Spiced Apple Persimmon Cake is a delicious fall and winter cake that's perfect for breakfast, a snack or dessert. Packed with slices of fresh apples and persimmons, almonds and a mixture of warming spices, it's lovely for sharing with friends and family over the holidays -- or any time!
I love making cakes like this during the holiday season.
This is no ordinary fruit cake! It includes both Fuyu persimmon slices and Hachiya persimmon pulp. While it takes a bit of time, it's an easy process and well worth every minute.
The warm flavors, the scent of the spices, the soft texture -- it's all so lovely and comforting for the cooler weather.
Ingredients Notes
Below are ingredient notes on those that are not the usual suspects for a cake, like flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, salt and butter.
- Hachiya and Fuyu persimmons - Persimmon season is approximately October through January. During that time, you should be able to find both varieties in almost all major grocery stores and at Farmers Markets. Ripe Fuyu persimmons should be a deep orange color and on the firm side, with a slight give when gently pressed. Hachiyas should also be a deep orange, but they should be very soft.
- almonds - Slivered or sliced. They are part of the topping so you don't need to toast them first. If you don't have sliced or slivered almonds, but have whole almonds, you can just roughly chop them.
- nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves - These warming spices are key to the scrumptious flavor of this cake.
- cayenne - You'll be surprised at how delicious the touch of heat is with the other spices and sweet fruit. If you're sensitive to spicy foods, feel free to skip it or use less.
- almond meal - You can use regular almond meal, or blanched almond meal, which is often referred to as almond flour. The difference is mostly color -- blanched means the skins have been removed, so the regular one is a bit darker and it's usually a bit coarser.
How to Make it
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom and sides of an approximately 8 x 4 inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- To make the topping, combine the melted butter, almonds, sugar, grated apple, and Hachiya persimmons. Set aside.
- Combine the sliced apples, sliced persimmons and Hachiya persimmon pulp with all of the spices, vanilla, sugar and salt. Lightly beat the eggs and then mix them into the batter. Mix in the flour, almond meal, baking soda, and baking powder -- stir only until evenly incorporated. Then fold in the melted butter.
- Pour the batter in the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a small spatula. Then add the topping to the surface and spread that evenly as well. (The topping should be about ¼-inch thick on top of the batter.)
- Bake in the preheated 350°F oven until the cake is golden brown on top and no longer jiggles if you gently shake the pan, about 45 minutes.
Recipe Tip: The edges of this persimmon cake will be slightly darker than the rest of the surface. If however, it's getting darker than a delicious-looking golden brown before the end of the baking time, loosely cover the pan with foil until it's done.
- Let the cake cool for about 1 hour in the pan and then lift it out with the top edges of the parchment paper. Slice and serve.
What are the best persimmons for baking?
Hachiya persimmons are the best variety for baking. Native to China and Japan, they have a slightly elongated shape, and need to be completely ripe when eaten because they are very astringent otherwise.
If they're firm, they will leave an unpleasant feel in your mouth. When ripe, they’re delicious and super soft — so soft that you might even think they’re over-ripe.
Hachiya persimmons should be so soft when they're ready that you can scoop out the pulp with a spoon. You can finely chop it to make a persimmon purée.
Fuyu persimmons are the best variety for eating out of hand, but can also work well in baked goods -- not to purée, but rather as slices or bite-sized pieces. (You can read more about Fuyus and other persimmon varieties here.)
In this Spiced Apple Persimmon Cake, I use both varieties -- I like to have chunks of the fruit in addition to including it as a purée in the batter.
* Fun Fact * In the UK, persimmons are called Kaki or Sharon fruit.
What are the best apples for baking?
Firm apples are the best for baking because they will become soft while holding their shape. Fuji, Granny Smith and Honey Crisp are my favorite apples to bake with.
What a delightful Christmas breakfast treat this would be! Just pour your favorite cup of coffee and warm it up!
I love this persimmon cake served slightly warm or at room temperature.
Can you make it ahead?
Yes, you can make this delicious cake ahead of time.
- Room temperature. In a tightly sealed container, the cake can be kept at room temperature for about two days.
- Refrigerator. In a tightly sealed container, the cake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Freezer. Wrapped tightly, you can store it for about a month in the freezer. Defrost it overnight in the refrigerator the day before you want to serve it.
More Must-Try Persimmon Deliciousness
- Persimmon Preserves
- Ginger Persimmon Bread
- Persimmon Bacon Baked Brie
- Persimmon Prosciutto Pork Tenderloin
I hope you love it as much as I do!
Spiced Apple Persimmon Cake Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For the topping
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup sliced or slivered almonds
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (light or dark)
- ¼ cup firm apple (like Granny Smith, Fuji, or Honey Crisp) peeled and grated
- 2 tablespoons Hachiya persimmon pulp
For the cake
- ½ cup firm apple (like Granny Smith, Fuji, or Honey Crisp) peeled and thinly sliced
- ½ cup Fuyu persimmon, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1¼ cup Hachiya persimmon pulp
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¾ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup almond meal
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare the pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom and sides of an approximately 8 x 4 inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
To make the topping
- Combine all of the ingredients. In a small mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, almonds, sugar, grated apple, and persimmons. Set aside.
For the cake
- Make the batter. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples, sliced persimmons and persimmon pulp with all of the spices, vanilla, sugar and salt. Lightly beat the eggs in a small bowl and then mix them into the batter. Mix in the flour, almond meal, baking soda, and baking powder -- stir only until evenly incorporated. Then fold in the melted butter.
- Fill the pan and add the topping. Pour the batter in the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a small spatula. Then add the topping to the surface and spread that evenly as well. (The topping should be about ¼-inch thick on top of the batter.)
- Bake. Bake in the preheated 350°F oven until the cake is golden brown on top and no longer jiggles if you gently shake the pan, about 45 minutes. (If the top is getting too dark for your liking, but the cake isn't finished baking, loosely cover the pan with foil for the remainder of the time.
- Cool and serve. Let the cake cool for about 1 hour in the pan and then lift it out with the top edges of the parchment paper. Slice and serve.
NOTES
NUTRITION
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angiesrecipes
I love all the wonderful warming spices in this delicious and moist quick bread. That sweet fruity topping looks amazing.
valentina
Thank you, Angie. Hope you try it. 🙂 ~Valentina
Liz
Yum! I'm willing to sample a slice or three of this moist, tasty cake!! Beautiful fall flavors!
valentina
Thanks, Liz! You can even have 4. 😉 Enjoy. ~Valentina
2pots2cook
Love everything about it ! It is complete zen to have a slice of a bread like this and coffee in warm room on Saturday afternoon !
valentina
I am so with you on this. Sounds like a perfect afternoon. 🙂 ~Valentina
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
My husband's grandmother has a persimmon tree. They are the round ones. She makes a delicious cookie with them. This cake will be a great recipe to share for something new to try. I find persimmons a very mysterious fruit. Thanks for sharing great information!
valentina
Thanks, Kathy. So great to have a persimmon tree in the family. Hope your husband's grandmother enjoys this. 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I've never baked with persimmons before, but did come across some the other day. I have to head back and get some so I can try this loaf. Looks too good miss 😉
valentina
I hope you love it, Dawn. Thank you! 🙂 ~Valentina
Ron
Your image of your Spiced Apple Persimmon Cake in the pan makes me want to grab a spoon and dig in. We very rarely see persimmons up this way and if we do, they're not too tasty. But, I know the taste as I've eaten many during my working days in Asia.
valentina
Thanks so much, Ron. I bet they're even better in Asia where they're from. 🙂 ~Valentina
David Scott Allen
Finally! I got persimmons today at Trader Joe’s. Now I’m nervous… I think I’ll start with your cake, and go from there... 😬
valentina
You make all food beautiful and delicious! Hope you enjoy whatever you make -- even if you just eat it like an apple. 🙂 ~Valentina
David Scott Allen
I tried eating like and apple... Mark liked it that way, but not I. I did make the cake using pink Lady apples, and it worked out very nicely. Not too sweet but very Christmasy. As we have a lot of baked goods in the house already, I shared several big slices with neighbors… Thanks for my first foray into persimmons. Maybe eventually I will enjoy eating them like apples!
valentina
So happy you tried the cake! No need to like to eat them like apples. Whatever pleases you! I used to love guacamole, but not plain avocado slices. That's changes, but same concept. 😉 ~Valentina
Valerie
could you suggest another fruit instead of persimmon as it is not available in my area at this time
valerie
valentina
Hi Valerie. You can swap out the Hachiya persimmon pulp with apple sauce, and the Fuyus with more apple slices. You could also use pear and do the same. Pineapple could be fun too. Use drained, crushed from a can for the substitution of the Hachiyas, and chunks or rings, drained, instead of the Fuyu slices. (You can of course use a fresh pineapple, but it will save time this way, and I think canned pineapple is great for baking. I haven't tested the recipe with these, but I think they'd work well. Hope you enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina
Lisa
This looks so yummy! Got 2 persimmons and a bunch of fujis in our produce box so I'm going to try it. I'm off wheat right now. Any idea if i could sub cassava flour or more almond?
valentina
Hi Lisa! The best substitute would be a good Gluten-Free all-purpose flour. My favorite is Cup4Cup. Outside of that you could try coconut flour, but use 1 cup instead of the full amount. (It absorbs more liquid than other flours.) The almond meal is more for flavor than structure, as it doesn't really bind, so I wouldn't try that. And while I haven't tested the recipe with Casava flour, I think it's worth a try, as it's more of a binding flour. I hope this helps! 🙂 ~Valentina
Eve
This bread is so good! I have two adaptations because of what's growing in my yard. I use my own hazelnuts, toasted, instead of almonds, and I use only Fuyus (I wait for some soft ones in place of Hachiyas). And I use my own Granny Smith apples as well. If the persimmons were ready at the same time as my Gravensteins, you bet I'd use those. Can't wait for my persimmons to be ready to make it again!
Valentina
Hi Eve. Thanks so much for writing in. Nothing better than growing your own ingredients - lucky you. I LOVE that! So happy you the bread is a hit. It's so lovely and warming this time of year. 🙂 ~Valentina