Sharon/Kaki/Persimmon cake for Marina

Can you say vibrant!

I first met these little beauties when I lived in Switzerland in the late nineties. M. my house mother would slurp these down with glee during her last trimester of pregnancy. I didn't dive in at first, but I grew to admire these orange spheres. I know them as Kaki, and never really knew what to do with them until I came across a recipe from a famous American ex pat living in Paris Davis Lebovitz. I know ANOTHER Ready for dessert recipe(ten speed press) but hear me out. He is a guy with genius ideas, and you will thank me. This cake is to die.......fooooorrrr. I have made this many times and Everyone wants more. So, let us get down to some Sharon cake making.

If you can look out your window and see one of these trees growing, please take advantage and go and pick some very ripe persimmons and make this cake for yourself. If you don't have a tree please look for these in your local market. In Sweden they are now available in plenty and as it is nearing autumn in warmer temperatures. These should be available soon. For this particular recipe you need to have very ripe persimmons.They should be swollen in ripeness and ready to be scooped out. Kind of like a filled water balloon. If not then let them rest at room temperature until ripe enough to use.
I adapted this recipe to use what I had in the house, and i think it turned out fantastic.

Cake:


3/4 cup (120 grams) dried currents.. I used a combination of golden raisins and sultana's 
!/4 cup (60ml) brandy or whiskey
2 cups (280 grams) all- purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 2/3 cups ( 355 grams) granulated sugar
3/4 (6 ounces)  ( 170 grams) unsalted butter. melted
1½ cups ( 375 ml) Persimmon/Kaki/Sharon puree ( about 3-6) David uses HACHIYA persimmons but I  have used Jiro persimmons that are the most available. They are a cross breed but work just as well.
3 large eggs at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
1½ cups ( 150 grams) walnuts or pecans, toasted and finely chopped


Directions:

Lovely little Smurf loafs......glee

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F 175 degrees C. Coat a ten cup (2.5 liter loaf pan) or a Bundt pan or use little smurf size loaf pans I used 5. Coat inside of pan/s with butter, and set aside.

To make the cake, in a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the currents or raisins, sultana's and the brandy or whiskey to a boil. Remove from heat, cover and let cool.

Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda,cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. stir in the granulated sugar. 


In a medium bowl,mix together the melted butter, persimmon puree,eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, add the persimmon mixture, and gently stir. Fold in the raisins or currents whatever you are using, and any unabsorbed liquid, and the nuts.


Mix until everything is is moistened; DON'T over mix.Scrape the batter into the prepared pan/pans and bake until a toothpick is inserted into the cake comes out clean, about1 hour for whole cake and 20 minutes for little smurf cakes. Keep your eye on them.

drunken raisins

Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Once cooled you can serve as is or you can make a cream cheese icing and spread and serve as you would like a carrot cake. I loved this cake on it's own. it is so nice to be able to have a slice of this cake with just it's own self so to speak. I have tried it with cream cheese icing as well and it is divine. Here is a nice icing recipe for those who want to jazz it up all the way.


Icing:


4 ounces (115 grams) cream cheese
1 tablespoon salted butter, at room temperature 
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2/3 cup (90 g) powdered sugar, sifted
4 to 5 teaspoons of water

Lemons and cream cheese equal best friends...

Directions: adapted from David Lebovitz Just desserts tenspeed press


To make the icing,in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment,( you  can use a hand held electric mixer with beaters as well) beat together the cream cheese and 1 tablespoon of butter on high speed until smooth. Beat in the ½ teaspoon vanilla and the lemon juice, then gradually add the powdered sugar, beating on high speed until smooth. Beat in the ½ teaspoon vanilla and the lemon juice, then gradually add the powdered sugar, beating on high speed until smooth. Add the 4 teaspoons water;the icing should be pourable. If necessary, add 1 more teaspoon water.
Spoon the icing around the top of the cake, then tap the plate on a folded kitchen towel on the counter top to encourage the icing to run down the sides of the cake. Enjoy!!