Persimmon Pistachio Cookies

Not sure if you have noticed but the internets are full to the brim with gift guides. I feel like two years ago, I’d see…oh I dunno, like one or two or ten gift guides. Now? A million, I swear. They’re everywhere. So, like all of us, I’ve started sifting through them because I’m a good American and looove buying stuff. But then I realized that they’re not really all that helpful because everyone in my life is so picky and such weirdos. The gift guide for “boyfriends” or “dads” doesn’t really apply to the men in my life. Instead I’ve just found all sorts of new stuff that I want for myself, which sort of isn’t the point to gift guides.

One thing I do encourage is gifting something to yourself. I do this every year and it’s the best, seriously. It’s never a big ticket item or anything, just a little something that no one knows I want. I’m not sure what it’s going to be this year but I’m on the hunt. Send your unusual gift ideas my way.

And now, cookies.

And not just any cookies but persimmon cookies. I feel like people only half like persimmons.

I think they’re sooo beautiful. I’ve used fuyus in quite a bit of recipes this year but this recipe uses its counterpart, the hachiya persimmon. Fuyus are short and stout and can be eaten if ripe or super firm. Hachiyas should be eaten when they’re suuuuper ripe; I’m talking very very fragile and soft to the touch.

I’d consider this cookie more on the cakey side. It’s soft and fluffy.

Yesterday’s cookie was soft but it had a crunchy exterior; this cookie is just straight fluffy and tender. I added a bit of crunch via the pistachios that I think add some nice texture.

I can’t really eat like 10 gingerbread cookies because the flavor gets kind of intense after a while, but these…these are different. I can eat like a 15 and still be ok. They’re almost on the lighter side of the cookie scale, which means they’re healthy…ish.

Persimmon Pistachio Cookies

Print

Serving Size: 20 cookies

Ingredients

Dry Mix:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Wet Mix:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup very ripe hachiya persimmon pulp, from about 4 persimmons; weight 2 lbs

Mix-ins:

• 3/4 cup chopped unsalted pistachios, if you only have salted pistachios, decrease salt in the dry mix to 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and cloves.
• To a large bowl, add the room temperature butter and light brown sugar. Using a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the two together until the butter is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg, baking soda and persimmon pulp and mix until thoroughly combined. (You may still see a few chunks of persimmon throughout the mixture; as long as there aren't a ton, you'll be a-ok!)
• In two batches, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, combining in between batches. When you no longer see any traces of flour, fold in the chopped pistachios, making sure they're evenly distributed throughout the dough.
• Using a 2-ounce cookie dough scooper, drop cookie dough rounds onto your cookie sheet, being sure to space them apart by about 2 inches. Flatten the cookies slightly with your fingers and transfer to the oven to bake for about 10-12 minutes. You'll know the cookies are done when the edges are lightly golden brown and the middle will be soft yet should spring back a bit. Allow to cool for a minute or so on the baking sheet and then transfer to a rack to cool.