Diana's Desserts - www.dianasdesserts.com
http://www.dianasdesserts.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/recipes.recipeListing/filter/dianas/recipeID/2388/Recipe.cfm

Spiced Persimmon Bread

Servings: Makes 1 (9 x 5-inch) loaf
Comments:
Persimmons are no different from any other fruit in the sense that before their peak of ripeness, they can be bitter and astringent. However, once ripe and soft to the touch, they explode with a sweet, sugary flavor. They are perfect for jams, jellies, cookies, cakes, puddings and breads.

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick/3 oz/85g) unsalted butter
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 1/2 cups mashed Hachiya persimmons
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Confectioner's sugar, for dusting top (optional)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C). Grease and flour a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Line pan with parchment paper if desired and grease parchment paper also.

In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, baking poder and baking soda. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, food processor or blender add eggs, butter, buttermilk, lemon juice, mashed persimmons, sugar and salt. Mix or blend until smooth. Slowly add reserved flour mixture and mix until well incorporated. By hand, fold in nuts (if using).

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake in preheated oven for 75 to 85 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center of bread comes out clean.

Transfer to wire rack and let cool in pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto rack to cool completely. Once cooled, dust top with confectioners' sugar if desired.

Makes 1 (9 x 5-inch) loaf.

Source: DianasDesserts.com
Date: October 16, 2004