons and milk. Beat in the flour, baking powder, salt, breadcrumbs and cinnamon. Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared dishes.

3. Bake the puddings until each has puffed, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 to 45 minutes; rotate each pudding halfway through baking for even coloring. (Pudding baked in a pie plate will take less time to bake because of the increased surface area.) The puddings will settle as they cool.

4. Serve hot from the oven topped with whipped cream, chopped pecans or -- better yet -- butter pecan ice cream.